O'Toole v. Jennings

219 Mass. 105 | Mass. | 1914

De Cotjrcy, J.

The petitioner seeks to recover, from the Wachusett Aerie No. 1635 of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, a sick benefit and a funeral benefit alleged to be due to the estate of her intestate, Dr. Michael J. O’Toole. After a hearing on the merits an order was entered dismissing the petition. The case is before us on the petitioner’s exception to the refusal of the single justice to rule that “on the evidence he was bound to find for the petitioner, and was not justified in finding for the respondents.”

As to the sick benefit. It was not in dispute that Dr. O’Toole “was injured September 29, 1911, sickened October 1, 1911, [and] died December 22,1911.” It appears from the receipt in evidence that his dues, which were payable monthly in advance, were not paid for the month of October, nor apparently for some months preceding, until the tenth of October. Article XXII, § 3, of the constitution for subordinate Aeries, dealing with the subject of dues, provides that “any member whose dues are not paid in advance shall not be permitted ... to receive any sick or funeral benefits.” And Article XXIV, which regulates benefits, expressly stipulates in § 2 that “no member who is taken sick while in arrears can, by paying his arrearage, become entitled to benefits during such sickness.”

The record does not show that any salary was due to Dr. O’Toole as Aerie physician on October first. On the contrary, as the salary was payable quarterly, that which was paid him on November 14 presumably was for the three months preceding. Accordingly we need not consider whether unpaid salary could be taken into account in determining whether he was in arrears. Clearly the evidence would warrant, if indeed it did not compel, the single justice to find that Dr. O’Toole was in arrears at the time when he fell sick, and hence that the petitioner could not recover sick benefits.

The funeral benefit cannot be recovered for two reasons. So far as appears by the record the monthly dues of the intestate were not paid either for November or December, 1911, and consequently no such benefit was payable under the constitution. Further, as it well could be found that the funeral was not conducted under its auspices, by Article XXV, § 3, of the constitution the Aerie was not required to defray the funeral expenses, nor, in the absence of a widow, orphans, parents and dependents, to pay any funeral benefit.

The petitioner failed to make out a case on the merits. Whether she invoked the proper form of remedy need not be considered.

Exceptions overruled.