Union Central Life Insurance v. Buxer
Union Central Life Insurance v. Buxer
Opinion of the Court
As this policy was made payable to the husband at maturity if then alive, and to his wife at his death if he died before its maturity, it was to the interest of both to keep the policy in force by the payment of the annual premiums, either in cash or by premium note.
Payment might be made in cash or by note as the parties should determine. As to his interest in the policy -he could give a premium note with a forfeiture clause broader and more onerous than the forfeiture clause in the policy, but as she had a vested interest in the policy, in case she survived him, he could not affect her rights
He paid the second and third annual premiums by giving a note therefor in the first instance, and he had an equal right to pay the fourth premium in the same manner, but if it contained a broader forfeiture
The forfeiture clause in the premium note in this case, however, is not broader, as to the question here involved, than the same clause in the policy. Both provide in effect that upon failure to pay the note given for premium at its maturity, the policy shall be null and void. The forfeiture clause in the policy is in effect that upon failure to pay. the premium, all outstanding premium notes having been paid at maturity, the policy shall become a paid-up term policy, but without the payment of such notes, the policy shall not become a paid-up term policy, but shall be null and void, without action on part of the company or notice to the insured or beneficiary. The forfeiture clause in the premium note in question is that “said policy including all conditions therein for surrender or continuance as a paid-up term policy shall without notice to any party or parties interested therein be null and void on the failure to pay this note at maturity with interest at eight per cent, per annum, payable annually.” The failure to pay a premium note at maturity would prevent the policy from becoming a paid-up term policy, under the forfeiture clause in the policy, and the failure to pay the premium note in question at maturity made the condition as to continuance as a paid-up term policy null and void; so that the failure to pay the premium note in question, prevented the policy from becoming a paid-up term policy, both under the forfeiture clause in the policy and under the same clause in the note. The forfeiture clause in the.note is, therefore, as to the question of the policy continuing as a paid-up term policy, not broader or more onerous than the same clause in the policy, failure to pay an outstanding premium note under either clause preventing its continuance as a paid-up term policy.
The plaintiff below plead the conditions of the policy as to forfeiture, the continuance as a paid-up
The insurance company in its answer plead and relied upon both conditions of forfeiture in the policy and in the note, and admitted that it had failed to give notice of the maturity of the note, and failed to demand payment thereof, and refused to make a loan on the policy.
There was some testimony introduced upon the trial, but it did not change the legal effect of the foregoing conceded facts in the pleadings. Those facts are controlling, and an application of the law to those facts will dispose of the case.
Leaving the forfeiture clause in the note out of the question, it is conceded that the premium note was never paid, and is yet outstanding, and therefore by the terms of the policy there was never a continuance as a paid-up term policy, unless there is to be found something in the transaction which is the equivalent of payment of the note. Two things are plead and relied upon in that connection.
First, the policy provided that after the payment of three annual premiums the insured might borrow certain named sums .from the company graded as to the amount, by the number of premiums paid, pledging his policy as collateral security. The petition averred that he relied upon this means of obtaining money with which to pay his premium, and that he applied for a loan about the 30th day of May, 1895, and was refused, and that such refusal was the cause of his failure to pay the premium note. The date of the application for a loan and the refusal are both admitted in the answer. The premium note became due May first, 1895, and was not paid at maturity and
Secondly, the claim is made in the petition that the company did not in its dealing with the insured insist upon the prompt payment of premiums and premium notes, and gave no notice and made no demand of payment of this note, as is more fully shown in the statement of facts above. While such a lenient course of dealing with the insured might, under certain circumstances, entitle him to further reasonable time to make payment, it could not serve as payment itself, or the equivalent thereof. In this case there was never any payment of the premium note and no tender of payment, and therefore the policy became null and void by its own terms, and the condition upon which it might continue as a paid-up term policy — the payment of all outstanding premium notes — was never complied with. In such a case the payment of all outstanding premium notes is a condition precedent to the policy being continued as a paid-up term policy.
The policy could not be kept alive as a continued paid-up term policy under the provision of the policy following: “If the insured shall die while said term policy is in force, the amount of foreborne premiums, with interest at sis per cent, shall be deducted from the sum insured.” The insured did not die while the policy was in force, but long after it had lapsed.
It is therefore clear from the conceded and admitted facts, that the policy was not in force at the death of the insured, and that the plaintiff below has no cause of action against the insurance company.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting. The policy sued on in this case was one with many features favorable to the insured and the beneficiary. 1. It insured the life of the hsuband for the benefit of his wife for the period of his natural life, in the sum of $1,000; 2. it was, from its execution, a maturing “endoivment policy” in favor of the insured, in a like sum payable at twenty years from its date on the continued performance of its conditions; 3. after three years’ premiums had been paid, and all notes for the same, it could be converted into “a paid-up, non-participating life policy” for an ^ amount indicated in certain tables, upon the surrender of the policy first given. Again, at its maturity as an endowment policy the insured, instead of receiving payment of $1,000, could apply it to the purchase of “an annual income for life of $95.58;” or, to the purchase of “a paid-up life policy” of $1,491, with particpation in profits on furnishing a satisfactory medical examination, or, on surrendering the policy, the company agreed that it would on August 14, 1911, pay in cash its entire reserve value and its proportion of the company’s profits combined, provided the policy should not have been previously determined by lapse or death. It also contained a provision for a “paid-up term policy” in favor of the wife, in these words: “In case of default for non-payment of premium after three years, and no legal surrender having been made, the insured having paid at maturity all notes given for premium, then this policy shall, without surrender, but upon payment of all outstanding premium notes, become a paid-up term policy, without change of terms or conditions except as to the payment of premiums and
It is on this provision in the policy that the plaintiff, the wife of the insured, asked a recovery, and on which a judgment was rendered in her favor, which was affirmed by the circuit court.
It is admitted that all the conditions requisite to a paid-up term policy had, on August 15, 1894, been performed — all premiums to that time had been paid, and there were no outstanding notes; and if nothing more had been done, she would, at the date of her husband’s death, have been entitled to $1,000, less the amount of foreborne premiums, with interest at six per cent., as the insured died within the term of such paid-up policy.
This is not disputed by counsel for the company, who has argued the case with much fairness, but I think, on a mistaken construction of the terms of the policy. The claim is that this stipulation was modified by a note given for the premium due August 15, 1894 (premiums being due and payable in advance) ; and which note contained this provision:
“Said policy, including all conditions therein for surrender or continuance as a paid-up term policy, shall, without notice to any party or parties interested therein, be null and void upon failure to pay this note at maturity, with interest at eight per cent, per annum payable annually. In case this note is not paid at maturity the full amount of premium shall be considered earned as premium during its currency, and the note payable without reviving the policy or any of its provisions.”
It is admitted in the pleadings that the wife was no
It is claimed, however, that the husband had the right to give such a note, without the assent of his wife, in the interest of himself and for the benefit of his wife — as the policy would have been void as to everything secured by it, except the paid-up term, unless he were permitted to give a note for the premium. The argument is maintained with much plausibility, but it is not sound. Whether it would have been to the interest of the wife, or not, to surrender the advantage of a paid-up term policy for other possible advantages that might result from giving a note is immaterial. She could not, as we shall presently see, be affected by agreements to which she was not a party, on the ground that it might be to her interest; she had the right to be consulted in the matter and determine for herself whether she would abandon an interest that had vested in her, for some cither advantage that might accrue from giving such a note.
The provision contained in the note is inconsistent with the terms of the stipulation as to a paid-up term policy; and if such stipulations may be avoided in this way, they might as well be stricken from their policies. They would be more deceptive than real. First, it will be observed, that the right to such a policy only arises upon the non-payment of premium after three years, and no surrender of the policy has been made. As it rests upon a non-payment of premium after a certain number of premiums have been paid, a subsequent failure in this regard during the term cannot affect it — the consideration for it being the premiums that had, without default, been paid; and any agreement which requires the subsequent payment of a premium or a note given
The policy does, however, recognize the right of the insured to give, and of the company to receive, premium notes; and provides that a failure to pay them at maturity shall render the policy void; and from this it is argued that the note with the forfeiture clause in it as to the paid-up term policy, was authorized by the policy as issued. This policy, however, must as any other agreement, be construed together and such meaning given to it as will preserve all of its terms without impairing any of them, if that can be reasonably done; and like every instrument imposing a forfeiture it should be construed against the forfeiture, for forfeitures are not favored in law. There is, however, no difficulty in construing the language conferring the right to give notes for premiums with the provision that if not paid at maturity the policy should be void, so as not to affect a paid-up term policy that had previously accrued. As already pointed out, the policy has in it many features securing interests to the insured that are separate from those of the beneficiary; hence, in accordance with settled rules of construction, the effect of giving premium notes that are not paid at ma
Where a policy of insurance is taken by one for the benefit of another, it is in the nature of an executed gift, or as said by some, is a settlement in trust for the benefit of the beneficiary; and it is settled laAv that after it becomes vested, it cannot be changed or affected Avitliout the assent of the beneficiary. Bliss Life insurance, section 339; Lemon v. Phoenix Ins. Co., 38 Conn., 294; Ricker v. Ins. Co., 27 Minn., 193; Pilcher v. Ins. Co., 33 La Ann., 322; Chapin v. Fellowes, 36 Conn., 132; Timagenis v. Ins. Co., 21 Fed. Rep., 223; 2 May on Insurance, Sect. 399 P; 2 Joyce on Insurance, Secs. 730 and 1651; Pingrey v. Insurance Co., 144 Mass., 382; Manhattan Insurance Co. v. Smith, 44 Ohio St., 163, 167; The interest of the beneficiary is so distinct from that of the person procuring the insurance, that even the acts or declarations of the latter are not evidence against the beneficiary. Insurance Co. v. Applegate, 7 Ohio St.,, 292; Insurance Co. v. Cheever, 36 Ohio St., 201. Hence, though the hsuband had the right to give a note for the premium that became due August 15, 1894, £e had not the right to stipulate therein that, if it Avas not paid at maturity, the paid-up term policy should become void. This term in the note exceeded his authority and did not therefore affect his AAife. If it had been omitted, the effect of the non-payment of the note would simply have affected his OAvn interest, and there being no authority for its insertion, the effect of the non-payment of the note on the interest of the wife is the same as if it had been omitted.
If, by the taking of a note for the premium (that is, a straight note, which he might have taken without the assent of his Avife) a paid-up policy did not then accrue, it did on the non-payment of the note, for then in the language of the policy “a default for non-payment of premium” occured. The default oc
I therefore concur in the first and dissent from the other propositions of the syllabus, and from the reversal of the judgment.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.