Hardy v. Ætna Life Insurance, 154 N.C. 430 (1911)

March 29, 1911 · Supreme Court of North Carolina

154 N.C. 430

W. P. HARDY v. ÆTNA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.

(Filed 29 March, 1911.)

1. Insurance — Policies—Assignment—Insurable Interest — Good Faith — Affection—Knowledge—Evidence.

When in an action to recover upon a life insurance policy by an assignee thereof there are appropriate issues as to the good faith of the assignee or beneficiary in paying the premiums, and whether the interest of the assignee was an insurable one, evidence is competent, upon the question of good faith in the assignments, which tends to show the affectionate relationship between him and the insured, that the insured regarded him as a son, and that he knew nothing of the transaction before the policy and its assignment'to him were brought to him by the agent of the company.

2. Insurance — Policies—Interpretation—Assignment—“First Payment” — Waiver.

A provision in a life insurance policy payable to the estate of the insured, that it shall not be in force until the first premium is paid by the insured, is waived when the agent of the company is aware of all the facts, and upon information given by him to the State agent and the company itself, tl^e latter sent the policies and forms for an assignment to the local agent for the purpose of having the contract completed, and received from the as-signee, the beneficiary, the premiums for four years; and it thus appearing that the beneficiary paid the first premium without previous knowledge of the transaction, the first payment made by him was a valid one.

3. Same — Valid Inception.

When a life insurance policy is delivered to the insured, but was assigned to the beneficiary, and the first payment of premiums was made by the beneficiary under circumstances rendering the payment a valid one, though against a stipulation in the policy that it must be paid by the insured to be binding on the company, it renders the policy valid in its inception.

4. Insurance — Policies—Insurable Interest — Assignment—Validity— Wagering Policies.

A policy of life insurance valid in its inception may be assigned to one not having an insurable interest in the life of the insured, when done in good faith, and not as a mere cloak or cover for a wagering transaction. Hardy v. Ins. Go.. 152 N. C., 286, cited and approved.

5. Insurance — Policies—Delivery—Intent.

A delivery of a policy of life insurance may be shown by the intent of the parties, and its physical delivery is not necessary.

6. Insurance — Policies—Assignment—Waiver—Payment of Premiums — Wagering Policy — Knowledge—Evidence—Valid Contract.

The agent of the ■ defendant insurance company solicited and procured from insured applications for several policies' of insurance, with the agreement that his children should pay the premiums thereon. When the policies were delivered to insured it was found that one of the children would not pay the premiums on one of them, and the insured told the agent he wished plaintiff to have the policy. The agent said that the plaintiff did not have an insurable interest, but for insured to take the policy, have it payable to his estate, and assign it to plaintiff, which was done accordingly, with knowledge thereof given to the defendant company, which sent the policies and assignment blanks to the agent, who had them executed and delivered them to the plaintiff, theretofore unaware of the transactions, and he continued to pay the premiums to the company for four years: Held, it was too late for the company to object to the validity of the assignment and the payment of the premiums by the plaintiff, after the maturity of the policy.

Appeal from W%edbee, J., at November Term, 1910, of LENOIR.

Tbe plaintiff, W. P. Hardy, sues on three policies of insurance, which he alleges were issued by the defendant on 19 October, 1904, on the life of Parrott M. Hardy. He claims that he had an insurable interest in the life of the insured, and also as assignee of the policies.

The defendant resisted recovery upon the grounds:

1. That the plaintiff had no insurable interest in the life of the insured, and therefore could not apply for a policy of insurance on his life.

2. That he could not take as assignee, because the policy was not delivered to the insured, insisting that in the absence of stipulations in the policy, there was no evidence of delivery, and further, that the plaintiff admitted that he paid the first premium and that the policies were then delivered to him, and that the policy provided that it should not be in force until the first premium was paid.

3. That the whole evidence proved a wagering contract of insurance forbidden by law.

On 24 September, 1904, Parrott M. Hardy made application for the three policies sued on, payable to his estate. The policies are dated 19 October, and are payable to the estate of said Hardy in accordance with the application.

On 31 October, 1904, two of said policies were assigned to the plaintiff, W. P. Hardy, and on 31 December, 1904, the third policy was assigned to him, the form of assignment in each case being as follows:

For value received, I hereby transfer, assign, and turn over unto 'William P. Hardy all my right, title, and interest in policy No., issued by the 2Etna Life Insurance Company of -Hartford, Conn., on the life of Parrott M. Hardy, and all benefit and advantage to be derived therefrom.

Witness my hand and seal at Institute, State of North Carolina, this ., 1904.

Pakrott M. Haedy. [L. S.]

Witness: Thovcas McGee.

The agent of the defendant testified in regard to the applications and policies: “I solicited the application for life insurance and he agreed to the insurance fór the benefit of his children, and each child was to pay his part. The policies were procured as applied for. When they were to be delivered, Mr. Parrott M. Hardy told me that one or more of the children was unable to take the insurance, and suggested that his nephew, W. P. Hardy, take the insurance that hi*s son was unable to take; and I told him that it would be all right, but that he did not have an insurable interest, but that I could have the policy assigned to him. I filled a blank requesting the company to assign the policy to W. P. Hardy.He told me that W. P. Hardy was as near to him as his own child; that he often did him great favors. He expressed the desire that the insurance be for the benefit of W. P. Hardy, and I suggested that it be assigned to him. I then produced the blank for assigning the policies to W. P. Hardy, which he, Parrott M. Hardy, signed, requesting that the company make the policy or policies payable to W. P. Hardy. ... I do not remember whether Mr. W. P. Hardy knew about the assignment of policy to his benefit until I took the policy to him. My mind is not clear on that. My recollection is that he knew nothing about the transaction until I went to deliver him the policy after the assignment. My recollection is that I had no talk with Mr. W. P. Hardy until after policy had been assigned. These transactions were with Mr. Parrott M. Hardy.”

It was provided in each policy that: “This policy shall not take effect until the first premium hereon shall have been actually paid during the lifetime and good health of the insured and within sixty days from the date hereof, a receipt for which payment shall be the delivery of this policy.”

All the premiums were paid by the plaintiff, and the first was not actually paid before the assignments to the plaintiff. There was evidence tending to prove that the local agent of the defendant knew that the plaintiff did not have an insurable interest in the life of the insured, and that it was the purpose of the insured to have the policies assigned to the plaintiff, and for the plaintiff to pay the premiums, and that the local agent informed the State agent of the defendant of these facts, who, in turn, gave the home office the same information.

It was also in evidence that after obtaining this information, the defendant forwarded the policies and the forms for the assignments to its local agent, in order that the policies might be delivered, and that prior to the receipt of the policies and assignment by the said agent, the plaintiff knew nothing of the transaction. The plaintiff was a nephew of the insured, and evidence was introduced tending to show that the relationship between them was affectionate and that the insured regarded the plaintiff as he did his own children.

The issues submitted to the jury and the answers thereto are as follows:

1. Were the alleged assignments of the three policies of insurance sued on executed by Parrott M. Hardy before the delivery of the said policies to W. P. Hardy, the plaintiff? Answer: “Yes.”

2. "Was the first premium on Policy No. 63215 paid by the plaintiff before or at the time of delivery of said policy to W. P. Hardy, the plaintiff? Answer: “Before.”

3. Was the premium on Policy No. 62846 paid by the plaintiff before or at the time of the delivery of said policy to W. P. Hardy, the plaintiff ? Answer: “At the time.”

4. Was the premium on Policy No. 62845 paid by the plaintiff before or at the time of the delivery of said policy to W. P. Hardy, the plaintiff? Answer: “At the time.”

5. Did the plaintiff pay all the premiums, including the first premium on said policy? Answer: “Yes.”

6. Did tbe plaintiff pay tbe first premiums on said policy in pursuance of an agreement tbat tbe said policies should be assigned and transferred to him? Answer: “Yes, as testified to by plaintiff and witness McGee.” 0

7. Were tbe policies of insurance sued on in tbis action delivered to Parrott M. Hardy, deceased? Answer: “Yes.”

8. Did tbe plaintiff participate in tbe issuance of tbe policies of insurance sued on in tbis action? Answer: “No.”

9. Were tbe assignments of said policies made in good faitb and not as a cover for any fraudulent speculations in tbe life of Parrott M. Hardy, deceased ? Answer: “Yes.”

10. Did tbe plaintiff at. tbe time of tbe assignment of said policies bave an insurable interest in tbe life of Parrott M. Hardy ? Answer: “Yes.”

11. In wbat sum, if any, is plaintiff entitled to recover of defendant? Answer: “$3,000, witb interest from tbe. day of 19..”

Or. V. Cowper and J. Paul Frizzelle for plaintiff.

Bouse & Land for defendant.

Allen, J.,

after stating tbe case: There are forty-five exceptions in tbe record, of which twenty-eight bear upon evidence introduced to prove tbat tbe plaintiff bad an insurable interest in tbe life of tbe insured, or upon instructions in regard thereto.

In tbe view we take of tbis case, these exceptions are immaterial, but if material, it was competent to show tbat an affectionate relationship existed between them, as tending to establish good faitb on tbe part of tbe plaintiff and to rebut tbe idea tbat be bad entered into a wagering contract, and was merely speculating in tbe life of bis uncle.

It was also competent to show by tbe agent of tbe defendant tbe circumstances attending tbe signing of tbe applications for insurance, and tbe delivery, of tbe policies to tbe plaintiff, and for tbe plaintiff to testify tbat be knew nothing of tbe transaction before the policies and tbe assignment of them, were brought to him by the agent. This evidence related to the question of good faith, and as to whether there had been a delivery of the policy to the insured.

The other exceptions are directed principally to the effect of the evidence, the defendant contending that on the whole evidence the policies were not delivered to the insured, and, if delivered, that they, were not valid, because it was a wagering contract.

The verdict in this case, rendered on competent evidence and under correct instructions, establishes the fact that the plaintiff did not participate in the issuánce of the policies, and that the assignments to him were made in good faith and not as a cover for any fraudulent speculation in the life of the insured, and it is not denied that the defendant, with a knowledge of the facts, received the premiums from the plaintiff for four years.

Under these circumstances, the defendant ought to be required to pay, unless the contract is one condemned by law.

In Crosswell v. Assn., 51 S. C., 116, the Court, while discussing wagering contracts of insurance, says: “A sound public policy requires the enforcement of contracts deliberately made, which do not clearly contravene some positive law or rule of public morals. It is surely not a sound policy to permit insurers to contract to insure the lives of persons, receive premiums therefor as long as the insured, the beneficiary, or the assignee will continue to pay, and then, when the time comes for the insurers to pay what they agreed to pay, allow them to escapa their contract on the ground of want of insurable interest in the life of the insured, unless it clearly appears that such contracts are pernicious and dangerous to society. Courts should not annul contracts on doubtful grounds of public policy. In such matters it is better that the Legislature should speak first”; and in Grabbs v. Ins. Co., 125 N. C., 396, Justice Douglas announces the same principle. He says: “We think the rule is well settled that where an insurance'company, life or fire, issues a policy with full knowledge of existing facts which by its terms would work a forfeiture of the policy, the insurer must be held to have waived all such conditions, at least to the extent of its knowledge, actual or constructive. It cannot be permitted to knowingly issue a worthless policy upon a valuable consideration.”

We come then to the consideration of the question whether the facts of this case, which are practically uncontroverted, require us to declare the policies void. They do not impose this duty on us, if the policies were delivered to the insured and were valid in their inception.

Justice Hoke, speaking for the Court, so declared the law on the former appeal in this case, reported in 152 N. C., 288, as follows: “We consider it, however, as established by the great weight of authority, that where an insurant makes a contract with a company, taking out a policy on his own life for the benefit of himself or his estate generally, or for the benefit of another, the policy being in good faith and valid at its inception, the same may, with the assent of the company, be assigned to one not having an insurable interest in the life of the insured: provided this assignment is in good faith, and not a mere cloak or cover for a wagering transaction.”

The question we have to determine is not, Was there a delivery to the insured, but, Was there evidence of the delivery, fit to be submitted to the jury? If there was evidence, it was for the jury to find the fact.

The failure of the insured to pay the first premium was evidence upon the question, but not conclusive. The local agent of the defendant knew all the facts, and the information he had was given to the State agent of the defendant and to the defendant itself. With this information, the. defendant sent the policies and the form for the assignments to the local agents for the purpose of having the contract completed, and received the premiums for four years. We think this is beyond question a waiver of the provision in the policy that it shall not be in force until the first' premium is paid.

In Kendrick v. Ins. Co., 124 N. C., 317, the Court says: “The authorities are numerous and quite uniform that the acknowledgment in the policy of the receipt of the premium estops tlie company to test tbe validity of tbe policy on tbe ground of nonpayment of tbe premium. In so far as it is a mere receipt for money, it is only prima- facie, like other receipts, and will not prevent an action to recover tbe money if not in truth paid; but in so far as it is a part of tbe contract of insurance, it cannot be contradicted by parol to invalidate tbe contract, in tbe absence of fraud in procuring tbe delivery of tbe policy. Tbe rule is thus stated in Biddell on Insurance, sec. 1128: ‘As a general rule, it has been held in tbe United States that while such a receipt will prevent tbe insurer from proving tbe premium was unpaid in order to show tbe policy was void from its inception, it may be contradicted in order to show, on a suit for premium, that no payment bad been made.’ ”

In Gwaltney v. Assur. Co., 132 N. C., 928, Chief Justice Clark, speaking for tbe Court, thus states tbe rule: “Tbe authorities are numerous that a general agent can waive any stipulation in the policy, notwithstanding a clause in tbe policy forbidding it, for be can waive that clause as well as tbe other.”

Justice Brown states tbe same principle in another way in Rayburn v. Casualty Co., 138 N. C., 381: “Where tbe policy is delivered, there being no allegation or proof of fraud, tbe delivery is conclusive proof that tbe contract is completed and is an acknowledgment that tbe premium was properly paid during good health.” Also, Justice Connor in Rayburn v. Casualty Co., 141 N. C., 431.

It is also clear, we think, that tbe payment of tbe first premium by tbe plaintiff does not invalidate tbe policies, as it appears that be did not procure tbe issuance of tbe policies, and knew nothing of tbe transaction before tbe policies and assignments were brought to him.

In Shea v. Mass. Ben. Assn., 160 Mass., 291, speaking of a policy to one not having an insurable interest, tbe Court says: “The relationship in which Margaret stood tO' John, and tbe matters disclosed in her testimony, tended strongly to show that tbe policy or certificate of membership was obtained in good faith, and not for tbe mere purpose of speculating on tbe hazard of a life in wbicb she had no interest; and if so, the contract was valid if made with him, though made for her benefit, and though the premiums were paid by her”; and in Mutual Life v. Blodgett, 8 Tex. Civ. App., 48, it is said: “It is urged by appellant that the policy is void for the reason that the beneficiary named in the policy had no insurable interest in the life of the insured, and the policy was speculative and wagering on the part of the plaintiff. The policy recited that it was issued upon the application of Mrs. Lucinda J. Downey; J. A. Blodgett was named as the beneficiary, and his relation as grandson was therein disclosed. It is not shown that any fraud or deception was practiced upon the insurance company by which it was deceived as to the real party to the contract of insurance. It was proven that the beneficiary was to pay the premiums; this was known to the company; indeed, his note was taken for the first premium, and the policy was issued by the company with full knowledge of the facts as to the relation of the parties, and' of their respective interests and undertakings under the contract. Under this state of facts, the company should not be permitted to deny that the policy speaks the truth as to the party who made the application, and with whom the contract of insurance was made.”

“The mere payment of the premiums by the plaintiff is not conclusive that the policy was taken out by him.” Langdon v. Mut. Life, 14 Fed., 275; Valton v. Nat. Life, 22 Barb., 35; Ætna Life Ins. Co. v. France, 94 U. S., 565.

If, therefore, the failure of the insured to pay the first premium and the payment thereof by the plaintiff do not render the policies void, it seems to follow that they were valid at their inception if they were delivered to the insured. The jury has found that they were so delivered.

"Was there sufficient evidence to be submitted to them? To constitute a good delivery, it is not necessary that the policies should have been in the actual possession of the insured.

“Delivery is largely a question of intention, as evidenced by words or acts. The requisites of a valid delivery may be said to be three: (1) There must be an intention on the part of the person executing the policy to give it legal effect as a completed instrument; (2) this intention must be evidenced by some word or act indicating that the insurer has put the instrument beyond his legal control, though not necessarily beyond his physical control; and (3) the insured must acquiesce in this intention.” Yance on Insurance, p. 169.

' “It was not necessary to the completion of the contract that the policy should be actually delivered to the insured. The issuance of a policy in accordance with the terms agreed on, and its transmission to the agent for unconditional delivery to the insured, is tantamount to a delivery.” Porter v. Ins. Co., 70 Vt., 508.

The doctrine that it is the intention of the parties that controls, and not the transfer of possession, has been applied in numerous cases to deeds and insurance policies. Mass. Life v. Sibley, 158 Ill., 414; Black v. Sharkey, 104 Col., 280; Martin v. Bates, 50 S. W. R., 39 (Ky.); Kelsa v. Graves, 64 Kan., 777; Arrington v. Arrington, 122 Ala., 514; N. Y. Life v. Babcock, 104 Ga., 72.

In Waters v. Annuity Co., 144 N. C., 669, the same principle is declared as follows: “It is not required at all that the acceptance of the company should be indicated by a manual delivery of the policy to the insured.”

If we apply the tests laid down, we think the evidence of delivery is plenary.

There was evidence practically uneontroverted, that the agent of the defendant solicited the insurance; that the insured told him he would take the policies and his children would pay the premiums; that he afterwards told the agent his children could, not pay the premiums and that he wished the plaintiff to have the policies; that the agent told him the plaintiff did not have an insurable interest, but that he could take the policies, payable to his estate, and assign them to the plaintiff; that the insured applied for the policies payable to his estate, and they were so issued by the defendant; that the agent informed the defendant of these facts, and with this knowledge the defendant sent the policies and blank assignments to its agent; that the assignments were witnessed by the agent; that the policies and assignments were delivered to the plaintiff, who was ignorant of the matter and acted in good faith, and that for four years the defendant continued to receive the premiums with full knowledge, and was silent as to the objection it now raises.

Under these circumstances, it would be unjust to the plaintiff and the defendant alike to say that it was not the intention of the parties for the policies to be delivered to the insured, and that they should bd completed binding contracts. We deem it not improper to say that the evidence shows that the local agent and the State agent acted in good faith throughout the transaction.

Wo find no error, and the judgment is affirmed.

No error.