Georgia International Life Insurance v. Huckabee

333 S.E.2d 618, 175 Ga. App. 343, 1985 Ga. App. LEXIS 2092
CourtCourt of Appeals of Georgia
DecidedMay 22, 1985
Docket69688
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 333 S.E.2d 618 (Georgia International Life Insurance v. Huckabee) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Georgia International Life Insurance v. Huckabee, 333 S.E.2d 618, 175 Ga. App. 343, 1985 Ga. App. LEXIS 2092 (Ga. Ct. App. 1985).

Opinions

Beasley, Judge.

Appellee Leo Huckabee, Jr., owned three automobile dealerships in the Macon, Georgia, area. In 1977 appellees Leo Huckabee III, Bobby Ray Corbett, and James R. Clance, all officials of the dealerships, entered into credit life insurance agency agreements with appellant Georgia International Life Insurance Co. (Georgia International).1 Appellees’ compensation for each policy sold was to consist of two parts: under the “Agency Agreement,” “a commission of 40% of the gross premiums . . . , less any return premiums ... on insurance effected with the Company by the Agent under this Agreement”; and, additionally, under an “Amendment to Agency Agreement” of even date with the agency agreement, a “contingent commission” calculated on the basis of claims filed under the policies sold by Huckabee, this to be paid at a future date, after the policies had “matured.” The Agency Agreement contained the following provision: “10. Either party hereto shall have the right to terminate this agreement upon thirty days notice in writing.” The “amendment” also contained, inter alia, the following provisions: “1. (b) It is understood and agreed that, as a condition precedent to the payment of the contingent commissions, the minimum annual net written premium shall be at least $12,000 . . . ,” and “2. Upon termination of this agreement by either party for whatever reason, no further contingent commission shall be payable.”

Some time after execution of the above documents, Huckabee, in the hope of earning a larger return on its credit insurance business, conducted negotiations aimed at formation of a “captive” insurance company through which all but a small portion of its policies would be written. Thereafter, net premiums for policies written on Georgia International decreased appreciably. Nevertheless, according to appellees, 1979 premiums for policies written on Georgia International amounted to far more than the $12,000 minimum required by the amendment to the 1977 agency agreement under which they were operating. On October 31, 1979, however, Georgia International notified Huckabee that, because of the sharp decline in the number of policies written, the agreement would be terminated as of November 30.

The following spring Leo Huckabee III entered into negotiations with Georgia International to resume the agency relationship. A November 18, 1980, letter to Huckabee III from Howard DuBois, the [344]*344Georgia International vice-president in charge of that area of the business, includes the following: “[Y]our new accounts will receive a 40% soliciting commission . . . These accounts will be allowed to share in additional commissions in the form of a contingent commission once the premiums have been earned ... In order to qualify for a contingent commission, you will have to produce a minimum annual premium of $240,000 . . . Also, it is understood that, in the event of the termination of the agreement by either party for whatever reason, no further contingent commissions shall be payable ... In the event that Huckabee Auto . . . meets the requirements outlined ... , at December 1, 1981, we will combine the experience from the new accounts with your old accounts. At this time, it must be understood that the old accounts are terminated and there are no additional commissions due. We will only combine the old experience if all conditions are met under the new contract.”

The new contract, or “agency agreement,” dated April 1, 1980 (but, according to appellees, not actually executed until some time after May 28, 1980), was identical with that of 1977. The “Amendment to Agency Agreement” signed at the same time differed in several particulars from that of 1977; the only dissimilar or additional provisions relevant to the case are the following: “1. ... It is understood and agreed that, as a condition precedent to the payment of a contingent commission for a specified calendar year, there must have been a minimum net written premium (written premium less cancellations) ... of at least $240,000 . . . ,” and “3. Either party hereto shall have the right to terminate this Amendment upon thirty days notice in writing to the other party. Upon termination of this Amendment by either party for whatever reason, no further contingent commission shall be payable.”

On March 4, 1981, DuBois wrote to Huckabee stating that, because the latter’s “level of production is insufficient for us to continue as your insurer,” the agency agreement would be terminated as of April 6, 1981. The letter continued: “This termination also includes any and all agreements associated with the anticipated merger of these accounts with your previous accounts conditions for the merger having not been attained.” Appellees contend that because the termination occurred long before the first designated accounting period (December 1, 1981, as stated in DuBois’ letter of November 18, 1980) and only a few months after execution of the new agreements, the termination was effected for the sole purpose of fraudulently depriving them of contingent commissions that allegedly were or would have been due them.

According to appellees, at no time before or after the termination of the 1980 agreements did Georgia International demand an accounting or allude to any existing indebtedness. Appellees contend that, [345]*345contrary to appellant’s assertions, the agent and the insurer each received 40% of the gross premiums and that, upon maturity of the individual policies (usually three to five years), the actual source of contingent commissions paid would be the remaining 20% of the gross premiums.

In June 1983 appellees brought an action in five counts, seeking recovery of contingent commissions amounting to more than $270,000 under the 1977 agreements. They alleged that this amount was owing under theories of breach of contract, wrongful withholding, quantum meruit, fraud, and lack of mutuality. They sought, in addition to the principal sum, interest, exemplary damages, and “additional damages in the amount of $1,000,000.”

Georgia International answered, denying liability and counterclaiming for $4,251.71 in unearned premiums on cancelled policies. Huckabee filed responsive pleadings denying liability on the counterclaim. Georgia International then filed a motion for summary judgment or, in the alternative, for dismissal on the ground that Huckabee had failed to join a necessary party, General Motors Acceptance Corporation (GMAC), Huckabee’s assignee. The trial court denied the motion to dismiss on the basis that the assignment to GMAC was, in contemplation of law, only a partial assignment and that Huckabee therefore retained legal title and was the proper party plaintiff. The court entered a second order denying summary judgment, on the ground that “ [i]t appears to this court. . . that one or more material issues of fact do still remain in dispute. . . .”

Appellant obtained a certificate of appealability of the latter order and enumerates five errors, to wit: first, that any claim for contingent commissions is barred by the language of the contracts; second, that a claim for contingent commissions is further barred by accord and satisfaction; third, that there are no material facts in dispute; fourth, that the commissions sought are not recoverable under the theories of quantum meruit, fraud, or lack of mutuality; and, fifth, that Georgia International is entitled to recovery on its counterclaim because appellees allegedly raised no defense thereto. Held:

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Georgia International Life Insurance v. Huckabee
333 S.E.2d 618 (Court of Appeals of Georgia, 1985)

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Bluebook (online)
333 S.E.2d 618, 175 Ga. App. 343, 1985 Ga. App. LEXIS 2092, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/georgia-international-life-insurance-v-huckabee-gactapp-1985.