Franklin Life Ins. v. Staats
Franklin Life Ins. v. Staats
Opinion of the Court
Appellee brought this suit as beneficiary to recover on a policy of life insurance in the sum of $10,000, issued to her husband, Boise Patrick Staats, by appellant; to recover a statutory penalty of 12 per cent, for delay in payment and reasonable attorney’s fees. A motion to direct a verdict for defendant was overruled, the case was submitted to the jury, and a verdict was rendered as prayed for. The appeal is from the judgment entered on the verdict.
There are seventeen assignments of error, eight of which run to the overruling of the motion for a directed verdict.
The theory of the defense was that the policy had not been delivered and had lapsed for nonpayment of the quarterly premium due July 25, 1935. The case was submitted to the jury on conflicting. evidence as to these defenses. Walley testified that he had held the policy as security for his advances and had never delivered it to the insured; that the insured had never paid him any money on account of the premiums and had not complied with his agreement to build the gárage. On the other hand, in addition' to the facts above stated showing constructive delivery, there was testimony tending to show that the policy had actually been delivered to the insured and he had returned it to Walley for the purpose of having certain indorsements made upon it. There was also evidence tending to show that the insured had actually paid a sum of money to Walley and received a receipt for it; that at this time he stated to Walley this finished his cash payments, which Walley did not deny; and that Walley had made statements that he had received all the cash that the insured had agreed to pay.
Conceding that Walley was not authorized to change the condition of the policy regarding the payment of premiums and the company could not be bound by his action in accepting anything other than money for the entire premium, the situation here presented is different. The insured agreed to pay one-half of the premium in cash. Appellant was entitled to only 30 per cent, of the first year’s premium. If Walley collected one-half of the premium in cash the insurance company would be bound, as it was without interest as to the proportion to which Walley was entitled. American Nat. Ins. Co. v. Blysard, Tex.Civ.App., 207 S.W. 162; New York Life Ins. Co. v. Ollich, 6 Cir., 42 F.2d 399.
Appellant assigns error to the allowance of the penalty of 12 per cent, and attorney’s fees. Under the law of Texas, Rev.Stat.1925, art. 4736, as amended by acts 1931, c. 91, § 1, Vernon’s Ann.Civ.St. Tex. art. 4736, appellee was entitled to recover a penalty of 12 per cent, and reasonable attorney’s fees in the event the insurer did not pay within thirty days after demand. Since the' insurance company declined to accept proof of death and denied liability on the policy, further demand for payment was unnecessary. Penn Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. Maner, 101 Tex. 553, 109 S.W. 1084; Standard Acc. Ins. Co. v. Bittie, 5 Cir., 36 F.2d 152. It is not contended that the attorney’s fee allowed was excessive nor could it be, considering the extensive litigation necessary to collect on the policy.
It was not error to deny a directed verdict. The allowance of penalties and attorney’s fees was proper. Other assignments of error are entirely without merit and require no discussion.
The record presents no reversible error.
The judgment appealed from is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- FRANKLIN LIFE INS. CO. OF SPRINGFIELD, ILL. v. STAATS
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published