Gottlieb v. Abraham Lincoln Mutual Life Insurance
Gottlieb v. Abraham Lincoln Mutual Life Insurance
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
This is an action in assumpsit on a policy of insurance. The suit was brought by the administrator of the estate of the deceased insured person. The only question raised by the pleadings is whether the insurance contract was in force at the time of the death of the insured. The contract of insurance was what is known as a twenty payment life policy. One of the conditions or privileges written into the contract is the following: “After the first premium, shall have been paid a grace of thirty days, during which the contract shall remain in force, will be allowed in the payment of premiums by the insured or by any one for him.” The first annual premium was paid and the second was due August 5, 1908, but was not paid upon that date, nor at the time of the death of the insured, August 28, 1908. Under these circumstances appellant contends that failure to pay the annual premium when due, or at least prior to the death of the insured, relieves the company from liability on the insurance contract. The theory is, that failure to pay the premium on the date specified worked a forfeiture of the right to recover, and that the thirty days of grace in which to pay only constituted a privilege by which the insured could reinstate his forfeited insurance, but that the delay was at the risk of the insured and no liability attached to the company until the premium was paid and accepted. Some cases are cited in support of
Judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Gottlieb v. Abraham Lincoln Mutual Life Insurance Company
- Cited By
- 5 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Insurance — Life insurance — Payment of premiums — Days of grace— Failure to pay premiums — Forfeiture. Where a policy of life insurance provides that “after the first premium shall have been paid a grace of thirty days, during which the contract shall remain in force, will be allowed in the payment of premiums by the insured or by anyone for him,” and it appears that the insured paid the first premium and died without paying the second and within thirty days after it became due, the failure to pay the second premium within the days of grace does not involve a forfeiture of the policy.