62 Wis. 174 | Wis. | 1885
The defendant is- a life insurance corporation organized and doing business under the laws of Minnesota, with its office at Red Wing, in that state. Process was served upon it by personally delivering to and leaving with J. K. Turner, of Milwaukee, its agent, a true copy of the summons. The question is, Was such service sufficient to give the court jurisdiction of the defendant?
It is claimed on the part of the defendant that service could not be made upon Turner; that the facts appearing in the affidavits show that he was not its agent, so as to authorize process to be served upon him. Mr. Turner states in his affidavit that he is not an officer of the defendant; that he is not and never was its agent in this state or elsewhere; nor was he ever its broker or attorney. He further states that in December, 1883, he wrote an application for some parties in Milwaukee to become members of the company, and transmitted the same to the secretary at Red Wing; but “that he never advertised as agent of said association, nor has, he ever aided or assisted in the transaction of any business for said association other than above stated, and that he never received any compensation from said association or any other person for the services performed.” Mr. Meacham, secretary of the association, makes an affidavit in which he, among other things, states that the corporation has not now, nor has it ever had, any office or place of business in the
In opposition to the motion to set aside the service, the affidavit of John Cassel, of Milwaukee, was used, in which he states that in December, 1883, he was solicited by Turner to insure in the defendant company; that at such solicitation he did sign an application for insurance' and paid Turner, as agent, nine dollars for such insurance, taking a receipt signed by Turner as agent, and which receipt is made a part of his affidavit; also, at the same time, he paid Turner, as agent, $18 for insurance on the lives of two other parties living in Milwaukee, taking Turner’s receipt for each of said parties named by him.
Upon these facts we have no doubt but Turner was an agent of defendant so that service of process could be made upon him under subd. 9, sec. 2637, R. S. That provision prescribes that service may be made upon a foreign insurance corporation by delivering the summons, etc., to the agent or attorney thereof having authority therefor by appointment under the provisions of sec. 1915 or sec. 1953, or to any agent of such corporation in this state, within the definition of sec. 1977. The last section, in substance, declares that whoever solicits insurance on behalf of any insurance corporation, or transmits an application for insurance, or receives any premium, or in any manner aids or assists in doing any business for any insurance corporation, shall be held to be an agent of such corporation to all intents and purposes. Clearly, Turner was an agent within the meaning of.this section. But it is said this provision has been repealed by ch. 210, Laws of 1880. We do not think this law was intended to or does in any way change subd. 9
By the Court. — ■ The order of the circuit court is affirmed.