Brock v. United Moderns

81 S.W. 340, 36 Tex. Civ. App. 12, 1904 Tex. App. LEXIS 145
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedMay 4, 1904
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 81 S.W. 340 (Brock v. United Moderns) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Brock v. United Moderns, 81 S.W. 340, 36 Tex. Civ. App. 12, 1904 Tex. App. LEXIS 145 (Tex. Ct. App. 1904).

Opinion

EIDSON, Associate Justice.

This is an an action brought by the appellant as guardian of Maxcie 0. Brock, a minor, upon a beneficiary membership certificate, issued by the appellee, the United Moderns, upon the life of H. A. Brock, and payable to Maxcie 0. Brock, son of the said H. A. Brock.

The appellant’s first amended original petition alleged the issuance by the appellee of a benefit certificate upon the life of H. A. Brock for the sum of $1000, payable to Maxcie O. Brock, son. It further alleged that on or about the 14th day of June, 1901, and while said certificate was in full force and effect, the said H. A. Brock departed this life. It alleged the payment of premiums and notice of proof of death, and that said certificate became due and payable sixty days after notice of death.

Appellee in its first amended original answer presented general demurrer, general denial and answered specially admitting the issuance of the certificate, and alleging that it was issued in consideration that the statements made in the application of H. A. Brock for such certificate, and the answers made by said H. A. Brock to questions asked him in the medical blank, were true, and the truth of which he, the said Brock, guaranteed. Further, that it was issued upon condition that said Brock should comply in every particular with the constitution and laws and regulations of said order; that the certificate should be and remain null and void during any failure or default on his part. It further *13 alleged that the insured agreed to be bound by the constitution, laws, rules and regulations of the order enacted from time to time by the supreme authority. It further alleged that the said Brock warranted the answers given to the medical examiner to be full and true, and that the same should be a part of the application for membership. Appellee further alleged that H. A. Brock had falsely answered questions numbers 6 and 7 in the medical examiner’s report, which said questions and answers are as follows:

“Mo. 6. Have you consulted or been advised by «any physician regarding your health within the last five years? If so, whom, when and for what ailment?” Answer: “Mo.”
“Mo. 7. If not treated within five years, how long since you were under the care of a physician, and for what cause?” Answer: “Meyer.”

Appellee in its answer further alleged want of knowledge on the part of it of the untruthfulness of the statements, until aftei the death of said Brock. It further alleged that the constitution and laws of the order provided, among other things, “If a members dies in consequence of a duel or by self-destruction, whether sane or insane, then in such cases the beneficiary certificate shall become null and void.” It further alleged that said H A. Brock died by self-destruction by taking poison with intent to kill himself.

Appellant replied by first supplemental petition, excepting to that portion of the answer which set up the condition of forfeiture, on the ground of having made false statements, because it did not show a breach of warranty on the part of H. A. Brock, and because the applt cation and examiner’s report were not a part of the contract of insurance declared upon, and because the said Brock had not violated the constitution and the rules of the order. And further answered that granulated eyelids is not a condition of health, but merely trivial local affection. Further alleging that appellee had notice of treatment for the eyes, if any treatment had been had.

To which allegations the appellee in its first supplemental answer excepted. Appellee in its answer tendered back all dues paid on said benefit certificate.

The court overruled appellant’s exceptions and sustained appellee’s special exceptions. The case went-to trial before a jury; and upon the conclusion of the evidence the court instructed the jury to return a verdict for the appellee, which was done and judgment entered accordingly, from which judgment appellant has perfected an appeal.

The policy or certificate of membership sued upon, so far as is material to be considered, is as follows: “The Supreme Lodge of United Moderns hereby certifies that Hiram A. Brock of Gate City Lodge No. 149 of United Moderns, located at Denison, Texas, is entitled to all the rights and benefits of membership, acccording to the constitution and laws of the order. And, in consideration of the statements made in the application for beneficiary certificates and in answer to questions asked in the medical blank, the truth of which said member guarantees, is en *14 titled to participate in the beneficiary guarantee fund of the order, as upon a contract of life insurance, for thirty days, renewable by the member as provided by the constitution and. laws of the order, to the amount of $1000, which sum, as provided in the constitution and laws of the order, shall be paid as follows: * * * Mortuary Benefit.— Within ninety days after satisfactory proof of the death of said member, there shall be paid- to Maxcie 0. Brock, son, if living, if not, the legal heirs of the member aforesaid, such balance, if any, of the amount named in this certificate as may remain unpaid to the member, as follows: If not exceeding $3000 in cash, and one-ninth of that part if any excess of $3000, on or before the anniversary of the first payment each year, until paid in full, with interest at 4 per cent per am-mm from and after the date of said payment. This certificate is issued in consideration of the statements made by said member in the application for membership and in answer to questions made in the medical blank, and in reliance thereon, and upon the expressed condition that the said member shall, in every particular, while a member of said order, comply with all and singular the constitution, laws and regulations of said order. * * *

“In witness whereof, the supreme lodge has caused these presents to be executed by its supreme chancellor and its supreme recorder, and the name and seal of the order to be affixed, this the 23d day of February, A. D. 1901.

(Signed) “United Moderns, by E. M. Johnson, Supreme Chancellor. Attest: E. W. Smith, Supreme Recorder.”

“Member’s Acceptance: This certifies that I accept the within certificate and the benefits conferred, fully understanding and agreeing that the same is to be and remain a liability upon the order, only upon condition: (1) That the statements made by me in iny application for membership and the medical examiner’s report are true. * * * (3) That I fully comply with the constitution, laws and regulations of the order. The within certificate to be and remain null and void for and during any such failure or default on my part, as aforesaid. Dated March 2, 1901. (Signed) Hiram A. Brock (Signature of member.)”

“Application for membership to Lodge No. 149 of the United Moderns, located at Denison, Texas: I, Hiram A. Brock, of Denison, Texas, hereby make application for certificate of membership and benefit to the amount of $1000, and for that purpose make the following statements as the basis for the application:

“1, Place of birth? Washington, County of Davis, State of Indiana.
“2. Date of birth ? 22d day of December, 1872. Age, 28 years.
“4.

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Bluebook (online)
81 S.W. 340, 36 Tex. Civ. App. 12, 1904 Tex. App. LEXIS 145, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/brock-v-united-moderns-texapp-1904.