The Praetorians v. Dies

130 S.W.2d 935, 1939 Tex. App. LEXIS 256
Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided June 29, 1939·No. No. 3339.·Published

Opinion

O’QUINN, Justice.

Suit by Gladys Dies, widow of Jerry W. Dies, deceased, who during the pendency of the suit married H. T. Mason. Mason intervened as party plaintiff adopting the pleadings of his wife, against The Praetori-ans, a fraternal benefit society to recover on a policy of life insurance issued to her former husband, Jerry W. Dies, in which she was beneficiary. The prayer was for the face of the policy, $1,500, twelve per cent penalty, and attorney’s fees in the sum of $500.

The Praetorians defended on the grounds of breach of warranty in the application for the policy; that the policy was never delivered to the insured; that the policy had lapsed for the non-payment of premiums; that the application for reinstatement of the policy was not genuine — was a forgery — and that the warranty of good health contained in the application for reinstatement was breached.

The case was tried to a jury upon special issues. On the jury’s answers, judgment was rendered for all the relief prayed. Motion for a new trial was overruled, and we have the case on appeal.

The policy was issued upon a non-medical examination application. The application was made on regular form, September 2, 1936, and the policy issued September 14, 1936. The premiums were to be paid monthly in advance before the first day of the month without notice to assured, and the policy provided that non-payment of premiums would lapse the policy without notice to holder. The first premium — for October — was paid. The premiums for November and December were not paid. Although the policy provided that nonpayment of premiums would lapse the policy without notice to assured, still on the failure to pay the premiums, on December the 18th The Praetorians gave notice to the assured in writing of such failure. No payment was then made and under the terms of the policy it lapsed.

*936 "On December 30, 1936, W. G. Clark,' District Manager for The Praetorians, instructed S. Phillips, who as agent for The Praetorians had taken Dies’ application for the insurance, to get the lapsed policy reinstated. He, Phillips, prepared (on regular form) and furnished for Dies to sign, the following application for reinstatement:

“Application fpr Reinstatement.
■“To The Praetorians:
'“My policy No. 304SS6 having lapsed, I hereby tender all unpaid premiums including the current month, amounting to $-, and warrant that I am now in good health and have been so since date of lapse (except as stated below).
Blank
“It is understood that my right of reinstatement is subject to the approval of the Home Office.
“Jerry W. Dies
“Insured
“Town Daisetta, State Texas”
“Inez L. Arnold
“Witness
“Dated 12-30, 1936.”

On said date, December 30, 1936, Mrs. Inez Arnold, sister to the wife of Jerry W. Dies, paid to S. Phillips the lapsed installments in the sum of $26.70. That paid dues to February, 1937. At the time of the application for reinstatement, December 30, 1936, Jerry W. Dies was in bed seriously sick. When the application for reinstatement was presented to him he refused to sign it, saying to Mrs. Arnold: “Inez, I can’t sign it. I may die and have to go to hell. If I sign that, I will have lied.” The application contained the statement, “and warrant that I am now in good health and have been so since date of lapse (except as stated below).” There was a blank place, but it was not filled in. So the warrant of good health was absolute, and Dies knowing this refused to sign the application. He died March 26, 1937. In some way not disclosed by the record, the name “Jerry W. Dies” was signed to' the application. It is admitted that the same was a forgery. Mrs. Arnold testified that she told Phillips, agent of The Praetorians, that Dies refused to sign it. Phillips knew of Dies’ physical condition. She also denied that she signed the application for reinstatement as a witness as shown on the instrument in evidence but admitted that she signed one similar to it. She further testified that on that day, December 30, 1936, she paid the lapsed premiums, $26.70, to Phillips, and he delivered the policy (which-he had been keeping for Dies) to her, cautioning her to say nothing about it because it might get him into trouble. Later Mrs. Arnold paid two more premiums (for February and March).

That the policy lapsed for non-payment of premiums is not disputed. That the application for reinstatement was a forgery is without dispute. That Dies, the insured, was in bed seriously ill at the very time the application for reinstatement was presented to him, and that he refused to sign same, saying to his sister-in-law, Mrs. Arnold, “Inez, I can’t sign it. I may die and have to go to hell. If I sign that, I will have lied”, is without dispute. That Phillips, local agent of The Praetorians, and who took Dies’ application for the policy, knew of Dies being dangerously ill, and of his refusal to sign the application for reinstatement which contained the statement that he, Dies, was then in good health, because the statement of good health in the application was not true, is also uncontested.

The policy contained this provision relative to reinstatement of lapsed policies:

“Section 3 (Article XXIII). To effect reinstatement when lapsed for more than thirty days and less than six months, the insured shall furnish a certificate of health signed by him and a like certificate of a medical examiner on form prescribed by the Board of Directors, and shall pay to his Cashier all premiums, including those for the current month. Reinstatements shall not be effective until such statements have been approved by the President or Secretary, and notice thereon mailed to the policy holder.”
“Reinstatement: Upon lapse of this policy by failure to pay premiums, The Praetorians will reinstate the same upon submission of satisfactory evidence of good health and insurability, together, with tender of all premiums in arrears, including the current month. Interest at the rate of 5% compounded will be charged if reinstatement is not effected within six (6) months from the date of lapse.”

Regular forms for reinstatement were furnished. The application here involved is set out supra. It is admitted to be a complete forgery.

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The Praetorians v. Dies, 130 S.W.2d 935, 1939 Tex. App. LEXIS 256 (Tex. Ct. App. 1939).

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