Moriarty v. California Western States Life Insurance

70 P.2d 684, 22 Cal. App. 2d 260, 1937 Cal. App. LEXIS 110

• Court: California Court of Appeal
• Decided: August 9, 1937
• Docket: Civ. No. 9908
• Status: Published

Opinions

STURTEVANT, J.

In an action brought to recover the amount due the beneficiary of Spencer J. Johnson, deceased, under a group insurance policy, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The trial court granted the defendant’s motion for a new trial. From that order the plaintiff has appealed.

After all of the parties had finished introducing evidence, the defendant made a motion that the jury be directed to bring in a verdict in its favor. The trial court denied that motion. Thereafter the defendant made a motion for a new trial. Later the motion was granted. The wording of the order granting the motion was as follows: “The motion for a new trial having been heretofore submitted to the court for decision, and the court having fully considered the same, it is ordered that the said motion for new trial be and the same is hereby granted upon the sole ground that the court erred in denying defendant’s motion for a directed verdict for the reason that the premium which became due on January 19, 1932, on the policy described in the complaint was not paid within the grace period expiring February 19, 1932, and that defendant did not waive the payment thereof and is not estopped to forfeit said policy on account of such nonpayment.” The plaintiff asserts that the sole question presented by this appeal is whether the trial court erred in denying the defendant's motion for a directed verdict and if it did not then that it erred in granting the motion for a new trial and the order should be reversed. The defendant contends that in its motion for a new trial it made many assignments of error and if any one of said assignments was well made then the order should be affirmed. From the conclusion which we have reached it will not be necessary to discuss anything excepting the order refusing to grant defendant’s motion for a directed verdict.

Mullin-Aeton Company and Mullin-Johnson Company were affiliated corporations engaged in the insurance business in San Francisco. The uncontradicted testimony showed that Mullin-Johnson Company was the corporate agent in charge of the brokerage business of Mullin-Acton Company. With the facts all known to both parties, on September 18, 1931, the California Western States Life Insurance Company (then Western States Life) wrote a policy of group insurance upon the lives of the employees of the affiliated corporations. That document was known as the master contract of group insurance. The original was lost but evidence proving its contents was offered at the trial. To each employee a certificate was issued showing his interests under the master policy. By the terms of the policy the premiums fell due on September 19, 1931, and monthly thereafter. A representative of Mullin-Johnson Company collected from its employees and a representative of the Mullin-Acton Company collected the amounts due from its employees and the latter company transmitted the premium moneys to the defendant’s home office. In that manner every premium was paid down to and including the month of November. As to each premium the practice was for the insurance company to send to the policyholder a statement showing the amount of each premium and when due. Such a statement and such a notice went forward regarding the premium payable December 19, 1931. The policy provided thirty-one days as a period of grace. On January 14, 1932, Mullin-Acton Company drew and forwarded its check in the sum of $71.38. At that time MullinActon Company was financially embarrassed. On receiving the check the defendant did not immediately deposit it and when it did the bank on which it was drawn refused to pay the check because the bank had been compelled to exercise its bankers’ lien to protect itself and no funds remained to pay the check. In the meantime the creditors of Mullin-Acton Company filed an involuntary petition to have the latter adudged a bankrupt and on January 22, 1932, it was so adjudged. When the defendant was informed that said check had not been paid it sent Robert P. Benjamin, an employee in the office of the manager of the group department, to attempt to collect the amount of the check from the policyholder. He called on Mr. George IT. Mullin, president of Mullin-Johnson Company and formerly president of MullinActon Company. Mr. Mullin advised him to call on Mr. Raymond A. Burr, the receiver in bankruptcy of MullinActon Company. Benjamin did so but without success, and when he returned Mr. Mullin caused the cheek of MullinJohnson Company to be issued and delivered to Mr. Benjamin. That check was cashed February 10, 1932. It paid the premium that fell due December 19, 1931.

While straightening out the check tangle Mr. Mullin became aware of the dangerous condition in which the insurance of the employees was becoming involved. The pro rata contributions of the Mullin-Johnson Company amounted to $10.40. That sum he offered to pay Mr. Benjamin but he declined to accept it. In doing so he stated to Mr. Mullin; that the bankruptcy of the Mullin-Acton Company had resulted in the appointment of a receiver, Mr. Burr; that Mr. Burr refused to continue the policy so far as the employees of Mullin-Acton Company were concerned; that under those circumstances it was necessary to recalculate the premiums; and, until the latter step had been taken, Mr. Benjamin did not know what sum or sums to collect. About this time other conversations were had between Mr. Mullin and Mr. Benjamin. No other tender was made to Mr. Benjamin nor was any sum sent to the home office of the defendant. Affairs stood as stated above when, on February 24, 1932, Spencer J. Johnson died. The last date on which the premium which fell due January 19, 1932, could have been paid under the terms of the policy expired February 19, 1932—that is, five days before the date of the death of Mr. Johnson.

In her complaint the plaintiff inserted three separate comits. In the first count she pleaded performance. In the second count she alleged that the premium which became payable' February 19, 1932, was not paid but defendant waived and excused the payment thereof. In the third count she alleged certain facts by reason of which defendant was and is estopped from declaring a forfeiture of the policy. On the trial no evidence of performance was offered. The evidence offered to sustain the claim of waiver was wholly insufficient. The evidence introduced on the subject of waiver was slight and furthermore it was improperly received. Over the objection and exception of the defendant, Mr. Mullin was allowed to testify that at the time he made the tender of $10.40 to Mr. Benjamin the latter stated it was not necessary to pay the premium until it was recalculated and when that step was taken Mr. Mullin would be informed and in the meantime the policy would remain in force. That testimony was received under a promise of the plaintiff’s attorney that it would be connected. It was never connected. There- was no testimony that Mr. Benjamin was anything but a soliciting agent or that he had authority to speak on the subject for the defendant. As stated above, the contract prescribed the due date of the premium. It also contained a covenant as to what officers could change the policy. No evidence was introduced that Mr. Benjamin was such an officer, but, on the other hand, much evidence was introduced to the effect that he was not. It was error to receive the testimony and it did not tend to prove a waiver. (Sharman v. Continental Ins. Co., 167 Cal. 117, 125 [138 Pac. 708, 52 L. R. A. (N. S.) 670] ; Belden v. Union Central Life Ins. Co., 167 Cal. 740, 743 [141 Pac. 370].)

The plaintiff’s claim of estoppel was based on two wholly different theories, each theory being addressed to a separate state of facts. The first theory was that MullinJohnson Company was the insured and the employer of the deceased, that it tendered the premium and defendant refused to accept it. The original policy had been lost and plaintiff was not able to produce it at the time of the trial. She introduced evidence that her attorney, Mr. Livingston, had applied to the defendant for a copy, that defendant sent one which on its face named the insured, “Mullin-Aeton Company and Mullin-Johnson Company”, as employers. She then introduced evidence that later Mr. Marcus Gunn, vice-president of the insurer, struck out “and Mullin-Johnson Company”, claiming those words were not in the original policy and were inserted on the copy by mistake. No witness testified that the original policy named the two companies as employer. However, the plaintiff claims she had the right to ask the jury to find that the policy named the two companies as employers, and that the bankruptcy of Mullin-Aeton Company did not affect the Mullin-Johnson Company nor the employees of the latter. The first answer is that the plaintiff did not introduce any evidence other than a mere suspicion that the policy was in fact written “Mullin-Aeton Company and Mullin-Johnson Company”, employers. The second answer is that the plaintiff cites no authorities, and we know of none, holding that a policy of group insurance may legally be written on a group of employers. (Stats. 1929, chap. 245.) That only one policy was issued is, and must be, a conceded fact. It was numbered G-248,667 and that number was incorporated in the certificates issued to the several employees and in the application made for insurance.

The other theory regarding estoppel may be summarized as follows: The plaintiff claims that under the facts the insurer caused and allowed Mr. Benjamin to exercise such authority as would constitute him the ostensible general agent of the insurer and that his acts were in legal effect the acts of the company. We think not. Mr. Cranmer was manager of the group department. He obtained from Mullin-Aeton Company an application for insurance. Not until after the death of S. J. Johnson did he have any further contact with the insured. After Mr. Cranmer obtained the application of the employer, Mr. Benjamin, who was a helper in his office, interviewed the employees and obtained their individual applications. No other contacts are noted in the evidence until Mullin-Acton Company’s check dated January 14, 1932, was returned unpaid. At that time Mr. Benjamin was directed to endeavor to collect the premium that check represented. He was not given authority to do anything regarding any other premium or take any action regarding the contract of insurance theretofore entered into. The plaintiff did not claim that he was given express authority. On the other hand his express authority was reduced to writing and shows on its face that he had no power to write a contract or alter one. However, the plaintiff adverts to the alleged conversation between Mr. Mullin and Mr. Benjamin in which the latter is claimed to have stated the policy was still in force. To that argument there are many complete replies. Mr. Benjamin denied ever making the statement. However, if Mr. Benjamin made the statement, it was true. The contract between the parties was made up and consisted of the policy and the applications. It was so written in paragraph sixteen of the policy. In paragraph three of the application it was provided, “If the proposed insurance is contributory, shall the insurance on the life of any employee who has terminated his employment during a period for which a premium is due or has been paid by the employer, automatically continue in force under the Group until the next premium due date? Ans. Yes.” As we understand the language of the policy it is to the same effect. (Par. 3.) But the fact that the insurance under the policy continued for a period does not solve the problem. The period, under the facts in this case, would have expired February 19, 1932. The certificate issued to the deceased, in compliance with the call of the statute (Pol. Code, see. 629b, subd. 2, par. “d”), recited, “In the event of termination of employment for any reason whatsoever, the employee’s life insurance may be continued as provided under the Conversion Privilege described on page two hereof.” That conversion privilege provided that within thirty-one days after the date of termination of employment, each employee might file a written application to convert his insurance and that a policy would issue giving insurance commencing as of the actual date of the termination of the employment. Furthermore, it is a conceded fact that when Mr. Mullin offered to pay $10.40 as the premium on the attaches of Mullin-Johnson Company, Mr. Benjamin declined to accept it because he had no instructions and the matter must be taken up with “the home office”. It cannot be said his action was wrong. Whether, under the facts, a time had arisen to recalculate the premium or the policy had come to an end, were questions which, under the terms of the policy, should be answered by the home office.

Mullin-Acton Company presumably held the policy at the time of the conversation in question. Each employee presumably held his certificate. The “home office” of the defendant company was located in Sacramento. Under paragraph three of the policy all premiums were payable on or before their due date “at the home office of the company”. A period of grace of thirty-one days was allowed. The last payment paid the premium to January 19, 1932. The days of grace expired February 19, 1932. The privilege and duty of paying premiums rested with the employer and not with one or more employees. (Magee v. Equitable L. Assur. Soc., 62 N. D. 614 [244 N. W. 518, 85 A. L. R. 1457] ; Baker v. Prudential Ins. Co., 279 Ill. App. 5, 12, 13.) No application, either orally or in writing, was made by the deceased to convert his insurance. However, the plaintiff contends the defendant is, under the facts, estopped from claiming that the insurance was allowed to lapse. Subdivision 3 of section 1962 of the Code of Civil Procedure provides: “3. Whenever a party has, by his own declaration, act or omission, intentionally and deliberately led another to believe a particular thing true, and to act upon such belief, he cannot, in any litigation arising out of such declaration, act, or omission, be permitted to falsify it.” That in a proper case that rule is applicable to actions to recover on insurance policies is clear. (Maggini v. West Coast Life Ins. Co., 136 Cal. App. 472, 479 [29 Pac. (2d) 263].) But the particular factors necessary before applying the doctrine in any action are set forth in the leading ease of Biddle Boggs v. Merced Min. Co., 14 Cal. 279, at page 367, as follows: “It is undoubtedly true that a party will, in many instances, be concluded by his declarations or conduct, which have influenced the conduct of another to his injury. The party is said, in such eases, to be estopped from denying the truth of his admissions. But to the application of this principle with respect to the title of property, it must appear, first, that the party making the admission, by his declarations or conduct, was apprised of the true state of his own title; second, that he made the admission with the express intention to deceive, or with such careless and culpable negligence as to amount to constructive fraud; third, that the other party was not only destitute of all knowledge of the true state of the title, but of the means of acquiring such knowledge,- and fourth, that he relied directly upon such admission, and will be injured by allowing its truth to be disproved.” We have shown above that Mr. Benjamin had no authority on behalf of' the defendant to waive any provisions of the policy. Plaintiff points to nothing showing he had authority to estop the defendant. Assuming, solely for-the purposes of this decision, that he did havé authority, there is no evidence he did not speak truly. There is no evidence the deceased did not know all of the facts as completely as did the defendant. No single fact appears wherein or whereby, if an estoppel arose, the deceased would have been estopped, but it is a cardinal rule that an estoppel must be mutual. (10 Cal. Jur. 627.) But in the instant case there is not a word to the effect that the deceased would, after the conversation between Mr. Mullin and Mr. Benjamin, rely wholly on a contract between MullinJohnson Company and the defendant as furnishing him insurance; nor that there was such a document in existence, nor that, if there was such a document, it was legal within the provisions of our statutes applicable to group insurance.

When the motion for a directed verdict was made the rule governing the action of the trial court was as set forth in Estate of Baldwin, 162 Cal. 471 [123 Pac. 267]. At page 473 the court said: “The conditions under which the course pursued by the court in this instance is held to be proper are defined by a series of uniform decisions of this court, to which it will be sufficient to make reference. The doctrine of scintilla of evidence is rejected, as it is by the courts of the United States. (Commissioner of Marion Co. v. Clark, 94 U. S. 278 [24 L. Ed. 59].) A directed verdict is proper, unless there be substantial evidence tending to prove in favor of plaintiff all the controverted facts ■ necessary to establish his case. In other words, a directed verdict is proper whenever, upon the whole evidence, the judge would be compelled to set a contrary verdict aside as unsupported by the evidence. To warrant a court in directing a verdict,.it is not necessary that there should be an absence of conflict in the evidence, but, to deprive the court of the right to exercise this power, if there be a conflict, it must be a substantial one.” From what has been said above we think it is clear that the trial court would not have erred if it had granted the defendant’s motion for a directed verdict. If that is so, it follows it did not abuse its discretion in granting the motion for a new trial.

Williams v. Employers’ Liability Assur. Gorp., 69 Fed. (2d) 285, is relied on by the plaintiff. It contains nothing at variance with what we have said. The agent whose acts were involved in that case was acting under an express authorization and his acts were ratified by the general agent of the insurance company.

The order appealed from is affirmed.

Nourse, P. J., concurred.