Ellerbeck v. Continental Casualty Co.

227 P. 805, 63 Utah 530, 1924 Utah LEXIS 127
CourtUtah Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 8, 1924
DocketNo. 4114
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 227 P. 805 (Ellerbeck v. Continental Casualty Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Utah Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ellerbeck v. Continental Casualty Co., 227 P. 805, 63 Utah 530, 1924 Utah LEXIS 127 (Utah 1924).

Opinion

GIDEON, J.

This action was instituted upon a policy of accident and [532]*532health, insurance issued to plaintiff by the defendant company. Plaintiff had judgment. Motion for new trial was denied. Defendant appeals.

The complaint alleges that in October, 1920, defendant issued to plaintiff a certain accident and health insurance policy. A copy of the policy is attached to the complaint. It is alleged that the first yearly premium was paid by plaintiff and accepted by defendant; that prior to October 8, 1921, defendant issued a certificate renewing the policy for a period of one year to October 8, 1922; that thereafter the premium for such renewal was paid by plaintiff and accepted by defendant. It is further alleged that prior to' October 8, 1922, defendant, through its agent, issued a certificate renewing the policy for a further period of one year; that thereafter the premium for such renewal was paid by plaintiff and accepted by defendant; that for the payment of each of said foregoing premiums the defendant and its agents extended credit to plaintiff, and that plaintiff paid said premiums pursuant to such extensions of credit. It is also alleged that plaintiff suffered bodily sickness and disease contracted on February 24, 1923. There are other allegations in the complaint not necessary to state here.

The answer admits the issuance of the policy, the payment and receipt of the premiums necessary to keep the insurance in force from October 8, 1920, to October 8, 1921, and from October 8, 1921, to October 8, 1922. As an affirmative defense it is alleged that the policy lapsed and was not in force after October 8, 1922; that on February 23, 1923, plaintiff attempted to' have said policy reinstated; that the reinstatement, if any, was limited by certain provisions of the policy hereinafter appearing; that plaintiff became sick several days prior to February 23, 1923, and that, under the terms of the contract of insurance, the policy could not be reinstated to cover illness of plaintiff contracted prior to ten days after the reinstatement.

Plaintiff replied to the answer. Certain matters are alleged in the reply by which it is claimed defendant elected to and did waive the provisions of the policy referred to in the answer.

[533]*533At tbe close of tbe testimony defendant moved for a directed verdict in its favor upon tbe following, among other, grounds: (a) That there is no evidence to support a finding that the policy was in force after October 8, 1922, and up to February 23, 1923; (b) that the evidence affirmatively shows that on February 23, 1923, the policy was reinstated and was in force and effect as to such accidental injuries as plaintiff might sustain after that date and as to any illness which might begin after ten days thereafter, and also that plaintiff was suffering from the illness which has since incapacitated him at the time payment was made upon the premium and the policy reinstated; (c) that there is no evidence of any estoppel; (d) that there is no evidence that defendant waived the provisions of the policy and continued the policy in effect so that the same would cover the illness of plaintiff; (e) that there is no evidence that any agent of the defendant company had authority to waive the terms of the policy; (f) that there is no evidence that at the time defendant accepted the premium on the policy defendant, or any of its agents, had any knowledge of the fact that plaintiff was suffering from the illness which caused his disability.

The motion was denied. This ruling of the court constitutes the principal error alleged and relied on for a reversal of the judgment.

On October 8, 1920, plaintiff was a dentist engaged in his profession at Salt Lake City. At that time Phil J. Purcell, under the name of the Continental Agency Company, was the general agent of defendant in soliciting and issuing accident and health insurance and in collecting premiums due due on such policies. He had power to name subagents. One E. W. Sloan was a duly appointed subagent, and he was doing business under the name of the Agency Company. Sloan secured plaintiff’s application for the policy here in controversy. Under an arrangement made between plaintiff and Sloan the first annual premium was to be paid by plaintiff in professional services rendered to Sloan. The premium was paid to the Continental Agency Company by the Agency Company on December 16, 1920. Prior to October 8, 1921, [534]*534the defendant, through its general agency at Salt Lake City, forwarded to plaintiff a renewal certificate, in which it was stated that the policy was renewed for a period of one year from October 8, 1921. It was, however, specifically provided in that renewal certificate that the.same should become effective only upon the condition that the premium of $120 was paid by October 8, 1921. Mr. Sloan had notified Mr. Purcell of the arrangement made with plaintiff for the payment of the premium, and the premium was charged to the Agency Company on the books of the Continental Agency Company. The premium was paid by the Agency Company on November 17, 1921, and was paid to Mr. Sloan by plaintiff in the form of professional services, as in 1920. During September, 1922, a renewal certificate was sent to plaintiff through the mails by the Continental Agency Company continuing the policy in force from! October 8, 1922, for one year. That renewal certificate contained the provision that it should become effective only upon the condition that the premium was paid before October 8, 1922. The premium was not paid. On October 1, November 1, and December 1 of that year the Continental Agency Company mailed plaintiff statements. It is testified to by witnesses on behalf of both plaintiff and defendant that these bills or statements were forwarded by the Continental Agency Company and received by plaintiff. It is quite conclusive that no other or subsequent statements were sent to plaintiff. On February 23, 1923, the daughter of plaintiff tendered to a clerk in the office of the Continental Agency Company a check for $60, and at the same time presented the bill sent plaintiff under date of December 1, 1922. The cheek was accepted and credited on the statement. Thereafter, on March 1st, a check for an additional $60 was mailed to the Continental Agency. The check was retained and a receipt returned to plaintiff. On February 24, 1923, plaintiff was taken to a hospital. It is admitted, and no contention is made to the contrary, that the sickness causing the disability began prior to February 24, 1923.

The court submitted to the jury: (a) Whether the de[535]*535fendant bad, by its acts and conduct, waived the provision of the policy requiring the payment to be made on October 8, 1922; (b) whether credit had been extended to plaintiff granting time in which to pay the premium, and whether defendant thereby waived such provision.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
227 P. 805, 63 Utah 530, 1924 Utah LEXIS 127, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ellerbeck-v-continental-casualty-co-utah-1924.