Burke v. Prudential Insurance Co. of America

221 Mass. 253 | Mass. | 1915

Pierce, J.

Shortly before December Í4, 1903, Edward Burke made application to the Prudential Insurance Company of America, the defendant in this action, to insure the life of his son Richard, who was born November 3, 1889. On December 14, 1903, the defendant issued a policy numbered 18520029, on the life of Richard Burke, payable in case of death “unto the executors, administrators or assigns of the insured.”

Under this policy the person insured, and the beneficiary, was Richard Burke, with the right to the custody of the policy in the father. Bowers v. Parker, 58 N. H. 565. The father paid the premiums each week as they became due on the policy up to June 26, 1911, at which time Richard had more than arrived at the age of twenty-one years. No premiums thereafter were paid upon the policy by any one. So far as appears, without the authority of Richard, Margaret Burke, Richard’s mother, about July 1, 1911, entered into negotiations with an agent of the defendant which resulted in the delivery of the policy to the defendant and the tender of a paid up policy to the mother on July 3, 1911. When tendered she sent the agent with the paid up policy to see her husband. The husband testified that he never authorized any action in reference to the policy; that about the first week or the middle of July the agent came to his shop and placed the policy on the counter. “When he left it on the counter I got up and opened it. ... I seen the amount and I told him ‘Now didn’t you promise my wife that you would return this policy with the full amount of the old policy? ’ Well, he said nothing. I told him he ought to be ashamed of himself and I told him furthermore than he could take the paid up policy away and bring me back the old one. ... I don’t remember him saying anything, but he took the policy and went away.”

On November 30,1911, Richard made a special revival application for the reinstatement of policy No. 18520029,.in these terms: “I hereby declare myself, who was formerly insured under the above numbered policy, to be in as good a state of health as when said policy was issued, and that, having allowed it to become lapsed, I wish to renew it, upon the understanding that it will not be in force (although I now pay the arrears) until the company shall have consepted to revive the same.” He was examined March 24, 1912, and was rejected because suffering from tuberculosis. He died on December 22, 1912.

The policy was in terms payable to the executors, administrators and assigns of Richard Burke, and thus is distinguishable from that in Knowles v. Knowles, 205 Mass. 290. The father and mother as such were not owners or beneficiaries, nor had they as guardians by nature during the minority of Richard any legal right to consent to a cancellation of the policy or to its being changed to a paid up policy, at least before its forfeiture for the non-payment of premiums. Griffith v. New York Life Ins. Co. 101 Cal. 627. Hooker v. Sugg, 102 N. C. 115. Whitehead v. New York Life Ins. Co. 102 N. Y. 143. As Richard had reached his majority at the time the mother attempted, with the consent of the defendant, to surrender the policy for a paid up policy, it is clear that her act was not binding upon Richard; and it was equally clear that the policy, as between Richard and the defendant, was legally unchanged.

The record discloses neither acts nor defaults to warrant the argument that the jury could find either waiver or estoppel to assert that the premiums were not paid or tendered as they became due.

It becomes unnecessary to determine whether the mother’s act was induced by misrepresentation and therefore voidable, because before the policy had lapsed for the non-payment of premiums all parties were aware that the father and the mother repudiated the alleged surrender and claimed the policy to be in force.

The obligation of a life insurance contract, in the absence of contract or statute otherwise providing, is conditional upon the payment of the premiums as they become due. Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. Allen, 138 Mass. 24, 27. 25 Cyc. 698, and cases cited. In the case at bar no premiums were paid, or tendered and refused, after June 27, 1911. The policy by its terms lapsed thereafter at the expiration of four weeks. The sixth provision of the policy provides: “If this policy is lapsed for non-payment of premium, it will be revived within one year from the date to which premiums have been duly paid upon payment of all arrears, provided evidence of the insurability of the insured satisfactory to the company be furnished.” The insured availed himself of the provision, was examined, found to be suffering from tuberculosis, and was rejected.

There remained to him the right to a paid up life policy, in accordance with chapter 356 of the laws of 1895 of the State of New Jersey.

This action is upon the original policy, and for the reasons above stated cannot be maintained.

The ruling of the presiding judge was right, and the entry must be

Exceptions overruled.