Farmers National Life Insurance v. Hale

122 N.E. 19, 69 Ind. App. 413, 1919 Ind. App. LEXIS 110
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 19, 1919
DocketNo. 9,625
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 122 N.E. 19 (Farmers National Life Insurance v. Hale) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Farmers National Life Insurance v. Hale, 122 N.E. 19, 69 Ind. App. 413, 1919 Ind. App. LEXIS 110 (Ind. Ct. App. 1919).

Opinion

Batman, P. J.

This is an action by appellee against appellant to recover on an insurance policy alleged to have been issued on the life of William F. Hale, in wbicb appellee was named as tbe beneficiary. Tbe amended complaint is in a single paragraph, and alleges the issuance and delivery of the policy, the payment of the first annual premium thereon, the death of the insured, and the proper notice and proof of such death. A copy of the policy was made a part of the amended complaint as an exhibit. To this complaint appellant filed an answer in three paragraphs. The first is a general denial. The second alleges that the policy was not to become binding upon appellant until the first annual premium of $105.68 was paid; that neither said sum nor any part thereof was paid to ’ appellant; and that the policy was without consideration. The .third paragraph is as follows:

“The defendant, for a further and third paragraph of answer to plaintiff’s amended complaint herein, says that the annual premium on said policy of insurance sued on herein, was $105.68, and that said premium was due and'payable by the insured at the time said policy of insurance was issued and delivered to said insured. The defendant further says that said policy of insurance so sued on specifically provides, and as a condition precedent to its validity, that said [416]*416‘policy of insurance shall nqt becqme binding upon the defendant company until the first annual premium is actually paid during the lifetime and good health ■of the insured/ but this defendant says that said sum of $105.68, or any part thereof, was never paid to the defendant company, or to any of its duly authorized agents, during the good health of the insured, as provided in said policy of insurance. That by reason of the facts so alleged, the policy sued on in plaintiff’s amended complaint is invalid, void and of no effect.”

Appellee filed a separate demurrer to each the second and third paragraphs of said answer, with a memorandum of its grounds therefor, which was overruled as to the second and sustained as to the third paragraph. To the second paragraph of answer appellee filed a reply in five paragraphs. The first was a general denial. The second alleges that appellant extended to the insured credit f oy the first annual premium, and accepted said credit as payment thereof, and thereby waived the payment of said first annual premium in money. The third alleges that when appellant issued the policy, it knew that the insured had not paid, the first annual premium, but continuously'treated the policy as being in full force from that date up to the death of the insured; that appellant did not demand the return or cancellation of the policy, but elected to hold the credit of the insured for the first annual premium thereon, and never notified the insured or appellee that it considered the policy as of no effect, but demanded payment of the second annual premium therefor; that by reason of said facts the insured and appellee were led to believe, and did believe, that appellant treated the policy as being in full force, and had waived the actual payment [417]*417of said first annual premium; and that appellant is now estopped to deny the validity of the policy. The fourth admits that the insured' did not pay the first annual premium at the time the policy was executed and delivered, but alleges that he paid it later, and that appellant, knowing, all the facts, accepted payment thereof without objections. The fifth is similar to the third paragraph and need not be stated here. Appellant filed a demurrer to each paragraph of the reply, except the first, which was overruled.

The cause was submitted to the court for trial, and a special finding of facts was made, which, omitting in a large measure the contents of the policy in suit, is substantially as follows: That on May 3, 1913, appellant’s agents, Miles J. Furnas and L. L. Reed, wrote the application of William F. Hale, for a policy .of insurance in appellant company, and that said company, by its officers, wrote and signed the policy in suit, insuring the life of said Hale in the sum of $2,500 and naming appellee as beneficiary therein; that said policy was dated May 3,1913, and contains, among others, the following provisions:

“Ineontestibility. This policy and the application therefor shall constitute the entire contract between the parties and shall be incontestible after one year from the date hereof, except for non-payment of premiums, and for violation of the conditions of the policy relating to military and naval service in time of war.
“Provisions and Conditions. No agent is authorized to make, modify or waive any provisions of this contract of insurance, to extend the time for paying any premium nor to arrange for the [418]*418payment of the same or to bind the company by making any, promise or representation not expressed in this contract'.
“This policy shall not become binding upon the company until the first annual premium is actually paid during the lifetime and good health of the insured; and the possession of this policy is not evidence that the first premium has been paid.
“All premiums are payable in advance at the executive office of the company but may be paid to an authorized agent of the-company upon the delivery of the receipt signed by the president or secretary and countersigned by such agent.”

That on May 3, 1913, appellee was the wife of the insured, and so continued until his death; that said Furnas and Need, as agents of appellant, both had full authority from appellant to deliver policies of insurance to persons insured and to collect all premiums due thereon; that appellant forwarded said policy, after it was signed, to said Furnas, who was appellant’s state agent, and sometime after May 3, 1913, he delivered the same to the insured; that before the delivery of the policy, the insured had not paid the first premium due thereon, and at the time of such delivery said Furnas did not collect said first premium, less the commission to the agent writing the insurance, which was called the net premium due appellant; that it was the custom of appellant to deliver policies to policyholders before the receipt of the first premium, and to charge the amount of said premium, less the agent’s commission, to the agent writing the insurance; that said Furnas wrote the [419]

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Related

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44 N.E.2d 186 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1942)
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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
122 N.E. 19, 69 Ind. App. 413, 1919 Ind. App. LEXIS 110, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/farmers-national-life-insurance-v-hale-indctapp-1919.