Mutual Life Insurance v. French

30 Ohio St. (N.S.) 240
CourtOhio Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 15, 1876
StatusPublished

This text of 30 Ohio St. (N.S.) 240 (Mutual Life Insurance v. French) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Mutual Life Insurance v. French, 30 Ohio St. (N.S.) 240 (Ohio 1876).

Opinion

"Wright, J.

The petition is upon a policy of insurance upon the life of Maynard French, for $10,000. The policy was executed July 6,1864. It is alleged that the annual premiums for 1865, 1866, and 1867 were duly paid, and receipts taken. That upon July 6,1868, and before noon of the proper day, the premium was duly tendered for the ensuing year, and refused. In April, 1869, Maynard French died. The policy was for the benefit of Julia A., wife of-Maynard French. She, however, died before her husband, and this suit is by her children and heirs.

The second and third paragraphs of the answer are as follows:

Second. Defendants deny that the annual premium upon the policy referred to in the petition, for the year 1867, was duly paid. They admit that on the sixth day of July, a. d. 1867, a receipt for said premium was given by the agent of the defendants at Cincinnati, to the said Maynard French, but no payment was made. Said French gave to said agent, for said receipt, his check upon the Fourth National Bank of Cincinnati, dated July 25,1867, for two. hundred and thirteen and 88-100 dollars, and his note for two hundred and thirteen and 87-100 dollars, payable six months after date, to the order of the defendants, with interest, and with the stipulation expressed in said note, that it was given for said premium, and that [if not paid at maturity, said policy should be null and voicQand he also gave his due bill for $1,450, unpaid part of premium on said policy, with interest at six per cent., payable annually, and with the stipulation that the same should be a lien on said policy till paid; and said receipt was given to said Maynard French upon the understanding and agreement that the same was not to be operative unless said check and said note for $213 87-100 were paid at maturity, and no part of either has ever been paid. Defendants further say that the- taking said check and note, and giving said receipt therefor, by said agent, was without the knowledge, authority, or consent of the defendants; that by the [244]*244terms of said policy, the annual premium thereupon was to be paid on or before twelve o’clock,m., on the sixth day of July, during its continuance, and that-said agent was authorized to receive said premiums, when due, but was expressly prohibited from altering or discharging any of the stipulations of said policy, and that said prohibition was noted on the face of said policy. Defendants further say that as soon as they were advised of said acts and doings by their said agent, they disavowed the same, and refused to recognize, and have ever since refused to recognize said policy as in force, of all which said Maynard Drench was, without delay, notified.
Third. Defendants deny that payment of the annual premium on said policy accruing on 'the 6th day of July, 1868, was tendered in manner and form as set forth in the petition or otherwise, and allege that no part of the same has ever been paid. And defendants further say that it is expressly stipulated in said policy that if the assured should not pay the annual premiums thereupon on or before the several days therein mentioned for the payment thereof, then, and in every such case, the defendants should not be liable to. the payment of the sum insured, nor any part thereof, and said policy should cease and determine, and all previous payments made thereon, and all profits, should be forfeited to said company.”

Upon the trial below verdict and judgment was had for plaintiffs in the sum of $8,248.

The policy is numbered 25,187, bears date July 6, 1864, and recites as its consideration: “ The representations made to them in the application for this policy, and of the sum of seven hundred and twenty-five dollars to them in hand paid by Mrs. Julia A. Drench, wife of Maynard Drench, and of the annual premium of seven hundred and twenty-five dollars to be paid on or before twelve o’clock, M., on the 6th day of July, in every year during the continuance of this policy.”

It contains the agreement of the assured that “in case [245]*245the said assured shall not pay the said annual premiums, on or before the several days hereinbefore mentioned for the payment thereof, then and in every such case the said company shall not be liable to the payment of the sum insured, or any part thereof, and this policy shall cease and determine; and . . . that in every case where this policy shall cease, or become or be null and void, all previous payments made thereon, and all profits, shall be forfeited to the said company.”

By the rules of the company, this was a policy, on which the assured was allowed to pay one-half the premium in cash and to give a premium note for the other half. The insurance was effected at Cincinnati, with the agent of the company, Robert Simpson.

On the 6th of July, 1867, French not being able to pay the cash part of the premium, gave his check for one-half • thereof, payable July 25th, his note at six months, and the usual premium note. The following are copies of these papers:

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
30 Ohio St. (N.S.) 240, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mutual-life-insurance-v-french-ohio-1876.