National Life & Accident Insurance v. Lokey

52 So. 45, 166 Ala. 174, 1910 Ala. LEXIS 330

• Court: Supreme Court of Alabama
• Decided: January 13, 1910
• Status: Published

Opinion

SAYRE, J.

It seems entirely clear to us that there was not tenable objection to the first count of the complaint. It followed the form laid down in the Code as for an action on a policy of life insurance, and stated a cause of action.—Insurance Company v. Bledsoe, 52 Ala. 538. If the evidence developed a case arising on a policy of accident insurance, that raised a question, we hardly need to say, to be reached otherwise than by demurrer. Nor does counsel for appellant contend for anything different. The contention in the brief is that there was error in that action of the court by which it allowed the policy to be put in evidence, notwithstanding defendant’s objection because it tended to establish a case at variance with that stated in count 1. The effort to state in the Code form an action on a policy of accident insurance proceeded, as we think, upon a misapprehension of the proper office of that form. A policy which insures against death resulting directly and independently of all other causes from bodily injuries effected through external, violent, and accidental means, though in a sense a policy of life insurance, is not the sort of policy contemplated in form 12 of section 5283 of the Code, nor does it evidence the character of contract men have in mind when they speak of life insurance. But the second count of the-complaint states an action on a policy of accident insurance — how defectively Ave Avill not say, because’ its defects are not urged in brief of counsel — and under this count the policy offered Avas admissible in evidence. The court at the time of its introduction might have appropriately limited the effect of the policy as tending to sustain only the 'second- count; but exactly this the court Avas not asked to do, and, AAdiether so or not, it cannot be said that there was error in its refusal to do so, for the reason that the correct method of securing- its right in this connection' by a charge limiting' the effect of the evidence remained open to the defendant. The same considerations are to be applied Avith the same result to that assignment of error in Avhich the appellant affirms error of the loAver court in overruling its motion to exclude the policy in so far as the first count Avas concerned.

Plea 12 set up a clause of the policy in AAihich it Avas stipulated that in the event of fatal injury from exposure to obAfious risk of injury or knoAvn danger the defendant company should not be liable, and alleges that the death of the insured “did result- from external, violent, or accidental means, and was the proximate result of the exposure by the said Mrs. Julia Reese (the insured) of herself to the obvious risk of danger, in this: That she attempted to and did step or jump or alight from a moAdng car, and that her said death resulted próximately therefrom.” In argument stress is laid upon the fact that the exposure to danger provided for in the exception quoted is not described as voluntary, and thus the conclusion is reached by way of the exception that a merely negligent exposure of himself to danger by the insured will relieve the insurer of liability. There seems to have been some conflict of opinion as to whether contributory negligence constitutes a defense to an action on the policy where the contract is general, insuring against accident occurring by external violence without any exception of the character under, consideration.—Shelvin v. American Mut. Acc. Ass’n, 94 Wis. 180, 68 N. W. 866, 36 L. R. A. 52. In that case it is stated that the great weight of authority favors the conclusion that an injury may be said to be accidental, though attributable to the negligence of the insured; That inquiry, however, is 'excluded from this case by the provision of the policy in hand. Here the exception prevents liability in the event of exposure to obvious risk or known danger, meaning, as we apprehend, that the danger must meet the insured so squarely in front that he cannot in reason be heard to deny knowledge of it, or that it was in fact known; implying in either case an exposure to a danger that the insured knows and is conscious of at the time. -Every policy of insurance, if doubtful, is construed in favor of the insured. We think it cannot in reason be said that the exception in question was intended to relieve the insurer of responsibility in the event the insured is involuntarily ex posed to danger and suffers injury thereby. That would he contrary to the entire tenor of the contract. It follows, it would seem, that the addition of the word “voluntary,” as descriptive of the insured’s exposure, would add nothing to the meaning of the exception. The language used implies as much. It has been held by other courts in a number of cases that mere negligence on the part of the insured does not constitute a voluntary ■exposure, and. that the negligence of the insured, to bring his acts within an exception of voluntary exposure to danger, must be accompanied with knowledge of the existence of danger, or knowledge that injury is likely to result from his acts.—4 Cooley’s Briefs, 3216.

But let it be assumed that the exception here relieved defendant of liability on “exposure to obvious danger,” and that “exposure to obvious danger” means something less than voluntary exposure to obvious danger. How •does the case stand? In Tuttle v. Travelers’ Ins. Co., 134 Mass. 175, 45 Am. Rep. 316, the language of the ■exception was “exposure to obvious or unnecessary danger.” The court applied the general principles of the law of negligence. So in Smith v. Preferred Mut. Acc. Ass’n, 104 Mich. 634, 62 N. W. 990; Travelers’ Ins. Co. v. Jones, 80 Ga. 541, 7 S. E. 83, 12 Am. St. Rep. 270, and Smith v. Aetna Ins. Co., 115 Iowa, 217, 88 N. W. 368, 56 L. R. A. 271, 91 Am. St. Rep. 153. In Shevlin v. American Mut. Acc. Ass’n, 94 Wis. 180, 68 N. W. 866, 36 L. R. A. 52, the exception was: “Any injury resulting in whole or in part from exposure to unnecessary •danger.” The court said: “It plainly includes all'cases of exposure to unnecessary danger, in which such exposure is attributable to negligence on the part of the •assured; that is, the exception was intended to hold the insured responsible for the exercise of ordinary ■care, and to except from the provisions of the policy •all cases of injury occurring in whole or in part through a failure to exercise such care. Under such a provision no recovery can be had if the injury is caused by reason of exposure to unnecessary danger, within the general principles of the law of negligence. The meaning, then, of the plea, is that there is obvious risk or danger in stepping, or jumping, or alighting from a moving car, without reference to the speed at which the car may be moving, and that in doing so the insured was guilty of negligence. The averment is, not that the-car was moving at a rate of speed obviously dangerous, but in effect that it was obviously dangerous to step-from a car moving at any speed whatever; for this, at least, is obvious: That proof that the car was moving-at a snail’s pace would sustain the plea, as well as proof that it was moving at express speed. Exceptional circumstances may attend an attempt to alight from a moving car, which will justify the court in declaring" as matter of law that the attempt was obviously dangerous, as, for example, the car may be moving at a great rate of speed, or the person alighting may be old or infirm, or incumbered with bundles or children.—Watkins v. Birmingham Railway Co., 120 Ala. 147, 24 South. 392, 43 L .R. A. 297. But no such facts are alleged here. We conclude that the demurrer to this plea was well sustained. Precisely the same line of reasoning reaches the fifth plea, the demurrer to which was-sustained.

Of those pleas which seek to set up a violation of a city ordinance by the insured, it seems sufficient to say that, while speciously worded, they do not aver a violation of the ordinance alleged. The ordinance prohibits persons “to catch hold of, or swing upon, the cars of said railroad company, while such car is in motion.” The plea is that the death of the insured took place-from her attempting to swing herself from a car while-in motion — a different thing.

There is one other reason, applicable to all those pleas which set forth the policy, why -demurrers to them should have been sustained: They purport to constitute a full answer to the plaintiff’s action, whereas the limitation in the policy, in the event of death or injury from the various causes indicated in the pleas, is to-“one-fifth of the amount that would he otherwise payable under this policy.”

Plaintiff introduced in evidence certain receipts, one of which showed the payment of policy fee, or original premium, and two the payment of renewal fees or premiums. These receipts were objected to. The natural and easy construction of the bill of exceptions — certainly a strict construction against the exceptor — must be that these receipts had been offered and received in evidence before objection ivas made. The uniform rule of this court has been to hold that such delay as is shown here waives every objection tc the evidence, except that it is illegal, which this evidence was not. But no tenable objection could have been taken at any time. The first receipt showed that the policy had been put into effect. It ivas cumulative,‘after the policy had been introduced without objection, and unnecessary, but certainly not irrelevant, incompetent, immaterial, or illegal. The renewal receipts went to the gist of plaintiff’s action, and, while the assignments of error predicated upon the rulings admitting them are referred to in appellant’s brief, there is no argument to sustain them.

The objection to the renewml receipt signed by William George Fogg came too late, as was the case in respect to the receipts already considered. There were other reasons why the objection to it should have been overruled. The original policy insured Mrs. Julia Reese from 12 o’clock, noon, of September 3, 1907, until 12 o’clock, noon, of the 1st day of October thereafter, and for such further peroids to be stated in renewal receipts, as the payment of premiums would maintain. Paragraph N of the policy was in these words: “If the payment of any renewml premium shall be made after the expiration of this policy, or of the last renewal receipt, neither the assured nor the beneficiary will be entitled to recovery for any accidental injury happening between the date of such expiration and 12 o’clock, noon, of the day following the date of such renewal payment; * * * nor shall the acceptance of an overdue premium constitute a waiver of the requirement that all renewal premiums be paid in advance as specified in this contract.” The second receipt introduced in evidence showed the receipt of a payment on October 1st, continuing the policy in force from, that date until November 1st, subject to all the provisions and conditions of the policy. Renewal premiums fell due on the 1st day of each month. The receipt under consideration was dated November 6th, and showed a payment, “renewing,” to quote hereafter the receipt, “policy No. 19291 from date hereof until the 1st day of December, 1907, subject to all the provisions and conditions of said policy, particularly paragraph N of said policy, should this receipt be given for a premium collected after it is due as a renewal payment. This premium having been accepted and this receipt given upon the express condition that no claim shall be made, and said company, shall not be liable for any indemnity for accident occurring * * * during the interval between 12 o’clock, noon, of the day on which such renewal premium was due, and this day and date one hour following this acknowledgment, and this receipt is accepted upon this condition, by which acceptance all such claims of indemnity are waived. [Signed] Wm. Geo. Fogg, Agent.” The evidence showed without conflict that the premium was paid and this receipt issued between the hours of 12, noon, and.l p. m. of the day of its date. The evidence also showed without conflict Nat the insured was accidentally killed while alighting from a street car between the hours of 6 and 7 p. m. of the same da.y. The appellant insists that there was error in permitting proof by the witness Reese that this receipt was executed by Fogg. No reason, beyond the assertion of counsel, occurs to us why this proof was immaterial, irrelevant, and not pertinent to issues in the cause. It certainly tended to show a contract of insurance between the defendant and the person alleged to have been insured; and if perchance there was error in permitting this proof by the witness Reese, it was harmless, for the reason that subsequently Fogg testified without contradiction that he had executed the receipt.

Further objection is that the receipt was a departure from, the original contract. No sort of doubt but that the rule is correct which recognizes that the renewal of a policy of insurance, without more, does not change the terms and conditions of the policy, but merely continues them in force. The rights of the parties are still determined by the provisions of the original policy, no matter how often it may have been renewed. Its terms are neither enlarged, restricted, nor changed.—1 Cooley’s Briefs, 849. But the rule has always prevailed, in respect to every character of contract, that after an agreement has been made, and reduced to writing, it is competent for the parties at any time, by a new contract, either altogether to waive or annul the former agreement, or in any manner to add to or subtract from, or vary or qualify, the terms of it, and thus to make a new agreement which is to be proved partly by the original agreement and partly by the subsequent terms, verbal — unless forbidden by the statute of frauds — or written, ingrafted upon what is left of it.—2 Wendell’s Blackstone, 382, note. In Commercial Fire Ins. Co. v. Morris, 105 Ala. 498, 18 South. 34, the court recognized both rules, saying: “Where, however, there exists a contract of insurance, not expired, and there is an agreement between the parties to renew the policy, and no change is suggested or agreed upon, it will be implied that the renewal contract includes and adopts all the provisions of the existing contract of insurance. Such a contract is complete in all respects, and upon failure to comply with the agreement the party offending may be * * * held liable in a court of law for damages resulting from a breach of tbe agreement,/’ From page 847 of 1 Cooley’s Briefs we quote: “Tbe general custom is to renew by tbe mere issuance of a renewal receipt or certificate. * * * It is tbe evidence of a contract.” And from page 850: “But tbe insurer may, in tbe renewal, agree to indemnify parties other than those named in tbe original. * * * Tbe property covered will usually be tbe same, though it is not absolutely necessary.” And from section 70a of 1 May on Insurance : “But tbe renewal may be upon different interests, or interests held in different rights and by different parties, or in other ways tbe contract may be changed by circumstances. In such cases, tbe old contract must necessarily be modified, though tbe conditions may remain tbe same.”

This seems to leave for consideration in this connection tbe objection that Fogg was not tbe agent of tbe defendant, with authority to modify the . contract as shown by tbe renewal receipt. The record does not sustain the contention. Tbe witness Reese testified that tbe company got tbe money. Fogg paid it to them, and he bad authority to issue receipts for tbe company. Tbe receipt was in tbe printed form furnished by tbe company to its agents, on which they should give receipts and take money. Appellant suggests that Fogg made a mistake. But, if so, tbe court could not act upon such suggestion, in tbe absence of proof to sustain it. Nothing is shown of what passed between tbe insured and the agent, Fogg, except tbe payment of tbe money and tbe issuance of the receipt. In tbe absence of proof, it is clear that tbe court bad no warrant for assuming that the insured received thereby a contract in terms more favorable to her than the company intended or would have issued under the circumstances. That would have been to proceed upon a mere surmise. What we have said disposes of the objection to the receipt in evidence, and of the assignment of error based upon the general affirmative charge for the plaintiff. The plaintiff was not entitled to recover on the first count, as we said in. the beginning; but the charge was general, and must be justified, if the plaintiff was entitled to have it on either count. On the undisputed evidence, free as it is from conflict or adverse inference, the plaintiff was entitled to a verdict on the second count.

It only remains to dispose of the following exception: Appellee asked the witness Reese: “When were you informed by the company that Mrs. Reese, the insured, was dead? When, in your recollection, was the company first informed of the death of the insured?” One objection, the one now insisted upon, was that these questions called for hearsay evidence, and not the best evidence of the matter inquired about. The witness answered: “The same day the official letter was written to the company.” A motion was then made to exclude the answer on the same grounds. The objection and the motion proceeded both upon an assumption that the company was informed in writing and that the witness had no knowledge of the fact to which, he deposed. We cannot indulge either assumption in order to impute error to the trial court.

We have considered every assignment of error insisted upon in appellant’s brief. Finding no error, the judgment must be affirmed.

Affirmed.

Dowdell, C. J., and Anderson and Evans, JJ., concur.