Manning v. American Bankers Insurance Co.

330 S.W.2d 921, 1959 Tex. App. LEXIS 1765
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedDecember 17, 1959
DocketNo. 3701
StatusPublished

This text of 330 S.W.2d 921 (Manning v. American Bankers Insurance Co.) 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
Manning v. American Bankers Insurance Co., 330 S.W.2d 921, 1959 Tex. App. LEXIS 1765 (Tex. Ct. App. 1959).

Opinion

TIREY, Justice.

Plaintiff brought his suit to recover death benefits payable under the terms of an insurance contract for the death of his son. The cause was submitted to the Court on an agreed statement. The Court entered a take-nothing judgment against plaintiff, and he excepted and perfected his appeal to this Court. The judgment is assailed on two grounds. They are substantially to the effect that the Court erred:

(1) In failing to render judgment against the insurance company for the sum of $300.00, being the death benefit under the policy contract for the first death.

(2) In failing to render judgment for 12% penalty and reasonable attorney fees.

We quote the pertinent parts of the agreement:

“1. That the policy of life insurance described in paragraph 1 of plaintiff’s petition was issued by Commercial Union Life Insurance Company as Policy No. 59767, dated September 15, 1948 insuring the lives of Rueben G. Manning, Ida Manning, August G. Manning, Jewel Goode and Robert T. Manning. The said policy is attached hereto, marked ‘Exhibit A’ and incorporated herein for all purposes.
“2. That effective July 1, 1956 the said policy was assumed and reinsured by American Bankers Insurance Company in accordance with the provisions-of an Assumption Certificate attached hereto, incorporated herein for all purposes and marked 'Exhibit B’.
“3. That said policy had lapsed and had been reinstated several times after its issuance, but was in full force- and effect on June 14, 1957.
“4. That the said policy lapsed on-June 15, 1957 for failure to pay the May, 1957 premium within the time required by the policy. In this connection, it is agreed that the May, 1957 premium was due on May 15, 1957,. and one month’s grace is allowed under said policy and the applicable law, and the said premium not having been paid on or before the end of the said grace period, the policy lapsed as aforesaid;, that the premium which would otherwise have become due on June 15, 1957' was not paid within the time required by the terms of the policy.
“5. Robert T. Manning died at 2:5S A.M. on July 14, 1957 as a result of being shot with a gun a few minutes-before said hour; that the said Robert T. Manning was the first to die of the five persons originally named as insureds in said policy.
“6. That an application for reinstatement of the above policy was-mailed to plaintiff on or about July 8, 1957; that the said application was executed by plaintiff and bears the date of July 13, 1957; that the said application for reinstatement states that all insureds under said policy were in sound health and that none had been sick or injured since the said policy was issued'; that the said application was mailed to defendant by plaintiff in an [923]*923envelope postmarked ‘Waco, Texas, July 14, 1957, 7:30 P.M.’ and was received by the defendant on July 15, 1957. Said application is attached hereto, incorporated herein and marked Exhibit ‘D’.
“7. All past due premiums on said policy were paid by plaintiff on July 18, 1957 and defendant’s receipt therefor is attached hereto, incorporated herein for all purposes and marked ‘Exhibit C.
“8. A line was drawn through the name of Robert T. Manning in the policy, after his death but prior to the reinstatement of the policy. The policy was reinstated on July 18, 1957.
“9. Since the said reinstatement plaintiff has paid all the monthly premiums thereon up to the present.
“10. At the time the defendant accepted the past due premium on July 18, 1957 and at the time the defendant reinstated the policy on July 18, 1957, “both the plaintiff and defendant had knowledge of the death of Robert T. Manning.
“11. All conditions precedent to recover upon this policy have been done and performed by plaintiff, subject to the defenses urged by the defendant herein, and if it is found that the policy was in force at the time of the death of Robert T. Manning and if it is found that plaintiff is entitled to recover death benefits under said policy for the death of the said Robert T. Manning, plaintiff is entitled to recover the sum of $300.00 as such death benefits.
“12. Commercial Union Life Insurance Company was at all times pertinent hereto a state-wide mutual assessment life insurance company and defendant, American Bankers Insurance Company, at all times pertinent hereto was and is an old line legal reserve stock company.”

In appellant’s brief we find this statement:

“American Bankers Life Insurance Company, Appellee, issued a life insurance policy, insuring the lives of Reuben G. Manning, Ida Manning, August G. Manning, Jewell Goode, and Robert T. Manning, under one policy, providing that the amount of $300.00 was payable for the first death, $375.00 for the second death, $500.00 for the third death, $750.00 for the fourth death, and $1500.00 for the fifth death. This policy designated Rueben G. Manning, Appellant herein, as beneficiary. The premiums for the months of May and June 1957 were not paid until July 18, 1957, which was past the grace period provided in said policy. Robert T. Manning died on July 14, 1957, and it was subsequent to his death that past due premiums for May and June were paid. These premiums were accepted by said insurance company with full knowledge of the facts, and the policy was unconditionally reinstated.
“Appellee refused to pay the death benefit of $300.00 provided in the policy for the first death, and it is Appellant’s contention that the act of receiving and accepting of premiums and unconditionally reinstating said policy constitutes a waiver and estoppel as a matter of law.”

Appellant contends that under the doctrine announced by our Supreme Court in Equitable Life Assurance Society v. Ellis, 105 Tex. 526, 147 S.W. 1152, that the insurance company waived the forfeiture of the policy for non-payment of premiums. We overrule appellant’s contentions for reasons which we shall hereinafter briefly state. First of all, the policy in suit covered five persons and provided for monthly premium of $2.25, and this premium remained constant throughout the life of the policy irrespective of removal by death of one or more of the persons insured. It was without question to and for the benefit of the remaining insureds that the policy [924]*924be reinstated if such persons desired to continue the insurance, and the premium therefor was $2.25 per month as above stated. The policy provisions expressly set out the procedure to be followed for reinstatement. The policy in suit lapsed on June 15, 1957, for failure to pay the May, 1957 premium within the time required by the policy. The May, 1957 premium was due on May 15, 1957, and one month’s grace is allowed under said policy and the applicable law, and it is without dispute that the premium was not paid on or before the end of the grace period provided for in the policy and as allowed by law. Robert T. Manning died at 2:55 A.M., on July 14, 1957, as a result of being shot with a gun a few minutes before said hour, and Robert T. Manning was the first to die of the original five persons named as insureds in the policy.

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Bluebook (online)
330 S.W.2d 921, 1959 Tex. App. LEXIS 1765, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/manning-v-american-bankers-insurance-co-texapp-1959.