Fidelity Mut. Life Ins. Co. of Philadelphia v. Zapp

160 S.W. 139, 1913 Tex. App. LEXIS 416
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedOctober 22, 1913
StatusPublished

This text of 160 S.W. 139 (Fidelity Mut. Life Ins. Co. of Philadelphia v. Zapp) 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
Fidelity Mut. Life Ins. Co. of Philadelphia v. Zapp, 160 S.W. 139, 1913 Tex. App. LEXIS 416 (Tex. Ct. App. 1913).

Opinion

Statement of Facts.

KEY, C. J.

The nature and result of this suit, and the controlling question and the facts relating thereto, are correctly stated as follows in plaintiff in error’s brief:

“This suit was brought November 3, 1911, by Isolde Zapp, as executrix of the will of H. W. H. Zapp, deceased, against the Fidelity Mutual Life Insurance Company of Philadelphia, Pa., to recover $5,000 principal, interest at 6 per cent, from May 9, 1911, $600, penalties, and $560, attorney’s fees, on a policy issued by said company on the life of said I-I. W. H. Zapp. The company admitted liability on the policy, but claimed that the amount due thereon was only $4,-877.90, the difference of $122.10 consisting of the balance of the premium for the current year, and alleged that immediately after receiving, on February 9, 1911, proofs of the death of the said H. W. H. Zapp, it issued and transmitted on February 11, 1911, to the plaintiff by mail its check for said sum in her favor drawn on the Real Estate Trust Company of Philadelphia, Pa., and that said check ever since had been retained by her. It offered upon the return of said check to pay said money into the registry of the court. The plaintiff acknowledged the receipt and retention of the check, but denied that she had accepted the same, and in her pleading offered to return it to the company. The controversy related to the deduction of $122.10 from the face of the policy, but on it depended the claim of the plaintiff to $600, penalties, and $560, attorney’s fees. The case was tried by the court without a jury, and resulted in a judgment in favor of the plaintiff for $5,000 principal, interest from May 9, 1911, $600, penalties, and $560, attorney’s fees, as prayed for. The defendant moved for a new trial, and upon the overruling of the same, prosecuted a writ of error to this court for the revision of the judgment.
“First assignment of error: The court erred in not rendering judgment in favor of the defendant.
“First proposition: The defendant was not liable under the policy for more than-$4,877.90.
“Point 1: The policy provided for the deduction of the balance of the dues for the current year of the death of the insured.
“Statement: The promise of the defendant under the policy was to pay the sum of $5,000 ‘less the balance of the dues for the current year of the death of the insured, and any indebtedness of the member or beneficiary to’ the company.
“Point 2: The current year of the death of the insured was the policy year, commencing October 1, 1910, and ending September 30, 1911.
“Statement: The provision of the policy regarding the payment-of dues or premiums is as follows: ‘The Fidelity Mutual Life Association of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in consideration of the application for this policy, which is made a part hereof, and a'copy of which is hereto attached, and the payment to said association of sixty-nine and 8o/100 dollars for the mortuary and general funds, and eighty-six and ss/ioo dollars as an advance insurance fund, on or before the first day of October in every year, for the period of twenty years from October 1, 1895, does hereby,’ etc.
“The policy is dated August 7, 1895. It also contains a provision as follows : ‘A premium other than the above named will be accepted according to the association’s table of rates, and the same will continue this policy in force for such time as may be mentioned in the receipt for such payment, which must be signed as aforesaid.’
“Shortly after the date of the policy, the insured paid to the defendant the sum of $4.13 as ‘preliminary’ dues until October 1, *141 1895. On October 2, 1895, the insured paid the ‘annual’ dues of $171.15, due October 1, 1895, and carrying the policy to October 1, 1896. On October 1, 1896, the insured paid a quarterly premium of $40.70 carrying the policy to January 1, 1897. On December 10, 1896, the insured wrote to A. J. Brown, the defendant’s agent at Dallas, Tex., as follows:
“ ‘Fayetteville, Texas, Dec. 10, 1896. Mr. A. J. Brown, Dallas, Tex. — Dear Sir: Can 1 pay you my premium for one year straight now from Jan. 1st? If not & I pay for the balance 9 mos. will you er. me with- the amt I had to over pay you for the last three mos. Consider my premium almost too high at regular rate & if i have to pay additional, am thinking seriously of dropping out of your co. when my time expires, please let me hear from you at your convenience oblige Yours truly, H. W. H. Zapp.’
“The defendant’s agent replied on December 12, 1896, as follows:
“ ‘Dec. 12, 1896. Mr. H. W. H. Zapp, Esq. Fayetteville, Texas — Dear Sir: Replying to your inquiry will say that when your premium falls due on January 1, you can pay an annual premium of $156.15, or continue paying $40.70 per quarter. All insurance pre-minums are due yearly in advance, but when the insured elects to pay quarterly or semiannually, the interest is added to the quarterly or semiannual for the part not paid, which makes it larger for the year than paying an annual premium. If you pay an annual on the first of January, and afterwards want to fall back to quarterly payments, you can do so. Our company allows a policy holder to change his payments to suit his convenience. We think, upon examination, that you will not find any company that issues a policy of this kind at a lower rate than ours, considering the advantages of the policy. We inclose herewith some literature for your perusal. Yours truly, A. J. Brown, General Manager H.’
“On December 28, 1896, the insured wrote the defendant’s agent as follows:
“ ‘Fayetteville, Texas, Dec. 28, 1896. Mr. A. J. Brown, Dallas, Texas — Dear Sir: Inclosed find M. O. for $156.15, amt. of dues for one year on my policy, please forwd. receipt oblige Yours truly, H. W. H. Zapp.’
“On December 29, 1896, the defendant’s agent replied:
“ ‘Dec. 29, 1896. Mr. H. W. H. Zapp, Fay-etteville, Texas — Dear Sir: Your favor of the 28th inst. inclosing P. O. order for $156.-15 in payment of annual premium on policy No. 061008, due Jany. 1. As we have a quarterly receipt for your policy, we will return it to the home office with your remittance, and request them to send you an annual receipt, direct from that office. Yours truly, A. J. Brown, General Manager.’ -
“The defendant issued to the plaintiff a receipt in form as follows:
“Face of Receipt: ‘The Fidelity Mutual Life Association of Philadelphia, Pa. Philadelphia, 1 — 2—1897. Received from Herman W. H. Zapp, of Fayetteville, Tex., owner of policy No. 061003 one hundred fifty six 15-100 dollars in payment of annual dues, payable and due on the first day of January, 1897, which pays such dues up to the 1 day of Jan. 1898. (For terms of mutual agreement see application and policy.)
“ ‘Notice to Policy Holders. This receipt to be valid must be signed by the president and treasurer of the association and in exchange therefor cash or its equivalent be given by the holder of the policy on or before date payment is due. And when payment hereon is made

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Bluebook (online)
160 S.W. 139, 1913 Tex. App. LEXIS 416, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/fidelity-mut-life-ins-co-of-philadelphia-v-zapp-texapp-1913.