Employers Mutual Casualty Co. v. Nosser
Employers Mutual Casualty Co. v. Nosser
Opinion of the Court
This is an appeal by the Employers Mutual Casualty Company, appellant, from an adverse decree rendered by the Chancery Court of Adams County, Mississippi, on the 20th day of August, 1962, which awarded to the appellee, Joseph J. Nosser, the sum of $2,394.62, with legal interest at the rate of six per cent per annum from the date of the decree, together with all costs. The record discloses the following pertinent facts. The appellant, Employers Mutual Casualty Company, is an Iowa insurance corporation, qualified to do business in the State of Mississippi, through a general agency, the Southern Underwriters, Inc., and through local agencies appointed by the Southern Underwriters, Inc. A policy of insurance, number 9797929, was issued through the Guido-Foley Agency in Natchez, Mississippi, to the appellee. The policy was issued on November 14, 1961, covering a period extending to November 14, 1962. The Guido-Foley Agency was the predecessor of the Butts-Doughty Insurance Agency, which is involved in the case at bar. No question is made as to the authority of either of these agencies to issue the policy or the subsequent endorsement thereon, which was actually made by the Butts-Doughty Insurance Agency on the 28th day of February, 1962. This endorsement added comprehensive and collision coverages not included in the original policy. The original policy was issued to cover collision loss and personal injury received only by the appellee in the operation of his automobile and it had the customary fifty dollar deductible provision clause therein.
The appellee was subsequently sued in the County Court of Adams County, Mississippi by J. O. Bearden, who obtained a judgment against the appellee in the sum of $748.48, plus costs. The attorney who represented the appellee claims a fee of five hundred dollars. The appellee testified that the actual cost of repairs to his automobile, being the one insured under the appellant’s aforesaid policy, was the sum of $846.14, but he also testified that the cost of repairs, including depreciation, was approximately $1,146.14. The appellee thereafter filed his suit against the appellant in the Chancery Court of Adams County, Mississippi, and in his bill of complaint appellee prayed for a judgment against appellant in the total sum of $2,394.62. Appellant answered the aforesaid suit in the chancery court, asserting as his chief defense that said policy had been canceled effective March 25, 1962, which date was prior to the date of the alleged accident relied upon by the complainant. The appellee contended further that it owed the complainant nothing.
At the conclusion of the trial the learned chancellor dictated into the record an opinion and finding* of fact which in substance held that no written notice of the cancellation had been mailed to the appellee by the appellant, the same was never deposited in the United States Post Office in Jackson, Mississippi with postage fully prepaid, and the same was never received by the complainant herein. The court went further and found superfluously that local agent Butts-Doughty Insurance Agency of Natchez, Mississippi never advised the appellee that his policy was canceled; that there was an amendment or rider to said policy issued shortly before the alleged cancellation; that the appellee was entitled to a refund of some $87 even if the appellant had can
The appellant urges in its assignment of errors two, namely, (1) the lower court committed manifest and reversible error in finding and adjudicating that the insurance policy in question had not been canceled, and (2) the lower court erred in awarding the sum of $1,-146.14 to the appellant for physical damage (including depreciation) to his own automobile.
The primary question here is whether or not the appellant accomplished the cancellation of the appellee’s policy on March 25, 1962, at 12:01 A. M. in accordance with the terms and provisions of the policy of insurance. We must carefully consider that portion of the policy which relates to the cancellation, which is paragraph 16 and which section is as follows:
“16. Cancellation This policy may be canceled by the insured named in Item 1 of the declarations by surrender thereof to the company or any of its authorized agents or by mailing to the company written notice stating* when thereafter the cancellation shall be effective. This policy may be cancelled by the compaivy by mailing to the insured named in Item 1 of the declarations at the address shown in this policy written notice stating when not less than ten days thereafter such caivcellation shall be effective. The mailing of notice as aforesaid shall be sufficient proof of notice. The time of surrender or the effective date and hour of cancellation stated in the notice shall become the end of the policy
It is obvious that the above “standard form” of policy cancellation conditions and wording expressly permit (1) the appellant to cancel the appellee’s policy by mailing notice to the appellee stating when not less than ten days thereafter such cancellation shall be effective; (2) that the mailing of notice shall be sufficient proof of notice; (3) that non-receipt of the notice by the appellee is not involved and did not affect the validity of the cancellation; and (4) that the failure of appellant to return the unearned premium was not a condition of cancellation.
Miss Calloway, the appellant’s Mississippi general agency underwriter, unequivocally testified that she mailed the notice of cancellation as required in Section 16 of the policy; that this was done on March 15th; that the appellee was notified that on March 25th, at 12:01, the policy would be canceled. Copy of the notice of cancellation which she prepared was introduced in evidence. The original was sent to the appellee. A post office receipt number 3817 was likewise introduced, which Miss Calloway testified she obtained from the postmaster in Jackson, Mississippi, as proof of the fact that the letter to the appellee had been mailed. She testified that the postmaster stamped the envelope and tore the certificate off and handed it back to her, and “threw”, or placed, “the letter into his mailing box.” Miss Calloway’s testimony was corroborated by these exhibits which were introduced thereto. The record fails to disclose any positive testimony contradicting or denying that the cancellation of this policy was mailed as aforesaid. The appellee himself did not testify that the
The findings of the chancellor are of the utmost importance and therefore we quote from the pertinent parts thereof:
The court found as a fact that no Avritten notice of cancellation Avas mailed to the appellee, Joseph J. Nosser, on March 15, 1962; it found as a fact that same was never deposited in the United States Post Office at Jackson, Mississippi, with postage fully prepaid; and further found that the same was never received by the appellee herein; that the local agent, Butts-Doughty Insurance Agency, Natchez, Mississippi, never advised the appellee that his policy was canceled; that the appellee was entitled to a refund of some $87 even if the appellant had canceled said insurance policy as it claims but Avhich the court found as a fact that it did not mail the notice of cancellation; that the appellant has never made a refund to appellee, though appellee was entitled to approximately $87 refund of his $110.21 premium paid; that by continuing and wilfully refusing to refund the premium due to appellant, appellee insurance company is estopped from, presenting its special plea in bar (cancellation of the insurance policy) ; and the court further found as a fact that said cancellation of notice was in fact never mailed. The decree then granted the appellee a judgment against appellant in the sum of $2,394.62, Avith legal interest at the rate of six per cent per annum from date.
It is apparent that we are called upon to construe the cancellation clause of the policy in question. At the outset, it can be stated with certainty that the cancellation clause is “standard”, it is not ambiguous and is expressed in plain and certain language, which anyone of ordinary intelligence can understand. We have repeatedly held that if an insurance contract is in plain and unambiguous language it should be construed
Therefore, it is apparent that the appellant here was authorized by the insurance contract to cancel the same “by mailing to the insured” (the appellee) “named in Item 1 of the declarations at the address shown in this policy written notice stating when not less than ten days thereafter such cancellation shall be effective.” It is obvious that “the mailing of notice as aforesaid shall be sufficient proof of notice”. This is stated verbatim as found in paragraph numbered 16 pertaining to cancellation. Insofar as. the question of ambiguity is concerned, the cancellation clause has been substantially held to be unambiguous. Jensen v. Traders & General Ins. Co., 52 Calif. 2d 786, 345 P. 2d 1; Aetna Casualty and Surety Co. v. Simpson (1961), Fla., 128 So. 2d 420; and Service Fire Ins. Co. of N. Y. v. Markey, Fla., 83 So. 2d 855; and the other authorities cited therein.
It is apparent therefore that the cancellation of the appellee’s insurance policy could, by the clear and unambiguous provisions of the cancellation clause, be canceled by the appellant by mailing to the insured notice stating when such cancellation would be effective in accordance with the provisions of the cancellation clause shown above. The decree of the chancellor in the court
This case is a first impression in this jurisdiction and no decision has been found which can properly be considered as controlling. We must therefore resort to the relevant decisions of the courts of our sister states in order to reach a proper decision in the case at bar. At the outset, appellee’s brief admits that the majority of the courts hold that “cancellation may be effected by mailing of a notice of cancellation in the manner stipulated in the policy”; and, in addition, appellee states that it realizes and concedes that “barring insurance to the contrary, an insurance company may validly contract for the cancellation of one of its policies by placing the notice of cancellation in the mail” properly addressed to the insured. This frank statement by the appellee has ample authorities to prove it to be correct. However, appellee then asserts that it was a question of fact as to whether the notice was mailed, and urges several integral parts of the evidence to support a finding of fact that the cancellation was not mailed, the predominant one being (a) failure of appellee Nosser to receive a notice; the first time he learned of it was when he reported his accident. Other
It is only appellee Nosser’s claim (a) that he did not receive the notice, which merits any consideration in determining whether the notice of cancellation was mailed, and the policy was thereby terminated.
There is simply no evidence in the record to support the finding that notice was not mailed to Nosser. The testimony of Miss Calloway is undisputed, and there is also the documentary evidence of the Post Office Department’s “Certificate of Mailing”, and the notice of cancellation properly sworn to before the Chancery Clerk of Adams County, residence of the appellee, addressed to Nosser at his correct address in Natchez. There is absolutely no basis for the trial court’s finding that notice of cancellation was not mailed to Nosser.
The appellee contends, however, that since Nosser claims he did not receive the notice it can he inferred, or that since Nosser says he did not receive the notice there is a presumption, contrary to the majority rule, that the cancellation notice was not mailed and a question of fact is thus presented.
The appellee cites no case authorities to support his contentions, and there are no Mississippi cases, hut nevertheless this important question merits a careful consideration of any pertinent authorities of any jurisdiction which are illuminating and merit affirmation.'
Before undertaking this somewhat complex analysis, we find that appellee’s claim (b) that Miss Calloway’s
Mississippi has not passed upon the application and validity of an insurance policy clause for notice of cancellation by mailing the same to the insured. In Boston Insurance Co. v. Rogers, 247 Miss. 173, 154 So. 2d 139, which was a suit on a policy with a cancellation clause somewhat similar to the one at bar, but not entirely so, the question may be found, but was not considered in deciding the case. The case was reversed solely on
Addressing ourselves to the question of whether or not the trial court committed manifest and reversible error in finding and adjudicating that the insurance policy in question had not been canceled, at the outset it should be pointed out that “a provision in an insurance policy which makes the mailing of notice sufficient to cancel the policy, even though such notice is not actually received by the insured, is not invalid as contrary to public policy. ’ ’ See Gendron v. Calvert Fire Insurance Co., 47 N. M. 348, 143 P. 2d 462, 149 A. L. R. 1310; Trinity Universal Insurance Co. v. Willrich, 13 Wash. 2d 263, 124 P. 2d 950, 142 A. L. R. 1. This rule seems to be generally recognized, and it follows therefore that it is only where there is a controlling statute or where the legislature of a state by declaration has announced the mere mailing of notice sufficient to cancel a policy is contrary to public policy that the same can be held to be so. In 29 Am. Jur., Insurance, Sec. 386, p. 737, can be found a discussion of “Notice by Mail as Dependent Upon Receipt ’Thereof.” Insofar as the case at bar is concerned, the part applicable is as follows:
“Where the policy states that the insurer may cancel the policy by mailing the notice of cancellation to the insured’s address as stated in the policy, the actual receipt by the insured of the notice is not a condition*558 precedent to a cancellation of the policy by the insurer, and the mere mailing of the letter containing a notice of cancellation is sufficient to effect a cancellation. This rule is obviously based upon the fact that the term ‘mailing’ as used in the policy provision is unambiguous and refutes the contention that the notice must be received. ’ ’
Dent v. Monarch Life Ins. Co., 231 Mo. App. 283, 98 S. W. 2d 123; Wolonter v. U. S. Casualty Co., 126 Va. 156, 101 S. E. 58; Anno., 64 A. L. R. 2d 995.
The cancellation clause in the ease at bar is a standard cancellation provision. In 29 Am. Jnr., Insurance, Sec. 386, p. 738, may be found a discussion of the fourth type of cancellation provision, which is as follows:
“The fourth type of cancellation provision is represented by what may be called the standard cancellation provision. It provides that the policy may be canceled by the insurance company by mailing to the insured at his address written notice stating that in not less than 5 days thereafter such cancellation shall be effective. The specific provision is added that the mailing of notice shall be sufficient proof of notice and that the effective date and hour of cancellation stated in the notice shall be the end of the policy. Such a provision is valid and is not contrary to public policy. A majority of the cases hold that under such provision the actual receipt of the cancellation notice by the insured is not a condition precedent to the cancellation of the insurance by the insurer in view of the fact that the express terms of the contract sanction the sufficiency of a notice deposited in the mail. In other words, these courts proceed upon the basis that the parties by their contract in effect constituted the government, in its business of operating the mails, the agent of the insured for the purpose of receiving the notice of cancellation. By mailing the cancellation notice .the insurer has fully complied with the standard policy provision- as to notice of cancellation, and the insurer is under no obliga*559 tion to use reasonable diligence to get actual notice of cancellation to the insured.”
Both the quoted text in Am. Jur., and 45 C. J. S., Insurance, Sec. 450 (2), pp. 89-90, recognize that there is a minority view of some courts holding that receipt is necessary, but this holding, according to these texts, and those cases, arise where there is a statute affecting the contract provision or usually also where there has not been a strict compliance with the terms of the cancellation provision. This is not so in the case at bar, where there was a complete compliance with the cancellation provision. See also 8 Appleman, Insurance Law and Practice, Sec. 5015, p. 616.
There are many decisions from state courts and likewise from federal courts in which the interpretation of this question of sufficiency of notice of cancellation has been clearly presented. See Warner v. Farmers’ Automobile Inter-Insurance Exch., 104 Colo. 359, 90 P. 2d 965; Seaboard Mut. Casualty Co. v. Profit, 4 CCA, 108 F. 2d 597, 126 A. L. R. 1105; Davis v. Travelers Indemnity Co. (1956), 94 Ga. App. 102, 93 S. E. 2d 810; Aetna Casualty & Surety Co. v. Simpson, supra; Queen Insurance Co. of America v. Nalley Discount Co., (1960), 215 Ga. 837, 114 S. E. 2d 21.
In all of the above cited cases the court held substantially that the cancellation condition, when properly given, precluded coverage, irrespective of whether or not the notice was received; that the mailing of notice was sufficient without receipt thereof; that the proof of the mailing of notice was sufficient to establish cancellation without proof of receipt of the notice. We hold therefore that there 'was no burden incumbent upon the appellant to obtain from the appellee a receipt showing that he had actually received or accepted the notice of cancellation. There is no merit in the assertion of appellee that because the approximate $87 refund of premium had not been made to the ap
It should be noted also that in all cases with the exception of one California and one Minnesota case where actual receipt of the notice of cancellation by the insured was held necessary, despite the policy provision that notice of cancellation mailed to the address of the assured as stated in the policy should be sufficient notice, a statute required that the insured be given notice of the cancellation in a specified number of days. Apparently such a statutory provision overrides a clause in the policy which would tend to nullify the intention of the legislature of giving the insured timely notice of an impending cancellation of his insurance policy, thus permitting him to attempt a substitute coverage if he so desires. Midwestern Ins. Co. v. Cathey, Okla., 262 P. 2d 434 (which will be later considered herein) ; Anno., 64 A. L. R. 2d, Sec. 17, p. 1012; Farmers Ins. Exchange v. Taylor, 10 CA Okla., 193 Fed. 2d 756 (dictum).
The minority rule has authorities, but some are not applicable to the case at bar for various reasons. It is noteworthy that subsequent to the 1953 decision in Midwestern Ins. Co. v. Cathey, supra, which was based upon the statutory requirement, the legislature of Oklahoma in 1957 repealed the statute, evidently for the purpose of permitting the Oklahoma courts to follow the majority rule, that mailing of the cancellation is sufficient notice without proof of actual delivery.
In the Texas Law Review (1960), Risjord, in the chapter on Construction of Terms of Liability Insurance With Specific Reference to the Cancellation Condition,
“Where the proper notice is mailed by regular mail to the named insured at the address stated in the policy, the overwhelming authority supports the rule that the notice is effective to terminate the policy at the effective date stated in the notice, so that' the policy does- not apply to accidents occurring* after such date even though within the policy period as originally specified in the policy and even though the notice was not received by the named insured.
“. . . The majority rule’s rationale includes the assumption (common to the law of contracts, for instance, that the acceptance of an offer transmitted by mail is accomplished by the mailing of the instrument of acceptance) that the efficiency of the Post Office Department of the United States is such that an envelope properly addressed, with the proper postage affixed, deposited in the U. S. mails will he properly delivered. 'Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.’ The policy, then, only requires that the company perform the ordinary acts of the business community. The chances of delivery of such a document are so great as to permit social acceptance of the one chance in many thousand that in a particular case there may be no receipt. ”
Risjord summarizes that three, or possibly four jurisdictions, without statute, or a legislative declaration of public policy as to cancellation, state the small minority rule that the plain provisions of the policy should be ignored. The rule that evidence of non-receipt “is evidence of non-mailing largely destroys the value of
The annotation in 64 A. L. R. 2d 982 (1959) is entitled “Actual Receipt of Cancellation Notice Mailed by Insurer as Prerequisite to Cancellation of Insurance.” On page 995 it is stated that “The unanimous rule is that the actual receipt by the insured of such notice is not a condition precedent to a cancellation of the policy by the insurer, and the mere mailing of the letter containing a notice of cancellation is sufficient to effect a cancellation.”
At page 1000, 64 A. L. R. 2d, the editor discusses the standard provision of cancellation similar to that in the instant case. The overwhelming’ majority of cases hold, the text states, that where mailing of notice is sufficient proof of notice, as stated in the policy, the mailing of a notice of cancellation is sufficient, and the actual receipt of such notice by insured need not be shown.
It appears therefore that the minority rule that evidence of non-receipt of the cancellation notice is evidence of non-mailing prevails in only three or four jurisdictions where it is not required by statute or by legislative declaration so that to hold otherwise is contrary to public policy as was held in Jensen v. Traders & General Ins. Co., 38 Texas Law Rev. 209, 141 Cal. App. 2d 162, 296 P. 2d 434 (1956). The Jensen case is easily distinguishable from the case at bar for the additional reason that the language of the cancellation clause was held to be ambiguous, and the jury was moreover instructed in violation of the legislative declared public policy of California.
In the case of White v. Dixie Fire Ins. Co., 36 S. E. 2d 923 (1946), a North Carolina case, the cancellation was communicated by way of a letter advising that the cancellation had been made which is also a distinguish
In Allied Am. Mut. Fire Ins. Co. v. Paige, 143 A. 2d 508, a case from the District of Columbia, the court there thought it was unnecessary to decide whether only mailing and not receipt of the notice was required to cancel the policy and advanced the novel proposition that the decision of that question “must await the case in which both mailing and non-receipt are conclusively established.” This case affords little comfort to the appellee’s position.
In the case of Keeling v. Travelers Ins. Co., 180 Olda. 99, 67 Pac. 2d 944, which comes under the statutory provisions of Oklahoma and which adopts the minority rule, it is not helpful to appellee because it is clearly distinguishable from the case at bar on the facts (as is true of Jensen v. Traders & General Ins. Co., supra, where the Post Office receipt was illegible.) In Keeling v. Travelers the clerk had no independent recollection of mailing the notice, and testified she did so, only as a part of the customary, routine work. The mailing, therefore, just as in Verecchia v. De Siato, 45 A. 2d 8, 353 Pa. 292, was not of a definite and specific character so as to establish the actual fact of mailing. In the case at bar a more definite and specific act of mailing could scarcely be shown.
It can be conceded that Georgia and Missouri have followed the minority line of reasoning, i. e., that evidence of non-receipt would create a jury question of nonmailing. Allstate Insurance Co. v. Buck, 96 Ga. App. 376, 100 S. E. 2d 142 (1957); Ireland v. Mfgs. & Merchants Indemnity Co., 298 S. W. 2d 529. This is an extension of the minority rule. In opposition to these few minority rule citations there are legions of cases from twenty-four states scattered over the entire nation. The listing of these cases would extend this opinion
We concede that the majority rule need not be adopted merely because it appeals to and is applied by a majority.of the jurisdictions, but the fact that it does so appeal and is so applied is persuasive that it more properly and wisely considers these serious problems and more justly resolves them.
The majority rule repeated over and over is that the mere mailing of the letter containing the notice of cancellation is sufficient to effect a cancellation, as reflected in the decisions from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and other states. Possibly the most cogent case applying the majority rule is from Tennessee, which borders Mississippi to the north. It is the case of Cherokee Ins. Co. v. Hardin, 202 Tenn. 110, 302 S. W. 2d 817, decided in 1957. The facts in the Tennessee case are almost the same as in the case at bar and, furthermore, as here, this Tennessee case was the first case decided by the Supreme Court of that state on the identical question before us. Laconically the facts and decision in the Cherokee v. Hardin case are as follows:
The insurer claimed that the policy was cancelled by notice mailed to the insured in accordance with the policy provisions. The insured contended that the notice was never mailed and testified that the notice was never received. As here, the insured sued the insurance company. The insurer produced from its files a carbon copy of the notice, properly addressed, to the Hardins. (The identical steps were taken here). Attached to the carbon copy of the notice was the official receipt of the post office acknowledging receipt by it for transmission to the Hardins of mail. (Again a direct parallel). There was evidence that the insurer’s practice was for the
The Supreme Court granted Certiorari, reversed the judgment, and sustained the insurer’s Motion for a directed verdict, holding (1) that the Hardins necessarily conceded that the cancellation was valid if the notice was mailed, (2) that the' insurer was not required to call as a witness the porter who was accustomed to taking the mail to the Post Office; it was only “required that there be evidence that it was taken there”, and (3) that, where the mailing is shown by established regular course of business and acknowledgment by the Post Office, a denial by the insured that the notice was received is not evidence that the notice was not mailed.
In conclusion, the far reaching impact of the adoption of the minority rule in this state should be solemnly considered. Sections 146-147 of the Mississippi Code of 1942 are parts of the Negotiable Instruments Law and Sec. 146 provides that where notice of dishonor is given by the holder of a negotiable instrument to an endorser, and the notice is duly addressed and deposited in the post office, “the sender is deemed to have given due notice, notwithstanding* any miscarriage in the mails.” Under Section 147 notice is deemed to have been deposited in the post office when deposited in any branch post office or any letter box
In another field, contracts are frequently made between parties separated by vast distance. The problem frequently is to determine at what moment the contract is consummated. In general, the mailing of an acceptance completes the contract, and what happens thereafter will be of no avail. 1 AVilliston on Contracts (3d ed., 1957), Sec. 81, concludes as follows:
"It was early decided that the contract was completed upon the mailing of the acceptance.”
In oil and gas law, the payment by a lessee of delay drilling rentals, under the usual forms of oil and gas leases, reflects also an effective payment when the same ls deposited in the mails. 2 Summers, Oil & Gas Law (1959), Sec. 344, states the overwhelming general rule in this way: "An oil and gas lease may provide for the payment of delay rentals by the mailing of a check, draft or other form of remittance to the lessor. In such a situation the postal service is made the lessor’s agent to deliver the remittance and proper mailing, although it is never delivered, constitutes payment.” There are most likely several hundred thousands of oil and gas leases in Mississippi, most all of which have a standard provision to the effect that delay drilling rentals may he paid by the proper mailing of the payment, and that such mailing constitutes payment of the rental. 2 Summers, Oil and Gas, Sec. 344;
Though perhaps not in complete accord with Prof. Wigmore’s conclusions, the general rules about presumptions are not applicable here, because of the stern fact that the particular terms of the insurance contract governs the rights of the present parties. Threatt v. Threatt, 212 Miss. 555, 54 So. 2d 907 (1951). The notice to appellee was squarely within the requirements of paragraph 16 of the insurance contract, defining what constitutes a notice of cancellation. Therefore, general evidential presumptions are not pertinent to the decision in this case.
It taxes the imagination to conceive how far reaching and profound the adoption of the rule announced by the court below could be upon the legal, economic and social life of the people of Mississippi.
While this may be considered by some to be a harsh rule and while an insured may encounter some danger and harm from having his policy canceled by a written notice from the insurer, he is nevertheless kept safe and harmless by operation of this same rule when by written notice he notifies the insurer of his accident or loss, demanding protection and, as in the words of the testy Hotspur, ‘ ‘ Out of this nettle, danger, we pluck this flower safety.” So conversely we feel it Avould be unwise to require the insured to prove receipt of the notice of accident by the insurer.
While Ave have been reluctant to set aside the findings of a chancellor, still this court has in the past and
In the case at bar it is clear that the record reveals absolutely no actual conflict whatsoever in the testimony as to the mailing of the notice of cancellation; that only by inference or presumption under the minority view can a conflict be asserted; that the appellant complied strictly with the terms and conditions of the policy; that the appellant had the right, under the policy and the conditions thereof, to cancel the policy protecting the appellee; that this cancellation was accurately and properly effected. It follows therefore that the findings of fact by the learned chancellor in the decree entered thereon are manifestly incorrect and should be reversed. Smith v. Cook, 213 Miss. 876, 58 So. 2d 27; Abraham v. Harvey, 245 Miss. 449, 147 So. 2d 639; Griffith’s Mississippi Chancery Practice, 2d Ed., Sec. 674, pp. 741-743.
Since there is no positive dispute in the evidence, and furthermore since the evidence consists of authenticated written documents, this court has the right to make its own construction thereof. Northern Assurance Co. v. J. J. Newman Lumber Co., 105 Miss. 688, p. 695, 63 So. 209. This case falls squarely within the rule announced in Smith v. Cook, supra. It is the duty of this court to reverse the decree based upon findings which are manifestly incorrect, against the overwhelming weight of the evidence, some of which consists of written documents the contents of which are not in dispute.
Some may feel that the majority rule which we adopt in construing the cancellation clause of this insurance contract is obdurate, but we feel that ex
The right to contract is a sacred right, and a contract, entered into in good faith, free from fraud, and not in violation of law by the parties, like a man’s word, should be respected and enforced. The court should not alter or nullify a contract that is lawful, unambiguous and embodies the agreements of the contracting parties. If it is oppressive, and if generally utilized will not be for the public good, then it is within the province of the legislative branch of our state government to modify, restrict or prohibit, but not unconstitutionally, the contracting’ rights and powers of its citizens.
For all of these reasons, the findings and decree of the trial court are reversed, and judgment is entered here for the appellant.
Reversed and judgment entered for appellant.
Dissenting Opinion
Dissenting:
While I have great respect for the opinions of all my colleagues on the Court, I do not agree with the conclusion which has been reached by the majority in this case. It is therefore with deference that I state briefly my reasons for this dissent.
Joseph J. Nosser on November 14, 1961, purchased from Employers Mutual Casualty Company, through its agent at Natchez, a liability insurance policy on his automobile for a one year period, paying the premium therefor in cash. Subsequently on February 28, 1962, he purchased additional coverage and likewise paid the premium in cash. On April 4, 1962, he was involved in a collision between his car and another. He reported the wreck immediately to the insurance
The defendant pled provision 16, being the cancellation provisions of the policy, the pertinent part of which is as follows: “This policy may be canceled by the company by mailing to the insured named in Item 1 of the declarations at the address shown in this policy written notice stating when not less than ten days thereafter such cancellation shall be effective. The mailing of notice as aforesaid shall be sufficient proof of notice. The time of surrender or the effective date and hour of cancellation stated in the notice shall become the end of the policy period * * * . Premium adjustment may be made either at the time cancellation is effected or as soon as practicable after cancellation becomes effective, but payment or tender1 of unearned premium is not a condition of cancellation.” (Emphasis supplied).
Nosser testified as follows: He lived alone at 13 Brentwood Lane, Natchez, Mississippi, the address given in the policy, in a two bedroom house. He was secretary-treasurer of Jitney Jungle in that city. He had a business education and knew the necessity for attention to his mail. All of Ms mail came to the above address, where he had a mail box. There was no one at his home except the maid, who cleaned up the premises, and she did not touch his mail. He was the only one who ever handled it. Mail was important to him. and he gave it his full attention. He opened every piece each day and carefully observed its contents. He
The insurance company offered two of its agents, who testified that they had directions from the company to cancel this policy; and that a form of cancellation was prepared in full accordance with the provisions of the above stated cancellation paragraph. The lady employee testified that she carried to the post office a sealed, postage prepaid, properly addressed letter to the appellee, in which the original cancellation notice was enclosed, and delivered it to a postal employee, and that he gave her a receipt for it and then placed the letter in the mail box. The receipt, dated March 15, 1962, stating that it was a piece of mail, and a copy of the alleged cancellation, were introduced in evidence. The witness used the so called window envelopes, that is, the address on the enclosure was folded so that it served, by means of the transparent material in the window, for the address of the envelope. But, on cross-examination, she was sure that she had never folded one so that it slipped out of position or could not be read. She admitted that she had handled many pieces of such mail, and, while she did not remember even half of the names of the people to whom she had sent mail, she was positive that she remembered this one.
Thus, on the one hand, an employee of the company (an interested witness) testified that she mailed the letter. The postal receipt was for “one piece of ordinary mail”, and in no way identified the contents of the letter. On the other hand, the appellee (an interested witness) testified that he did not receive the letter.
The chancellor was sitting as judge of both the law and the evidence, saw the witnesses as they testified, observed their demeanor, and was in better position to determine the weight, worth and credibility of the witnesses than an appellate court. In a written opinion, he took note that the policy had been amended shortly before the accident; and that neither the local agent nor the company itself, with whom the appellee had dealt, claimed to have given the notice of cancellation. He then found as a fact that no notice of cancellation was in fact mailed to the appellee; that the appellee received no notice; and that, while the unearned premium of $87 had not been returned or tendered even at the trial and that such was not a prerequisite to cancellation, at the same time this failure to refund had evidentiary weight with him that there had been no cancellation.
Professor Wigmore, in his treatise on Evidence, in Section 2519, Yol. 9 3rd ed., has a discussion on the “Execution and Contents of Document: (1) Letters and
“(a) Where the issue is whether the letter was received by the addressee it often occurs that the addressee’s testimony denies the arrival and receipt. This being some evidence to the negative of the issue, the binding* effect of the presumption ends, and the issue goes to the jury to decide upon the weight of the evidence. On this point a Court is occasionally found holding* that the uncontradicted testimony of the addressee denying the receipt ‘entirely negatives the presumption;’ and that therefore the jury cannot find for the receipt; which is, of course, unsound because the jury may not believe the denial, as other Courts have pointed out.
“(b) Whether the letter was mailed, becomes often the issue under the substantive law; for example, in charging* an indorser of a negotiable instrument with a notice of the notarial protest, or in charging an insured with notice of a premium clue; here the actual receipt of. the letter becomes immaterial; the mailing suffices. But suppose that the addressee testifies in denial of the receipt¶ If this denial be believed, then is not the non-arrival of the letter some evidence that
“If therefore the addressee’s testimony (also an interested witness) be believed, the non-arrival of such a letter is some evidence that no such letter was mailed; in short, it becomes essentially a question which testimony the jury will believe; therefore the case may go to the jury on that issue. This is the correct view, accepted by many Courts; some of them, however, limit such a ruling to cases where the testimony to mailing comes from an interested witness; some of them ask for something circumstantial in addition to the addressee’s mere denial.” (Emphasis supplied). The author lists in the notes to the above statements a number of cases to justify his conclusion. See also cases on this question cited in 1962 pocket supplement thereto.
The foregoing authority seems to point out clearly that where the evidence on the one hand is that the letter was mailed, but the evidence on the other hand is that the letter was not received by the sendee, this raises an issue for the determination by the jury as to whether the letter was in fact mailed.
Thus because of the reputation of the United States mails for efficiency, according to the authorities, two so-called “presumptions” seem to have arisen, namely, (1) a letter, directed to the sendee at his post office
This Court appears to be committed to the above doctrine. In the case of Young v. Westphalen & Co., 111 Miss. 765, 72 So. 193 (1916), J. K. Young, Administrator of the Estate of W. L. Young, and other alleged partners, were sued by the appellees for damages alleged to have accrued on account of the breach of a contract. During the trial, J. P. Leake testified that W. L. Young had been a member of the firm of J. P. Leake & Company from June 1908 to May 1909; but that in July 1909 the witness wrote the plaintiffs that Young had withdrawn from the firm and that the witness would continue in business alone, and that he posted this letter in the U. S. mails. The plaintiffs denied receiving this letter. At the close of the evidence the court directed a verdict for the plaintiffs and Young appealed. This Court, in reversing the judgment of the court, granting a peremptory instruction, said: ‘‘While a presumption that a letter, properly addressed, stamped, and mailed, reached the addressee is not conclusive, but may be rebutted by evidence showing that the letter in fact was not received, whether the rebutting evidence is sufficient to overcome the presumption is a question for the jury. See cases cited in notes to Peder Silberberg Co. v. McNeil, 49 L.R.A. (N.S.) 468, and Merchants’ Exchange Company v. Sanders, 4 Ann. Cas. 955. It follows, therefore, that in the case at bar it ivas for the jury to say whether a letter addressed to appellees, notifying them of the dissolution of the partnership of J. P. Leake & Co., was mailed, and, if mailed, whether it was received.” (Emphasis supplied).
In McCreary v. Stevens, 156 Miss. 330, 126 So. 4 (1929), Stevens sued the appellants to recover on three promissory notes, executed by them to Brenard Mfg.
In Allied American Mutual Fire Ins. Co. v. Paige, Municipal Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, 143 A. 2d 508 (1958), the appellees purchased a policy of automobile liability insurance from appellant in Peb
Appellees were subsequently involved in a collision with another car and had to pay for the damages. Appellant refused to make reimbursement because, they said, the policy had been canceled prior to the collision. The trial judge, sitting without a jury, rendered judgment for appellees, from which this appeal was taken.
The only question was whether the policy was effectively canceled. Appellant contended that it mailed to appellees a notice of cancellation prior to the damage. Appellees denied receiving such a notice, and the trial judge found that they did not receive it. Appellant argued that cancellation was accomplished by simply depositing the notice in the mail, and that actual receipt by the policyholder was unnecessary. It was said that several courts, which have passed on the type of provision involved, reached and enforced such an interpretation. The court then assumed, without so holding, that only mailing and not receipt of the notice was required to cancel the policy.
But the appellees urged that appellant’s proof was insufficient to establish its claim that it had in fact mailed the notice. The court then pointed out that the testimony in appellant’s behalf was furnished by a Mr. Bittner, one of its local agents, who testified that he was familiar with the procedures and customs in both the Washington and Upper Darby offices. He stated that when a cancellation was decided upon, a letter was
The opinion then said: “It is argued that appellant’s proof of mailing was not refuted merely by appellees’ evidence of nonreceipt and consequently appellant should have been awarded judgment. We recognize that some of the cases, which have held that mailing alone effected cancellation, have also determined that proof of mailing* is not rebutted by testimony that the notice was not received. * * * Other courts, however, have rejected this approach. As Wigmore has pointed out, the presumption of receipt by the addressee, which is created by proof that mail matter was properly stamped, addressed and delivered to the post office, is founded on the supposed uniform efficiency of the postal service ; consequently if the mails are functioning properly, then a failure to receive a certain letter tends also to show that it was in fact never posted. We believe that this is the correct view and accordingly adopt it. Thus evidence of nonreceipt is sufficient to rebut a prima facie case of mailing and create a true issue of fact to be resolved by the trier of facts as to whether the claimed mailing did occur.”
White v. Dixie Fire Insurance Co., 36 S. E. 2d 923 (1946), a Supreme Court of North Carolina case, was
The cancellation clause was as follows: ‘ ‘ This policy may be canceled by the company hy mailing to the insured at the address shown in this policy written notice stating when not less than 5 days thereafter such cancellation shall be effective. The mailing of the notice as aforesaid shall he sufficient proof of notice and the effective date and hour of date of cancellation stated in the notice shall become the end of the policy period. Delivery of such written notice either by the insured or by the company shall be equivalent to mailing. * * * If the company cancels, earned premiums shall be computed pro rata. Premium adjustment may be made at the time cancellation is effected, and, if not then made, shall be made as soon as practicable after cancellation becomes effective. The company’s check or the check of its representative mailed or delivered as aforesaid shall be sufficient tender of any refund of premium due to the insured.” (Emphasis supplied).
The plaintiff alleged and offered evidence to show that the upset occurred February 28, 1945; that he mailed the proper notice of the occurrence to the company on the same day; that the defendants declined liability, declaring that it had cancelled the policy on January 8, 1945 and notified the plaintiff of such cancellation; that the plaintiff had not received any notice of cancellation, nor did he receive the unearned part of the premium until a check, dated March 3, 1945, was received several days later; and that he returned the check.
On the trial, the “defendant introduced as its only witness one M. L. Martin, who testified, summarily stating: That he is the countersigning agent at Severn, Northampton County, North Carolina, of the Dixie Fire
“Defendant further offered in evidence the allegation of the complaint as to receipt and return of check for unearned ■ premium. ’ ’
As to the contention of the appellant that its evidence was overwhelming, the court said:
“Appellant next contends that even if it be not entitled to judgment as of nonsuit on plaintiff’s evidence, the testimony of the witness M. L. Martin is not contradicted and is not in conflict with plaintiff’s evidence,*582 and lienee its motion for judgment as of nonsuit at the close of all the evidence should have been granted. As to this, what is said above as to the first contention is an appropriate answer.”
In Verecchia v. De Siato, (American Mutual Life Ins. Co. Garnishee) 45 A. 2d 8 (1946), a Supreme Court of Pennsylvania case, Verecchia had sued De Siato for injuries occasioned from the latter’s car, on which the Garnishee carried the liability. It refused to defend. Verecchia recovered a judgment for $4,040, and then sued the Garnishee. The trial judge, at the close of the evidence, directed a verdict for the Garnishee. However, on motion for a new trial on the ground that it should' have been submitted to the jury, he sustained the same, and following such trial, the jury found for the plaintiff.
The method of cancellation was as follows: ‘ ‘ This policy may be canceled by the company by mailing written notice to the named insured at the address shown in this policy stating when not less than five days thereafter such cancellation shall be effective. The mailing of notice as aforesaid shall be sufficient proof of notice and the insurance under this policy shall end on the effective date and hour of cancellation stated in the notice. Delivery of such written notice either by the named insured or by the company shall be equivalent to mailing.”
The company contended at the trial that the cancellation notice was duly prepared, the covering envelope was properly addressed, postage was affixed and the notice deposited in the United States mail in the due course of office procedure. This contention was presented by the oral evidence of a clerk, who also identified a postage receipt as having been given by the local post office for the notice, although, of course, this receipt referred only to an envelope and not to its contents. The insured denied having received the can
Refunds of unearned premiums might be made at the time cancellation was effected and, if not then, as soon as practicable after cancellation became effective.
The company held the premium refund at the time of the attempted cancellation, but the opinion said: “However, the policy obliged the company only to make the refund premium as soon as practicable after cancellation had become effective.”
The decision of the issue at stake was as follows: “On the state of the record thus indicated, we concluded that it ivas for the jury to pass upon the evidence as to whether the notice of cancellation had m fact been duly sent. The clerk’s oral testimony was circumstantially strongly supported by a ‘document’ — the postal receipt; but this did not withdraw the question of notice from the circle of dispute or controversy. The insurer had the burden of proving the policy had been terminated, and whether the notice had been duly given remained an issue of fact despite the circumstance that the undoubted weight of the evidence inclined toward the insurance company. In other words, the credibility of the clerk’s testimony with reference to the notice and the mailing of it was for the jury. See Osche v. New York Life Insurance Company, 324 Pa. 1, 187 Pa. 1, 187 A. 396; Zenner v. Goetz, 324 Pa. 432, 188 A. 124; MacDonald v. Pennsylvania R. Co., 348 Pa. 558, 36 A. 2d 492.” (Emphasis supplied).
The order granting- the new trial, and the result thereof, was affirmed.
In Keeling v. Travelers Ins. Co., Hartford, Conn., 67 P. 2d 944 (1937), a Supreme Court of Oklahoma case, Keeling- was the beneficiary of an insurance policy on the life of his wife. The policy was paid up. Under
The opinion then said: “This court has heretofore announced that when it is shown that a letter was prepared for mailing, was stamped and put in the mail, a presumption arises that the addressee received the letter in due course. Reeves & Co. v. Martin, 20 Okl. 558, 94 P. 1058; United States Fire Ins. Co. v. L. C. Adam Merc. Co., 117 Okl. 73, 245 P. 885, and other cases. This presumption arises and is indulged because of the known dependability and regularity of the mails. This presumption is rebuttable.” The defendant introduced evidence that the letter containing the notice was mailed. The clerk, who so testified, based her testimony on the routine of her tasks and the office records she kept which indicated that she had performed her routine duty.
The plaintiff testified that neither he nor his wife, during her lifetime, received the notice. He explained why he knew Ms wife did not receive the notice by testifying she was not able during* this time to go for the mail; that she could not read (ostensibly compelling her to submit to her husband her mail for perusal); and that he always got the mail. The opinion then said: “Since the presumption above discussed arises because of our confidence in the mails, we must likewise apply it conversely, and when a person swears he did not receive a letter, a presumption arises that it was not mailed. It at least raises a doubt on that point.
*585 “We do not hold, that actual receipt of the letter was essential to notice of cancellation; but, we do hold that when plaintiff testified he did not receive the letter, he thereby raised a question of fact for the jury as to whether it was mailed. This identical question was so decided in the case of Wilson, v. Frankfort Marine, etc., Ins. Co., 77 N. H. 344, 91 A. 913, 914, and that court said: 'One error in this argument is the assumption that the jury must find that the letter was written and mailed. The presumption arising- from the known regularity of the United States mail service is as available for the supposed receiver of a letter as for the alleged sender thereof. If proof that a properly addressed and stamped letter loas posted gives rise to a presumption that it was received in due course (1 Wig. Ev. Sec. 95), so proof that no letter toas received warrants a finding that it was never posted. If this plaintiff’s testimony denying the receipt of the letter was believed, the jury would be warranted in going further and finding that the letter was not posted.’ See, also, 22 C. J. 102, Sec. 44, note 50.”
Because the issue should have been submitted to the jury, as, the opinion said, the jury “may well have chosen to believe the letter was not mailed from the character of the insurance company’s clerk’s testimony.” (Emphasis supplied.)
In Jensen v. Traders & General Ins. Co., 296 P, 2d 434 (1956) DCA California, after the Jensens obtained judgment against one Di Matteo, who carried a liability policy with Trader, etc., both of them brought this suit against the Insurance Company for reimbursement.
The Insurance Company pled the cancellation clause in the policy as follows: ‘ ‘ This policy may be canceled by the named insured by surrender thereof or by mailing to the company written notice stating when thereafter such cancellation shall be effective. This policy may
The company also adduced evidence tending to show that it mailed notices of cancellation to the policyholders (John Di Matteo and his son Jim) on August 10, 1951. The person in charge of its cancellation department did not specifically recall the handling of the papers in question. Based upon defendant’s office system and practice, she deduced from carbon copies of cancellation notices to the Di Matteos (which bore her initials) and from two post office receipts in the defendant’s possession, that the originals of these two notices were mailed in sealed envelopes properly addressed, with sufficient postage affixed. These postal receipts did not indicate the nature of the contents of the eiwelopes. A postal official who described the use and purpose of such a receipt explained it is not a receipt for registered mail; it serves solely as an acknowledgment of the receipt into the U. S. Mail of a piece of ordinary mail addressed to a person named on the receipt.
In holding that the Insurance Company was not entitled to a directed verdict, but that the evidence was sufficient to make a conflict to be resolved by the jury, the Court said: “This was competent evidence of mailing but not the only evidence on that subject. Plaintiffs John and Jim Di Matteo testified positively that no cancellation notice was received and that they had no inkling of any cancellation until three months later, when the accident occurred and they reported it to the insurance company. A circumstance tending inferential
“This furnishes a substantial basis for an inference that notices of cancellation were not mailed, and thus presented a conflict in the evidence to be weighed and resolved by the jury. ‘If proof that a properly addressed and stamped letter was posted gives rise to a presumption that it was received in due course (1 Wig. Ev. Sec. 95), so proof that no letter was received ivarrants a finding that it was never posted. If this plaintiff’s testimony denying the receipt of the letter was believed, the jury would be warranted in going further and finding that the letter was not posted.’ Wilson v. Frankfort Marine, Accident & Plate Glass Ins. Co., 1914, 77 N. H. 344, 91 A. 913, 914. See also Calkins v. Vaughan, 1927, 217 Ala. 56, 114 So. 570, 574; Matlock v. Citizens’ Nat. Bank, 1926, 43 Idaho 214, 250 P. 648, 649, 50 A.L.R. 1418; Hobson v. Security State Bank, 1936, 56 Idaho 601, 57 P. 2d 685, 688; Meyers v. Brown-Forman Distillery Co., 1942, 289 Ky. 185, 158 S.W. 2d 407, 412; Keeling v. Travelers Ins. Co., Hartford, Conn., 1937, 180 Okl. 99, 67 P. 2d 944, 945; Keller v. Provident Life & Accident Ins. Co., 1948, 213 S. C. 339, 49 S.E. 2d 577, 581; Cisco Mut. Life Ins. Assn. v. Ferguson, Tex. Civ. App. 1928, 8 S. W. 2d 546, 547-548; Texas Mut. Life Ins. Assn. v. Burns, Tex. Civ. App. 1936, 92 S.W. 2d 469, 470; Border State Life Ins. Co. v. Noble, Tex. Civ. App. 1940, 138 S. W. 2d 119, 122; IX AYigmore on Evi*588 deuce, 3rd Ed., pp. 432-433, Section 2519. In New York this principle has been applied in a case in which, the testimony of mailing came from an interested witness, Kingsland Land Co. v. Newman, 1896, 1 App. Div. 1, 36 N.Y.S. 960; rejected in a case in which the evidence of mailing* came from a disinterested witness (a notary’s certificate of protest) and was controverted merely by the addressee’s denial of receipt. Trusts & Guarantee Co. v. Barnhardt, 1936, 270 N. Y. 350, 1 N.E. 2d 459, 461-462, criticised in IX Wigmore on Evidence, supra, at pp. 433-434, note 4. The evidence in our case meets all of the requirements of the rule, even as limited in New York.”
South Carolina seems to be committed to the principle that proof of mailing is rebutted by proof of non-receipt, and, in such a case, the issue is for the jury to say whether the letter1 was mailed. Keller v. Provident Life and Accident Ins. Co., 49 S. E. 2d 577 (1948) a Supreme Court decision, citing its own cases, Texas and Idaho cases, and 50 A. L. R. 1418. Compare Matlock v. Citizens’ National Bank, 250 P. 648 (1926), a Supreme Court of Idaho case. See also Midwestern Ins. Co. v. Cathey, 262 P. 434 (1953), a Supreme Court of Oklahoma case, where the addressed envelope, containing the notice was returned to the sender, undelivered, with the notation of the postmaster “not here” and “unknown at address”, and the proof of mailing was held to be sufficient.
The majority opinion refers to certain citations in American Jurisprudence and Corpus Juris Secundum concerning the sufficiency of mailing to comply with provisions for notice. Of course, it has been impossible for me, in the short time for research, to read any considerable number of these cases. Confusion creeps in here just as Prof. Wigmore has pointed out. Prom a number of these cases, it seems clear that proof of mailing, with nothing else, is sufficient to make out a
The majority opinion concedes that North Carolina and Minnesota are at variance with its views. It lists Louisiana as being in the large number of States which support its view. Illustrative of what I have just said above is Paz v. Implement Dealers Mutual Ins. Co., 89 So. 2d 514, from that State, which is based on the view to which I subscribe. The majority opinion also lists Alabama as being on its side. Yet, in Boston Insurance Co. v. Bash, 82 So. 2d 177 (1955), from the Supreme Court of Alabama, cited by the majority, the opinion said: “There is an agreement that the notice required by the policy was given in the manner and form required.” The opinion went off solely on the failure to return the unearned premium at the time of cancellation; and the court held that this did not vitiate the cancellation.
In several of the cases which I have cited, the cancellation provisions have been almost identical. Belatively speaking, they are few in number; but it is unusual that so many cases can be found with such almost exactitude both on the law and the evidence.
It is said that, under oil and gas contracts, the mere mailing of the yearly rentals on the part of the lessee of an oil and gas lease keeps alive the rights of the lessee and that this method is recognized throughout the country. Hence, it is argued that the rule in that respect should be persuasive in the construction of the contract now before the Court. I do not think that these two matters run in parallel lines. In the instance of the oil and gas lease, the right to declare' and seek to cancel because of nonpayment may, of course, arise; but a cancellation' of the lease does not thereby auto
If the position of the appellant, as sanctioned by the majority opinion, becomes the law of this State, it will license insurance companies to issue and amend policies, and, when claims are reported under those policies, if one of its employees can go through the mental gymnastics of deposing to an incident of mailing notices, such as we have in this case, the companies themselves will become the sole judge and jury to affect the denial of the claim. The policyholder, although he has received no notice of cancellation through the mail or otherwise, may well forever keep his peace, go to a justice of the peace, and institute suit for the recovery of the unearned premium which the company still holds in its coffers. He has had no chance to protect himself by the purchase of other insurance. I can not get my consent to approve such a one-sided contract in view of the past pronouncements of principles by this Court, to my mind, determinative of this question.
Besides, I called attention, in the statement of facts, to the convenient memory of the appellant’s only witness who said that she mailed the letter, and who had never made a mistake in inserting enclosures in window envelopes. In addition, although she had mailed many letters, and frankly confessed that she could not remember even half of the names, yet was. insistent that she definitely remembered the letter to Nosser. The chancellor saw her and Nosser both testify. After observing the demeanor of the witness, he was in better position to decide what the truth was in this matter than the members of the court, reading the cold record. And as the trier of fact, he SOLEMNLY FOUND THAT
ON SUGGESTION OF ERROR
Appellee and the amicus curiae erroneously argue that our original opinion disregarded the evidential rule that testimony by an addressee that he did not receive a letter creates a presumption that it was not in fact mailed, and presents to the jury an issue on the question of mailing. 164 So. 2d 426. Clause 16 of the insurance policy provided that it could be cancelled by the company by mailing to insured a notice of cancellation, and “mailing of notice . . . shall he sufficient proof of notice.” The proof of mailing was very strong and in fact uncontradicted. It was much more than a simple statement that the notice was mailed. There was testimony by appellant’s clerk, describing the reasons she remembered this particular mailing and the fact of mailing; and documentary evidence in the form of a certificate of mailing executed by the post office department, dated the same day as the notice of cancellation.
The mailing of a notice under clause 16 is sufficient to effect a cancellation. Actual receipt by insured of it is not a condition precedent to termination of the policy by insurer. The unequivocal and undisputed testimony of the mailing, both oral and documentary, constituted proof of the fact of mailing. It removed any presumption of law. The presumption disappeared with the presentation of this undisputed evidence of mailing. 9 Wigmore, Evidence (3d ed. 1940), § 2491. No real presumption is meant to he predicated on evidence of nonreceipt, but it may create a sufficient
Certain Mississippi cases cited by appellee are not inconsistent with the decision here, since there the evidence of mailing was no more than the oral testimony of the purported sender that the letter in controversy was mailed. Moreover, these cases did not involve a contractual provision in an insurance policy for cancellation by mailing. Young v. Westphalen & Co., 111 Miss. 765, 72 So. 193 (1916); McCreary v. Stevens, 156 Miss. 330, 126 So. 4 (1930); see Threatt v. Threatt, 212 Miss. 555, 54 So. 2d 907 (1951).
In the instant case, there was no denial that such notice was mailed. The oral testimony of mailing was corroborated by the post office receipt. It was agreed that mailing should constitute proof of notice. To say that the mere testimony of the addressee that he did not receive the notice created a permissible inference that the letter was never mailed, would require us to disregard not only the explanatory testimony of the insurer’s clerk, but the unimpeached, uncontradicted, written official acknowledgment of the post office that it received this letter for transmission by mail to the addressee at his correct address. Any inference of non-mailing under a record of this type is too remote and of insufficient probative value to make a jury issue on whether the notice was actually mailed. Cherokee Ins. Co. v. Hardin, 202 Tenn. 110, 302 S.W. 2d 817 (1957).
Further permitting* an inference of nonmailing from a mere denial of receipt, where the evidence of mailing is of the weight indicated, would be little different from a rule that, even under the provisions of clause 16, nonreceipt of the notice defeated the cancellation, and this would be contrary to the terms of the contract.
Suggestions of error overruled.
Dissenting Opinion
Dissenting:
Lack of time prevented as complete research as I would have liked to disclose in the dissent against the majority opinion in this case. At the outset I cited the Wigmore rule on Evidence, Section 2519, Vol. 9, 3rd ed., and our three Mississippi cases, namely, Young v. Westphalen & Co., 111 Miss. 765, 72 So. 193; McCreary v. Stevens, 156 Miss. 330, 126 So. 4; and Threatt v. Threatt, 212 Miss. 555, 54 So. 2d 907.
In the Mississippi cases, this Court committed itself to what has become known as the Wigmore Rule, which, simply stated, is: A letter properly addressed, with postage prepaid, if mailed, is presumed to be delivered to the addressee; but, if such properly addressed envelope is not received by the addressee, it is presumed that it was not mailed. Consequently, where the evidence for the insurance company is to the effect that the cancellation of a policy, enclosed in an envelope and properly addressed, postage prepaid, is mailed to the policyholder, but the evidence for the policyholder is to the effect that the envelope, containing the cancellation, was not received by him, it is for the jury or trier of fact to say whether the notice was in fact mailed and the policy therefore cancelled.
In addition to the above named authorities, I cited Allied American Mutual Fire Ins. Co. v. Paige, Municipal Court of Appeals for District of Columbia, 143 A. 2d 508; White v. Dixie Fire Ins. Co., 36 S. E. 2d 923, a Supreme Court of North Carolina case; Verechia
An excellent amicus curiae brief has been filed on behalf of the appellee on suggestion of error. In addition to the cases heretofore cited, our attention has been called also to Jensen v. Traders & General Ins. Co., 141 Cal. App. 162, 296 P. 2d 434; Ireland v. Manufacturers & Merchants Indemnity Co., 298 S. W. 2d 529, a Missouri case; Griffin v. General Accident, Fire & Life Assur. Co., 116 N. E. 2d 41, and Grimes v. State Auto Mut. Ins. Co., 118 N. E. 2d 841, Ohio cases; and Allstate Ins. Co. v. Buck, 100 S. E. 2d 142, a Georgia case. These latter cases followed the Wigmore Rule. Adding these to those, previously cited, gives an aggregate of eleven cases.
On the other hand, a critical analysis of the citations in the majority opinion, especially 64 A. L. R. 2d 1000-1002, in my opinion, strips the rule adopted in the majority opinion, down to only five states, to-wit: Service Fire Ins. Co. of New York v. Markey, 83 So. 2d 855, a Florida case; Boyle v. Inter Insurance Exchange of Chicago Motor Club, 82 N. E. 2d 179, an Illinois Appeal
As I gather from the cases, drawn from twenty-four states, listed at pages 1000-1002 of 64 A. L. R. 2d, supra, except for the five states cited in the majority opinion, supra, the question involved in this controversy did not even appear in the other cases.
The response of the majority is that there was no denial of the mailing. How, pray tell me was Nosser to deny the mailing other than by his sworn testimony that it was not delivered because, if it had been mailed, it would have been received by him! He was not present, of course, when the alleged mailing occurred. Besides, the postoffice receipt was for “a piece of ordinary mail” and not for an envelope, containing the cancellation of this insurance policy. In other words, the majority opinion construes the provisions of this policy to mean that an employee of an insurance company can become witness, judge, jury, and executioner. Thus the statement of a witness for the insurance company becomes the end of the law — that voice is a “thus saith the law”.
I do not see how a policyholder, with such a provision as the one in the policy, considered by the Court, can feel secure that his insurance is in force and effect
I do not think that our people should even be permitted, much less required, to live under such a onesided contract.
This further dissent is recorded in the sincere hope that the legislature, at its next session, will give this question attention and correct a gross inequality, as I see it, in the field of liability insurance.
I concur in the dissenting opinion of Chief Justice Lee. It is obvious to me, from the authorities cited in the briefs and carefully documented in the opinions written in this case, that this Court had a choice as to whether or not.it would follow the rule that the failure to receive a letter raises a rebuttable presumption that the letter was not mailed, and presents a question for the determination of the jury; or whether we would follow the rule that testimony to the effect that the letter was mailed was sufficient to establish the fact of mailing notice as a matter of law. I feel that the latter rule is not to the best interest of the people of
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