Union Insurance v. Smart

60 N.H. 458 | N.H. | 1881

The case appears to have been tried upon the theory that the note and policy are Massachusetts contracts. But it does not appear where they were signed, or dated, or made payable. There is nothing to show that they are Massachusetts contracts, either made or to be performed in that state. Upon the facts stated, which are meagre, the legal inference is that they are New Hampshire contracts, governed by the laws of New Hampshire.

The plaintiffs are not a corporation, but a partnership or association, and are prohibited from the transaction of the business of insurance in this state until they comply with the provisions of our statutes. Gen. Sts., c. 159; Laws 1876, c. 11, s. 1; Laws 1870, c. 1, s. 1. But a contract of insurance made by them in this state is valid, notwithstanding their failure to comply with our laws. Gen. Sts., c. 159, s. 10. The question then is, whether they can recover a premium note given for insurance which they were forbidden to contract. In Haverhill Insurance Company v. Prescott, 42 N.H. 547, decided in 1861, the plaintiffs had not complied with the laws of this state, and it was held that the company having no power to make such contracts in New Hampshire, the insurance was invalid, and constituted no consideration for the note. This was prior to the statute first passed in 1862, declaring that any insurance made by a foreign insurance company should be valid against the company, although it may not have complied with the requirements of our statutes. Laws 1862, c. 2,627, s. 2. In Haverhill Insurance Co. v. Prescott, supra, the contract of insurance was declared invalid, because the company was prohibited by statute from engaging in such business. To remedy the injustice to persons holding policies in foreign insurance companies thus declared invalid, the statute of 1862 was passed, reenacted in Gen. Sts., c. 159, s. 10; and again in Gen. Laws, c. 174, s. 3. The statute was one of protection to the insured. To give the policyholder the protection intended by statute, it is necessary to hold the premium note given for a policy declared by the statute valid against the company also valid; otherwise there would be no consideration for the policy. The statute of 1862 declared that a foreign company should not recover any premium or assessment, or any contract of insurance with any citizen of this state, until it should comply with the provisions of the statute. Laws 1862, c. 2,627, s. 2. But this provision was omitted in the revisions of 1867 and 1878. Gen. Sts., c. 159, s. 10; G. L., c. 174, s. 3. Whether it is in the power of the legislature to declare a contract, for which there is no consideration, binding upon one party and not binding upon the other, is a question which we are not called upon to consider. Since 1867 the legislature, in preventing injustice to the assured by declaring such contracts of insurance valid against the company, has not intended to do injustice to the insurer by declaring a contract valid for which there was no consideration. It was not its object to visit the penalty for an infringement of the statute upon the innocent policy-holder, but to subject the company and its agents to the liability of a criminal prosecution. Laws 1862, c. 159, s. 11.

The policy was binding upon the plaintiffs, although not signed by their president. Such a provision in the charter or by-laws of an insurance company is regarded as merely enabling and not a restriction of the general power to effect contracts in any other lawful and convenient mode. May Ins. (1st ed.), s. 23, and authorities cited. The maxim expressio unius, etc., is not of universal application, but depends upon the intention of the party as discoverable upon the face of the instrument or of the transaction. Bro. Max. 653. The provision in the plaintiffs' articles of association requiring the signature of their president, does not exclude the issuing of policies without it.

Exceptions overruled.

CLARK, J., did not sit: the others concurred.