Ferguson v. Grand Lodge of Iowa Legion of Honor

174 Iowa 61
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedFebruary 10, 1916
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 174 Iowa 61 (Ferguson v. Grand Lodge of Iowa Legion of Honor) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ferguson v. Grand Lodge of Iowa Legion of Honor, 174 Iowa 61 (iowa 1916).

Opinion

Preston, J.

Plaintiff was the widow 'of William P. Ferguson. The defendant is a society incorporated under the laws of Iowa, engaged in the business of promoting fraternity and affording financial aid to widows of deceased members. In 1880, there was issued to William P. Ferguson a certificate of membership, providing for the payment of $2,000, in case of his death, to his wife, the plaintiff. Deceased paid all dues and assessments. He died in Iowa, oh October 15, 1910. In October, 1910, proof of death -was furnished, and, about August 7, 1911, defendant forwarded to plaintiff a draft for $1,181, which plaintiff claims was to apply on the certificate of insurance, and plaintiff alleges that she accepted the same in part payment. Defendant claims that such amount was received in full payment and was accepted by plaintiff in full settlement, and constitutes an accord and satisfaction. Plaintiff claims that she signed the receipt through a misapprehension of fact and through mistake and because of the'fraudulent representations of the defendant company, and that the same was without sufficient or adequate consideration; and that there is a balance due on the certificate of $819. Plaintiff further claims that, through her son and agent, Earl R. Fer[64]*64guson, she wrote defendant, requesting blank proofs of death, which were sent to her; that, on July 19, 1911, defendant wrote to said -agent a letter, falsely representing that the value of said policy was $1,181; and that such representations were for thé purpose of inducing plaintiff to accept said sum as the supposed value of the policy; and that, relying upon said representations, plaintiff signed the voucher for the amount of $1,181; that she did not, at the time, change the receipt on the back of the certificate, but retained the same and wrote a letter of inquiry, and returned the voucher for $1,181; that, on August 7, 1911, defendant wrote a letter purporting to explain to the plaintiff the situation and reasons why the sum of $1,181 was all that was due under the policy, and claimed that the same was the total amount due thereunder, and assured her that this was all she could recover, whereupon, she sent the said certificate, having signed the said receipt for $1,181, to defendant, but stated that she was not satisfied with the same; that, in accepting the $1,181, plaintiff relied upon the statements of said letters; that there was no sufficient or adequate consideration; that there was no sufficient consideration; and that the acceptance thereof by plaintiff was not binding as a settlement.

Many of the foregoing acts are admitted by the defendant in its answer; and, by way of defense and as an estoppel, it pleads that, at a meeting of the Grand Lodge, in 1905, an amendment was adopted and schedule of rates changed in such a manner as to create a lien in favor of the Beneficiary Fund against every beneficiary certificate existing or to be issued, in a sum equal to twelve death assessments per annum, plus 20 per cent of the gross amount of said sum for the period of life expectancy on each insured member, reckoned in the case of existing members from their age at last birthday prior to May 22, 1901, and in case of members received since said date, from their age at the date of issuance of their certificate; that the amount of said lien was to be credited, with the several amounts subsequently paid by each insured, [65]*65in the Beneficiary Fund; and, in case of the death of the insured before the amount so paid should equal the amount of such lien, there was to be deducted from the amount of his beneficiary certificate an amount equal to the difference, and the remainder only to be paid the beneficiary under said certificate; that deceased was duly and timely notified thereof; that, at a meeting of the Grand Lodge in 1907, a lien in favor of the Beneficiary Fund upon each certificate then issued or thereafter to be issued was provided, in a sum equal to the amount of 12 death assessments per annum, plus ,20 per cent of gross amount of said sum for the period of life expectancy of each insured person, as per schedule rates and expectancy tables adopted by the Grand Lodge in 1907, reckoned in the case of new members according to their respective ages at their last birthday prior to admission, and in case of all members admitted since May 22,1901, according to their respective ages at their last birthday prior to their admission, and in case of all members admitted prior to May 22, 1901, and less than 71 years of age on that date, at their respective ages at their last birthday prior to May 22, 1901, and on those who were past 70 years old on May 22, 1901, at the same age as those 70 years old; that there should be credited upon said lien the several amounts paid by said insured persons intq the Beneficiary Fund from July 1, 1907, and in case of the death of insured before the amount so paid by him should have equalled the amount of such lien, there should be deducted from the amount of his beneficiary certificate , a sum equal to the difference, and the remainder only should be paid to the beneficiaries under their said beneficiary certificate; that, in reckoning the periods of expectancy, as well as those periods during which the insured has made payments into the Beneficiary Fund, fractions of less than one half year may be disregarded, and those of one half or more considered as the next higher unit, and payments reckoned at uniform. rates for complete yearly periods accordingly; that, should the pay[66]*66ments of insured to the Beneficiary Fund equal or exceed the amount of such lien, then nothing shall be deducted from the full amount of the certificate; that deceased was duly notified of such amendment. Defendant alléges that deceased continued to remain a member of defendant order and accepted and ratified and complied with the amendment thus adopted and in accordance with schedule of rates, rules and regulations and by-laws of defendant, by paying assessments and dues in accordance with the schedule of rates and in compliance with the amendment creating a lien thus provided for, and'so cóntinued up to his death; that, by the acts and conduct of said deceased, in complying with the amendment and change and creation of a lien upon his said certificate, and further by his acts and conduct in' complying with and accepting the said amendment and complying with the rules and schedules of rates, and continuing his membership and claiming and receiving the benefits thereof, he waived all right, if any he had, to call in question the acts of the Grand Lodge in.the respects aforesaid, and is estopped, and his beneficiary is estopped, from now questioning the authority of the defendant Order in creating said lien and changing the schedule of rates and reducing the amount of his beneficiary certificate, as provided. Defendant also pleaded the application of deceased for membership. Defendant further pleaded a settlement and accord and satisfaction, for that, after the death of insured, and after defendant had received proof of his death; and before it had adjusted the loss and made payment to the widow, the correspondence which will be hereafter referred to was had between plaintiff and defendant; and alleged that thereafter, there was paid to the plaintiff the sum of $1,181 in full payment and surrender on her part of such certificate of membership, and that she received the same in full and duly cancelled and surrendered the certificate'; that said sum of $1,181 was correctly figured in accordance with the constitution of the Grand Lodge, and there was no mistake, misapprehension or misrepresentation [67]

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Bluebook (online)
174 Iowa 61, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ferguson-v-grand-lodge-of-iowa-legion-of-honor-iowa-1916.