Lee v. Prudential Life Insurance

89 N.E. 529, 203 Mass. 299, 1909 Mass. LEXIS 933

• Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
• Decided: October 19, 1909
• Status: Published

Opinion

Knowlton, C. J.

This is an action upon a policy of life insurance in which the plaintiff is named as the beneficiary. The policy states that a part of the consideration for the agreement of the insurance company is “the application for this policy, which is hereby made a part of this contract.” The application itself, which was annexed to the policy, was signed by George H. Lee, the insured, and it contained a statement that the application should “become a part of the contract for insurance hereby applied for.” The policy and the application together constitute the contract between the parties, and both alike are to be considered in determining their rights. In the application the insured made this agreement: “ It is agreed that the policy . . . shall not take effect until the same shall be issued and delivered by the said company, and the first premium paid thereon in full, while my health is in the same condition as described in this application.” The condition described was that of “ good health.”

The defendant contended that payment of the premium while the insured was in good health was a condition precedent to the policy’s taking effect, and that, as the burden was upon the plaintiff to show that there was a contract which became binding upon the defendant, it was incumbent upon her to prove not only that the policy was delivered, but that the first premium was paid while the insured was in good health. The judge so ruled and the plaintiff excepted. This ruling was correct. It was in accordance with the plain import of the language; and the language of a contract of insurance is as binding upon both parties as that of any other contract. It was also in accordance with decisions in this and other States. Gallant v. Metropolitan Ins. Co. 167 Mass. 79. Barker v. Metropolitan Ins. Co. 188 Mass. 542. Packard v. Metropolitan Ins. Co. 72 N. H. 1. McClave v. Mutual Reserve Fund Life Association, 26 Vroom, 187. Langstaff v. Metropolitan Ins. Co. 40 Vroom, 54. Anders v. Life Insurance Clearing Co. 62 Neb. 585. Reese v. Fidelity Mutual Life Association, 111 Ga. 482. Ormond v. Fidelity Life Association, 96 N. C. 158. Volker v. Metropolitan Ins. Co. 21 N. Y. Supp. 456. 25 Cyc. 719.

The ruling went further, to the effect that there was no evidence to submit to the jury on this point, and a verdict for the defendant was directed, subject to the plaintiff’s exception. The evidence seems very convincing in favor of the defendant, and it is not to be supposed that, upon the testimony reported, a jury would have found for the plaintiff. But the testimony which seems to present the facts clearly on this point came almost entirely from witnesses called by the defendant. The question of law before us relates, not to the weight of the evidence, but to the existence or non-existence of evidence which, taken by itself alone, would warrant an inference that the plaintiff was in good health at the time of the payment. On this question the plaintiff is entitled to have the case considered as it was before the defendant’s witnesses were called. Was there anything before the jury which would warrant a finding for the plaintiff if no credit was given to the witnesses called by the defendant?

The policy contains a promise to pay the plaintiff, in consideration of the application, “ and of the payment, in the manner specified, of the premium herein stated.” This must mean the manner specified in the contract, including the application, if the application contains any specification as to the manner of payment. There are different specifications as to the payment of the premium. By the terms of the policy it is to be paid quarter-annually in exchange for the company’s receipt, and the time is to be on the delivery of the policy, and on or before the twenty-ninth day of March, June, September and December in every year during the continuance of the policy. The place of payment is the home office of the company. By the terms of the application, in order to give the policy effect, the first premium is to be paid while the insured is in good health. It is a matter not free from doubt whether all, and if not all, how many of these particulars are referred to by the language “ in the manner specified.” It may be argued that this last requirement relates to the manner of payment, within the meaning of the contract, and it may be argued that it does not. It was proved that the policy was delivered. As the first premium was to be paid at the time of the delivery, it was perhaps a fair matter of inference from the language of the policy as to the consideration, that the defendant’s premium had been paid. There was ground for a contention that the delivery of the policy containing this recital is evidence in the nature of an admission, not binding, of course, that this premium had been paid “ in the manner specified,” and that “ in the manner specified ” meant while the insured was in good health. We appreciate that there might be force in a contention to the contrary. Neither party referred to this subject in argument, and we do not find it necessary to consider it further; for we are of opinion that there were other facts before the jury which, if we disregard the testimony introduced by the defendant, would warrant an inference in favor of the plaintiff. Not only was the policy delivered, but it was delivered by an agent of the defendant, who, to a certain extent, was charged with the duty of ascertaining whether it ought to be delivered, and ought to take effect, and whether the company ought to receive the payment of the premium upon it. There was evidence that he made inquiry in regard to this matter on the day of the payment of the premium, and was told by the plaintiff that her father, the insured, was out on the street. “ Before he delivered the policy he asked the plaintiff how her father was and she said he was all right.” From this testimony the jury might find that the defendant’s agent made investigation to this extent, and that he was satisfied that the insured was then in good health. Perhaps he relied in part upon his previous knowledge and in part upon his opinion that the plaintiff’s statement was trustworthy. This was evidence against the defendant, although not strong evidence, that the insured was in good health.

If we go further back it appears that the company saw fit to write this policy after such investigation as it chose to make in regard to the health of the applicant. It is a matter of common knowledge that life insurance companies do not issue such policies until they have received what they regard as satisfactory evidence that the person to be insured is in good health. The application annexed to the policy shows that questions were put and answers taken, with a view to determine the state of the applicant's health. The writing of the policy by the company, under these circumstances, was some evidence in the nature of an admission that he was in good health when the application was made, and it might be inferred, in the absence of anything to show the contrary, that he remained in the same condition until the premium was paid.

Neither party has referred to the fact that the application, which seems to have been put in evidence by both the plaintiff and the defendant, contains a declaration made by a person who died before the trial, expressly stating that he was in good health. There is ground for a contention that this is evidence to be considered by the jury under the R. L. c. 175, § 66. This declaration was in evidence without objection, and no request for a ruling was made in regard to it. Although it was contained in a contract which was competent and important evidence, perhaps the judge, if requested, might have instructed the jury not to consider it as evidence, on the ground that he was not satisfied that it was made in good faith. This subject, too, was not referred to by either party in argument, and we do not find it necessary to pass upon it. On other grounds already referred to, we are of opinion that inferences of fact might be drawn, sufficient to warrant a finding in favor of the plaintiff, in the absence of any more definite evidence as to the condition of the insured when the premium was paid. It follows that the case should have been submitted to the jury.

P. J. Ashe, for the plaintiff, submitted a brief. E. D. Duffield (of New Jersey), (E. A. McClintock with him,) for the defendant.

Exceptions su/Stained.