Manhattan Life Ins. v. Patterson

109 Ky. 624 | Ky. Ct. App. | 1901

Opinion of the court by

JUDGE DuRELLE

Affirming.

In November, '1897, the appellee obtained from appellant company a life policy for $5,000 on the twenty-payment life plan. He paid five consecutive annual premiums, and, nearly five years after making default in the payment of the sixth premium, applied to the company for a nonparticipating paid-up policy for such sum as the legal net reserve on the policy at the time of lapsing would purchase as a single premium at the company’s published rates. On the pleadings, judgment was rendered against the company. On this appeal, the cases of Hexter v. Insurance Co., 91 Ky., 356, (15 S. W., 863), and Insurance Co. v. Barbour, 92 Ky., 429, (17 S. W., 796), (15 L. R. A., 449), are relied on; although in the case of Insurance Co. v. Jarboe, 42 S. W., 1099, (39 L. R. A., 506), this court said, in an opinion by Judge Guffy: “To the extent, if any, that the principles announced in the decisions in Insurance Co. v. Barbour and Hexter v. Insurance Co. conflict with the doctrine announced in Montgomery v. Insurance Co., 14 Bush, 51, they are overruled.”

Appellant undertakes to show that the cases of Hex-ter and Barbour were not in conflict with the Montgomery case, in 14 Bush, 51, and were distinguished from it in the opinions rendered in those cases; that in the Jar-boe case it was expressly decided that the facts of that case brought it directly within the principles announced in the Montgomery case; that, therefore, it was not within the principles laid down in the Hexter and Barbour cases, which had been distinguished from the Montgomery case, and, not being in conflict with the Montgomery case, have not been' overruled at all, because they were overruled to the extent only that they were in conflict with it. Following counsel’s logic out to its legitimate conclusion, the clause in the Jarboe opinion which oyerrules those two eases, in so far as they conflict with the Montgomery case, is absolutely without meaning, because there is nothing to which the language of the opinion can apply. In order to properly consider this argument, we must examine the provisions of the policies in the four cases referred to, in connection with those in the case at bar. Counsel concedes that “the rulings of this court on the question as to whether or not time is of the essence of a contract such as is involved in -this appeal have not been apparently harmonious.”

In the Montgomery case, in which a most carefully prepared and elaborate opinion was delivered by Judge Oofer, the policy was a ten-year endowment, and contained this provision: “It being understood-and agreed that if, after the receipt of this company of not less than two or more annual premiums, this policy should cease in consequence of the non-payment of premiums, then, upon a surrender of the same, provided such surrender is made to the company within twelve months from the time of such ceasing, a new policy will be issued for the value acquired under the old one, subject to any notes that may have been received on account of premiums; that is to say, if payments for two years shall have been made, it will issue a policy for two-tenths of the sum originally insured.” It also contained a provision that, if the annual premiums were not paid on the dates fixed, “then in every such case the said company shall not be liable for the payment of the whole sum assured, but only for a part thereof, proportionate with the annual payments made as above specified, and this policy shall cease and determine.” At the time the last payment became due upon which any payment was made there was a partial payment in cash, and a note executed for the unpaid amount, which provided: “And it is hereby understood arid agreed that, if the amount of this note shall not be paid when due, the said policy shall be null and void.” The note was not paid, no demand was made for its payment, no offer to return it or the last cash payment was made, no other premiums were paid, and the insured died without surrendering his policy, or demanding a new one, over three years after the execution of the note. It was held that the widow, who was the beneficiary under the policy, might recover five-tenths of the amount of the policy, subject to deduction for the amount due upon the notes.

In the Hexter case, the policy provided that, if the premiums should not be paid on or before the days mentioned for the payment thereof, “then, and in every such case, the said company shall not be liable to the payment of the sum insured, or any part thereof, and this policy shall cease and determine; provided that if, after the receipt by this company of not less than two whole years’ premiums, this policy should cease in consequence of the nonpayment of premiums, then upon the surrender of the same, provided such surrender is made to the company within twelve months from the time of such ceasing, a new policy will be issued for a proportion of the premiums paid.” More than two yeans’ premiums were paid, and after the death of the insured, and nearly fifteen years after the last payment of premium, suit was brought for an amount proportionate to the premiums paid. In an opinion by Judge Bennett it was held that a recovery could not be had, stress being laid upon the provision that on default of payment the company “shall not be liable to the payment of the sum insured, or any part thereof,” notwithstanding the fact that in the same sentence it was “provided that if, after the Receipt by this company of not less than two whole years’ premiums, this policy should cease in consequence of the non-payment of premiums, then upon the surrender of the same, provided such surrender is made to the company within twelve months from the time of such ceasing, a new policy will be issued for a proportion of the premiums paid.” The opinion distinguishes the ease then in hand from the Montgomery case, and does not in express terms overrule the earlier case. But the argument of the opinion is exactly the reverse of the argument in the Montgomery case, and it is quite difficult to discover any stable ground for distinguishing the facts in the one case from those of the other, except upon the ground that a delay of nearly fifteen years was unreasonable. That ground, however, does not appear to have been relied upon, and the opinion has, we think, been uniformly regarded as overruling the doctrine laid down in the Montgomery case.

In Insurance Co. v. Barbour, 92 Ky., 431, (17 S. W., 796), (15 L. R. A., 453), the policy was on the ten-payment life plan, and six and one-half years’ premiums were paid, and a. note executed for the next premium falling due, which was never paid. An additional policy had been obtained, upon which two and one-half years’ premiums were paid. About three years after default in payment suit was brought for a paid-up, non-participating policy. The policy provided: “The said company further promises and agrees that if, after two or more annual premiums shall have been paid in cash, default shall be made in the payment of -any premium or interest on the day it shall become due, it will issue a paid-up, non-participating policy for as many lenth parts of the original sum insured as there shall have been annual premiums so paid, provided this policy be then freed from all indebtedness' to the company, and provided, also, that written application be made therefor, and this policy, and all interest therein, be surrendered in the lifetime of the insured, and within six months from the date of such default. ... If the said premiums shall not be paid at or before the times above mentioned for the payment thereof, then, and in every such ease, this policy shall cease and determine. . . . In every case where this policy shall cease, or become null and void, all payments thereon shall be forfeited to the company, except as above provided, and, except that in case the person; whose life is insured die by his own hand, the company shall return the premiums received, less dividends paid.” In an opinion by Judge Holt, then chief justice, this case was decided in favor of the insurance' company, upon the ground that time was of the essence of the contract, and that the policy did not, by its provisions, cease pro tanto, and a portion of the insurance remain in force, but the entire policy determined. This case also is distinguished in the opinion from the Montgomery case, and the cases which followed its reasoning, of Johnson v. Insurance Co., 79 Ky., 403, Insurance Co. v. Fort’s Adm’r, 82 Ky., 269, and Insurance Co. v. Montague, 84 Ky., 653, (2 S. W., 443), and was decided upon the authority of the Hexter case. It is equally difficult to see any sound reason for distinguishing the provisions of this policy from the Montgomery policy, and this case has also been uniformly regarded as a departure from the principles announced in the Montgomery case.

In considering all contracts, the effort of the court is,, and should be, to ascertain the intention of the parties, who are, to that end, assumed to be persons of ordinary understanding. And it would be difficult, indeed, for a person of ordinary understanding to see a difference in the intent of the parties to the contract between a provision that upon default of payment of premiums the policy should cease and determine, and that if, after receipt of two premiums, the policy should cease in consequence, then upon a surrender, provided it is made within twelve months, a new policy should be issued (which is, in substance, the provision in the Montgomery case); and a provision that if, after two annual premiums have been paid, default shall be made, the company will issue a paid-up policy for a proportionate part of the sum insured, provided the policy be surrendered within sis months from the date of default, coupled with a provision that, in case the policy shall cease, all payments shall be forfeited to the company, except as- above provided (as in the Barbour case); and a provision that, in case of default in payment of premiums, the company shall not be liable to the payment of the sum insured or any part thereof, and the policy shall cease and determine, provided that if, after payment of two years’ premiums, the policy should cease,’then upon surrender thereof, made within twelve months, a new policy should be issued (as in the Hexter case). A x>erson of ordinary intelligence, reading these three provisions*, would, it seems to us, undoubtedly reach the conclusion that, except with reference to the time provided for, they meant the same thing, and that if time was not of the essence of the contract in the one case it was not so in the other.

In the case of Holly v. Insurance Co., 105 N. Y., 437, (11 N. E., 507), cited by appellant, it was said: “In cases where the meaning is not entirely plain, and where it is capable of two constructions, one involving forfeiture and the other being fair and reasonable, and supporting the obligation of the policy against the insurer, that construction is preferred by the courts which does not involve forfeiture, not only because it is not so harsh, but also because, if the language is doubtful, it is that employed by the insurer, and should be taken most strongly against him.”

And so in the Jarboe case, the 20-year distribution policy provided, as shown by the record: “Each premium is due and payable at the home office of the company in the city of New York, but will be accepted elsewhere, when duly made in exchange for the company’s receipt, signed by the president or secretary. Notice that each and every such payment is due at the date named in the policy is given and accepted by the delivery and acceptance of this policy, and any further notice, required by any statute, is hereby expressly waived. ... If this policy shall become void by nonpayment of premium, all payments previously made shall be forfeited to the company, except as hereinafter provided.” It further provides: “After three full annual payments have been made upon this policy, the company will, upon the legal surrender thereof, before default in payment of any premiums, or within six months thereafter, issue a nonparticipating policy for paid-up insurance, payable as herein provided, for the proportion of the amount of this policy which the number of full years’ premiums paid bears to the total number required. ... No agent has power on behalf of the company to make or modify this or any contract of insurance, to extend the time for paying a premium, to bind the company by making any promise, or by receiving any representation or information not contained in the application for this policy.” After payment of three premiums, default was made, and over four years after default suit was brought to compel the issuance of a paid-up policy in accordance' with the provision quoted. It was held, in an opinion by Judge G-uffy, quoting- liberally from the opinion of Judge Gofer in the Montgomery case, that the principles- announced in that case applied to the case under consideration, “and we adhere to the doctrine announced in that decision.” And while it was «aid in the opinion that the facts in the Jarboe case were essentially different from the Hexter case, and that the Barbour case was unlike the one in hand, nevertheless the doctrine of .the Montgomery case was expressly reaffirmed, aud the Hexter and Barbour cases were expressly overruled, in so far as they conflicted with it. By the reaffirmance of the Montgomery case, and the overruling of the decisions in the Hexter and Barbour cases, it was intended to decide that there had been a departure from the principles of the Montgomery case, and that the court returned to its original doctrine.

When we come to consider the case at bar, we And a provision in the policy which, in our opinion, conveys to the ordinary mind the same meaning which is conveyed by the provisions in the Montgomery and Jarboe cases: “. . . If any premium or interest on any note given on account of a premium be not paid when due, or if the insured die in consequence of any violation of law, . . . this policy shall be void, and all payments made upon it shall be forfeited to the company, except after being in force three full years; . . . and, if it shall lapse or become forfeited for the nonpayment of any premium or interest on any note given on account of a premium, the company will, upon the surrender of this- policy within six months after such lapse, issue a nonparticipating, paid-up policy for such sum as the legal net reserve on this policy at the time of lapsing will purchase as 'a single premium, at the company’s present published rates.” It is argued for appellant that this provision' is not substantially different from the provisions referred to in the Hexter and Barbour oases. We concur in this view. But we are also of opinion that there is no substantial difference between the provisions construed in those cases and those in the Montgomery and Jarboe cases. The right to continue the $5,000 policy in force by the payment of premiums was gone. In that respect the policy had become void. The payments1 made upon it could not be recovered1. They had been “forfeited to the company, except” that, as the policy had been in -force three years, the right remained in the .beneficiary to a paid-up policy for an amount proportionate to the net reserve upon the policy, which right, together with concurrent insurance in the full -sum of $5,000, had been paid for by the- payment of the premiums. The policy was null and void, except for this remaining right. This right was absolute, and, while it is provided that the company would issue a paid-up policy “upon the -surrendfer of its policy within six months after such lapse,” the time was not of the essence of the contract. The whole consideration had gone. There is no pretext appearing in the record that the performance of its- contract for which it had received payment wasi more oppressive at the time it was demanded than if it had been demanded within the six months provided for. Some -argument is made that the del-ay in making the demand imposed upon the company the burden of unnecessary bookkeeping. This we do not regard as sufficiently burdensome to justify retaining the -purchase money and refusing to deliver the goods-. As said in the Montgomery case: “The premiums, bv express convention, paid for both current insurance and a paid-up policy, and now to deny to the assured the benefit of a paid-up policy because the old one was not surrendered in time is-, in the strictest and most obnoxious sense, a forfeiture. Such a claim is without support in reason, justice, or authority, and can not be sanctioned in a court of equity.” For the reasons given, the judgment is affirmed.