Phillips v. United States Grand Lodge, Independent Order Sons of Benjamin

The action was brought by the plaintiff against the defendant to recover the sum of $i,coo as endowment money, which plaintiff claims she is entitled to recover from the defendant on the death of plaintiff’s husband, one Mark Phillips, who was a member of Daniel Webster Lodge No-, g, the same being a subordinate lodge of the defendant herein. It seems that the defendant is a fraternal benefit insurance company, and agreed by its constitution, which appears in evidence in this case, that, in consideration of certain dues and assessments to be paid by its members through subordinate lodges, they will pay upon the death of such member the sum of $i,coo to the widow absolutely, unless the member during his lifetime, by a written designation, otherwise disposed of such endowment; and no such claim is made here. The death of the plaintiff’s husband was proven, and the nonpayment of the endowment was also proven. The main question litigated upon the trial of this action was the fact whether the defendant properly complied with its constitution and bylaws in sending the notice required by section I of article io of the defendant’s constitution to the deceased member, plaintiff’s husband, and whether his suspension as a member was lawful. That section provides that a member indebted to his lodge in a sum equal to six months’ dues and assessment, or either, shall be stricken from the roll of membership. Such member shall be notified by the secretary, by registered letter, directed to his last known place of residence as entered upon the secretary’s books, of his indebtedness to his lodge in detail, at least io days in advance of such meeting, and, if such indebtedness be not paid at such meeting, then he is to be stricken from the roll after certain requirements shall have been complied with. After a careful reading of the testimony herein, we do not think the evidence shows that the deceased member received the notice as required by the defendant’s constitution, nor that he was notified as required therein. The defendant attempted to show that the deceased *1001received certain communications addressed to him by the officers of the subordinate lodge of which deceased was a member, but, in our opinion, the record is barren of any proof showing that the deceased actually received the notification required by defendant’s constitution. As we view this case, the only question to be determined is, was the deceased properly notified before his suspension ? and in this we think the defendant has wholly failed. In actions of this character, where the defendant seeks to obtain a forfeiture of the insurance, it should sustain the burden of proof in that respect by a clear preponderance of evidence, and must fully comply with its constitution and by-laws, as no presumption will be indulged in under the law to support a forfeiture. Darrow v. Society, 116 N. Y. 544, 22 N. E. 1093, 6 L. R. A. 495, 15 Am. St. Rep. 430; Griffey v. Insurance Co., 100 N. Y. 421, 3 N. E. 309, 53 Am. Rep. 202. Inasmuch as we have arrived at the conclusion that the defendant failed to comply with its constitution in giving the deceased member the proper notification as was required, it is deemed unnecessary to discuss the other exceptions raised upon the trial herein. It follows that the judgment must be reversed, and a new trial granted, with costs to appellant to abide the event.

Judgment reversed, and new trial granted, with costs to appellant to abide event. All concur.