87 Ga. 426 | Ga. | 1891
A useful collection of authorities on the general subject-matter may be seen in 88' Cent. Law Jour. 42, 65, 87.
The contract of insurance declared upon stipulated for the payment “ of all assessments levied and required by the Supreme Commandery,” and provided that, “ any violation of the above mentioned conditions, or of the requirements of the laws now in force or hereafter enacted governing the order or this class, shall render this certificate and all claims under it or upon the order null and void.” The certificate says nothing of giving notice of assessments, and nothing with regard to the time at or within which assessments had to be paid. They were to be paid “ as levied and required by the Supreme Commandery.” The declaration as it stood at first alleged that Wright, the assured, had no notice whatever, up to the time of his death, of the making of the unpaid assessment- or that any assessment'against him remained unpaid. In the case of ordinary life policies, the successive premiums or instalments of premium are uniform in amount and mature at fixed times. No occasion for notice therefore exists, unless it shall be created by custom or course of dealing between the parties. But a different rule prevails touching contingent and irregular assessments made by mutual aid associations upon their members. Unless notice is dispensed with by the contract, no liability to pay an assessment becomes fixed until notice has been given. Bacon on Benefit Societies, §379. If any special law-applicable to the given association, or any by-law, dis
The court erred in sustaining the demurrer and in dismissing the action. Judgment reversed.