115 Ky. 757 | Ky. Ct. App. | 1903
Lead Opinion
Opinion op the court by
Reverstng.
On July 30, 1897, the appellant issued to Watson A. Sud-doth a policy insuring his life in the sum of $5,000 for the benefit of his executors or assigns in consideration of the payment of a semi-annual premium of $63.50. He paid the premiums for twelve years. On July 14, 1898, he borrowed of the company on the policy $549.60, executing a note due in six months. At maturity, an additional loan being made, the note was renewed for $599.32, payable July 30, 1899. On May 6, 1899, Sudduth, for value, assigned the policy to the appellee, the First National Bank of Louisville. The assignment was assented to by the company in writing.
Among other provisions the policy contained the following: “Provided, that in case the said premiums shall not be paid on or before the several days hereinbefore mentioned for the payment thereof at the office of the company in the city of Newark or to agents when they prduce receipts signed by the president or treasurer, then in every such case this policy shall cease and determine, subject to the provisions of the company’s nonforfeiture system, as indorsed hereon with accompanying table.” Sudduth failing to pay the semi-annual premium falling due on July 30, 1899, the policy, by its terms, ceased, unless it was saved by the nonforfeiture provisions thereon indorsed. The nonforfeiture clause, as originally indorsed on the policy, was, on March 24, 1896, changed by the consent of parties, and another substituted for it. The rights of the parties must be determined by the substituted agreement, which is in these words:
“In consideration of the release (copy of - which is indorsed hereon) of the nonforfeiture provisions hereto applicable to policy No. 137,661, on the life of Watson A. Sudduth, the.Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company hereby agrees that the following nonforfeiture provisions shall apply thereto as if originally incorporated in and indorsed upon said policy:
“ ‘Nonforfeiture Provisions.
“ ‘When, after two full annual premiums shall have been paid on this policy, it shall cease or become void solely by*766 the nonpayment of any premium when due, its entire, net reserve by the American Experience Mortality and interest at four per cent, yearly (provided there be no loan on the policy) shall be applied by the company as a single premium at the company’s rates published and in force at this date, either, first, to the purchase of nonparticipating term insurance for the full amount insured by this policy, or, second, upon the written application by the owner of this policy and the surrender thereof to the company at Newark within three months from such nonpayment of premium, to the purchase of a nonparticipating paid-up policy payable at the time this policy would be payable if continued in force. Both kinds of insurance aforesaid will be subject to the same conditions, except as to payment of premiums, as those of this policy. Third, if preferred, the company will, on surrender of the policy fully receipted within the said three months, pay as a cash surrender value its entire net reserve by the American Experience Mortality and interest at four and one-half per cent, yearly, less a surrender charge equal to one per cent, of the sum insured by the policy.
.“‘If there be any loan on the policy such indebtedness shall be paid off out of the cash surrender value, and the remainder paid in cash by the company; or a value will be allowed by the company in the form of extended or paid-up insurance as above provided, the amount to be applied to the purchase of such insurance being correspondingly reduced in the ratio of the indebtedness to the full cash surrender value.
“ ‘If death shall occur within one year after the nonpayment of premium and during the term of extended insurance, there shall be deducted from the amount payable any premium that would have become due on this policy if it had continued in full force; also the amount of any indebt*767 edness on this policy at time of such nonpayment of premium.
“ 'The company will at any time the policy is in full force loan up to the limit secured by its cash surrender value upon a satisfactory assignment of the policy to the company as collateral security.
“ 'The figures given in the following table are based upon the assumption that all premiums (less current dividends) have been fully paid in cash. The indebtedness, if any, may be paid off in cash, in which case the figures in the table will apply.”
The question involved here is one of contract. The language which evidences the contract is plain and unambiguous. This being true, the court should have but little difficulty in determining the rights of the parties to it. By the terms of the policy, where there is. a loan upon it after two full premiums are paid, it shall cease and become void solely by nonpayment of any premium when due; and its entire net reserve by the American Experience Mortality and interest at 4 per cent, yearly shall be applied by the company as a single premium at the company’s rate published and in force at that date, to the purchase of nonparticipating term insurance for the full amount insured by the policy. By the second nonforfeiture provision the owner of the policy had the option to apply to the company and surrender the policy to it within three months from such
It will be observed by the nonforfeiture provisions that-, where there is no loan upon the policy, the net reserve and interest at 4 per cent, purchases the extended insurance. Where there is a loan upon the policy, it is not the net re
It is also urged that the insurance company, having assented to the assignment to the appellee, is estopped to make the defense now relied on. Appellee had no notice there was a loan on the policy, and'was informed by Sudduth, when he assigned the policy to it, that the policy was good for something over eleven years if he paid nothing more on the premiums, but there were then the following indorsements on the policy: “July 14, 1898, the existing indebtedness to the company on this policy is $549.60 (interest at 6 per cent, from July 30, 1898), as evidenced by the certificate of loan in the company’s possession. Paid off January 30, 1899, out of new loan. M. B. L. I. Co., per G. H. C.” “January 30, 1899, the existing indebtedness to the company on this policy is $599.32 (with interest at 6 per cent, from January 30, 1899), as evidenced by the certificate of loan in the company’s possession.” Appellee’s agents failed to observe these indorsements, but being on the policy at the time of the assignment, appellee took subject to them. While the contract above quoted stipulated that the company would loan on a proper assignment of the policy, it was not required to take an assignment. The policy was the obligation of the company to the assured. It was, therefore, properly held by him, and the indorsements on it were notice to all persons dealing with it that a loan had been
The judgment is reversed for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Dissenting Opinion
delivered the following dissenting opinion:
It is conceded that by the terms of the contract the policy ceased when Sudduth failed to pay the note or the premium due on July 30, 1899. But back of this is the question whether the contract to this effect is such as the courts of this State will enforce. A distinction must be made between the rights of appellant as insurer and its rights as money lender. If there had been no
The case before us differs from those cited in the following particulars: (1) Here there was a default in the payment of a premium, as well as of the note. There the default was only in the payment of a note. (2). Here the amount of the note was equal to the cash surrender value of the policy as fixed by the company. This does not appear
“July 30, 1899.
“The undersigned, the .party assured under policy No. 137,661 in the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company, hereby requests that the cash due July 30, 1899, be settled by premium loan. Watson A. Sudduth.”
*780 “Louisville, Ky., August 28, 1899.
“Mr. W. A. Sudduth, Fifth & Court Place, City — Dear Sir: Upon return of policy No. 187,661, the inclosed certificate of loan signed' by yourself and the outstanding assignment to the First National Bank of Louisville, canceled by the bank, the company will now increase the policy loan from $599.32 to $633.30, applying the increase in part payment of the premium due the 30th ult., provided the remainder of the premium, $31.85 be paid in cash. The seal of the bank should be attached to the cancellation of its assignment.
“Yours truly, K. W. Smith & Co.”
The letter of Smith & Co. was written in accordance with instructions from the home office, to which in the meantime the application of Sudduth had been sent. Sudduth did not comply with this proposition, and, though there were some other propositions made subsequently, they were not accepted by him, and matters stood as they were until he was taken sick in November following, when the bank offered to pay both the premium and the note, but the company refused to accept the money. If a bank had made a contract with Sudduth to lend him $617.30, and had provided in it that, if the note was not paid, it should have the policy absolutely, or the entire benefit of it, there, would be no doubt that the contract would not be enforced. The fact that the insurance company made the loan to one who held a policy in the company on his own life can not put it in a better position than if the policy had been in another company, and had been hypothecated for the loan. The substance of the transaction is that the insurance company lent its policy holder $617.30 on his policy. When the note matured, and was not paid, the relation of debtor and creditor existed between them on the note, and the policy was
It is, however, provided in the contract that, if the death of the assured occurred within one year after the nonpayment of a premium, and during the term of extended insurance, there should be deducted from the amount payable such premium, as well as the amount of any indebtedness of the assured to the company on the policy. This was a reasonable provision, for otherwise one who was in bad health might risk his not surviving the year, and thus profit by his own violation of the contract. The amount of the premium due July 30th was not subtracted in the judgment.
With this modification, the judgment complained of seems to me correct. I therefore dissent from the opinion of the court.
Petition for rehearing by appellees overruled.