Vela v. Southland Life Ins. Co.

LOONEY, Justice. Agueda G. Vela, appellant, sued South-land Life Insurance Company, the appellee, on its life policy for $2,500 insuring Aurelio Vela, payable on his death to his widow, the appellant herein. Appellee’s defenses are these: That the policy in suit was never delivered to or accepted by the insured; but that if delivered or accepted, it had lapsed prior to his death for failure to pay premiums due; appellee also denied liability on the ground that the insured took his own life. The case was submitted to a jury on special issues, in answer to which they found that the policy in suit was placed in the possession of Agueda G. Vela (insured’s agent) by Joe Kubena (appellee’s local agent) on October 19, 1942, “not for inspection only”; found that the policy remained in such possession for seven days; further, that the death of Aurelio Vela was not the result of self-destruction; • that a reasonable fee for appellant’s attorneys for the preparation and trial of the cause in the district court was $1,000 and that a reasonable attorney’s fee for attention to the case on appeal would be $350. Based on the findings of the jury ana facts otherwise appearing in the record, appellant moved for judgment for $3,800, being amount of the face of the policy with 12 percent statutory damages and $1,000 attorney’s fees, with 6 percent interest thereon from December 12, 1942, costs of suit and $350 additional attorney’s fee in the event the case should be appealed; and the ap-pellee filed a motion for judgment non ob-stante veredicto. These motions came on for hearing January 20, 1947. After due consideration the court overruled appellant’s motion for judgment but sustained the motion of appellee for judgment non obstante veredicto, and thereupon rendered judgment that appellant take nothing by her suit and pay all costs; to which she excepted, gave notice of and perfected this appeal. The salient facts involved, in our opinion, are these: On September 15, 1942 the insured applied to appellee for a life policy of $5,000 which was not issued, but in lieu appellee issued the policy in suit for $2,500, providing for a higher premium, payable quarterly. This policy was forwarded by appellee to Joe Kubena (its local agent) for delivery, to whom, according to the testimony of Mr. Candler (appellee’s witness), was “left the entire matter of the delivery of this policy * * On October 19, 1942 Kubena delivered the policy to Mrs. Velador left the same in her possession— “not for inspection only,” in the language of the jury finding; and at that time Kubena collected $5.00 on the premium and issued a receipt showing that it was paid on the policy. Seven days later, on October 26. Kubena returned to collect balance of the premium, at which time Mrs. Vela indicated that she and her husband were satisfied with the policy but requested Kubena to have it changed so as to provide for the payment of premiums monthly rather than quarterly; and in this connection she testified: “Q. And did you give him the policy? A. Si, Señor, yes. “Q. What — what did he say he was going t>o do with the policy, if anything? A. He* told me that he was going to return it to the company — so you see — Señor ? “Q. Did he say why he was returning it to the company, Mrs. Vela? A. Because he was arranging differently — the monthly payments — for the premiums — Do you understand me? “Q. And now, Mrs. Vela, what did you tell him with regard to giving him the policy at that time — what did you say about the monthly payments — the monthly premium? A. I told him to bring me another policy. I told him that I had decided — that I had decided on a similar policy but which I could pay by the month, because it seemed to me to be a little less money — Do you sec ? ” (S.F., p. 117, lines 2-18.) *213 In response to the request of Mrs. Vela to change from quarterly to monthly premium payments, Kubena (appellee’s agent) determined from his tables that the monthly •premium would be $7.44, so he collected $2.41 in addition to the $5 previously collected and issued a receipt showing that that amount was paid on the policy in question. Kubena then forwarded the policy and postal money order for $7.44, with his communication to appellee requesting change to a monthly premium payment. This communication was received by appellee at its home office November 27, 1942, and the .$7.44 was placed in what appellee refers to as its “Suspense Account.” In answer to the question whether on occasions he had found it necessary to make rearrangements in regard to payment of premiums — that is changes from annual to semi-annual, quarterly, monthly, or vice versa, answered: “Yes, sir. They may (make) changes lots of times" (S.F., p. 10, line 18). Asked as to his experience as to whether requests for such changes were made, answered: “Yes, sir. And I have to write them a letter and explain why and. I have to take the policy and mail it to the company with the request to make the change.” (S.F., p. 11, lines 17-19.) And in this connection the witness also testified: “Q. Now, you sent that back to the company in agreement with Mrs. Vela to have it changed to monthly payment plan, did you not? A. Yes, sir. “Q. And you told her what you were doing? That you were sending it back to have it changed to a monthly premium payment plan ? A. Yes, sir. “Q. And she agreed to that, did she not? A. Yes, sir.” (S.F. p. 32.) Later, Mrs. Vela asked Kubena about the policy; she said: “He told me that he had written to the company and that he was only waiting for them to send it to him in order that he could deliver it to me.” (S.F., p. 118.) Appellee never did refuse to make the change requested in regard to payment of premiums; on the contrary, in answer to an inquiry by Vela in regard to the policy, recognized its continued existence as shown by its letter of December 4, 1942, hereinafter quoted in full. On December 12, 1942, Vela died, and on December 14 appellant wrote appellee as follows: “Falfurrias, Texas, December 14, 1942. Dear Sirs: This is to notify you that my husband Aurelio Vela policy No. 260555 died on Dec. 12, 1942. I wired Mr. Kubena and as yet he hadn’t sent me the policy, but I don’t know if he is in Robstown or not so thought it best to notify you also. Will you please take care of this matter? Thanking you, I remain, Yours truly, (Signed) Mrs. Vela.” To which, on December 17, the ap-pellee replied as folows: “Dear Mrs. Vela: We duly received your letter of December 14th notifying us of the death of your husband, Aurelio Vela. While it is true that policy #260555 was issued, it was not for the same amount for which the application was made and therefore constituted a counter offer on the part of the company which was never accepted by the applicant. The policy was never delivered and was not in force for any amount on the life of your husband at the time of his death. The company has no liability on account of any application which may have been made by him. Yours very truly, P. V. Montgomery, Vice President and Actuary.” In 1944, appellant employed counsel and filed suit on the policy in the district court of Brooks County, Texas; expenses were incurred in preparing the case for trial and it was only after these happenings that appel-lee denied liability on any ground other than as set forth in its letter to Mrs. Vela, December 17, 1942. The record discloses that the appellant took a nonsuit in the action filed in Brooks County, refiled on same cause of action in the court below and, by agreement of parties, the depositions taken in the first suit and other documentary evidence have been withdrawn and refiled as part of the record in this cause. The first point of error urged by the appellant is that appellee was estopped to defend on the ground that the policy sued upon lapsed for failure to pay premiums due prior to insured’s death. In answer to this point appellee contends that “In the case at bar appellant did not plead the estoppel referred to as the first point in her brief and she failed to prove it. Furthermore, she requested no special issues on either estop-pel, waiver, or ratification. This in itself *214 will defeat these asserted grounds for recovery. (17 Tex.Jur., p. 146, et seq.)’ We think appellee is in error in asserting that appellant failed to plead estoppel. We find in subdivision 4 of her supplemental petition a pleading that we think is an elaborate plea of estoppel (See pp. 34, 36, Transcript.) As heretofore shown, Vela died December 12, 1942, and on the 14th of December appellant wrote appellee announcing the death of her husband, concluding as follows: “Will you please take care of this matter ? ” The effect of the request, in our opinion, was for a settlement under the policy, and it seems that appellee gave to it such interpretation, for, answering on December 17, denied liability on the ground that the policy “was never accepted * * * was never delivered and was not in force for any amount on the life of your husband at the time of his death.” In that status the matter rested until during the year 1944 when appellant employed attorneys, filed suit on the policy, and incurred incidental expenses; and'it was later that appellee urged two additional defenses, that is, lapse of the policy and suicide of the insured. We fail to find in appellee’s brief any contention that the defense of suicide was sustained. That defense seems to have been abandoned. Under a well established rule that prevails in this State, we are of opinion that by reason of the facts heretofore revealed, appellee is estopped to now contend that the policy lapsed for failure to pay premiums prior to insured’s death. The rule, in our opinion, was announced with citation of supporting authorities in National Aid Life Ass’n v. Murphy, Tex.Civ.App., 78 S. W.2d 223, app. dismissed, as follows: “Insurer held estopped to rely upon alleged breach of health provision of benefit certificate, where, with full knowledge of all material facts, insurer denied liability upon grounds other than breach of good health provision and failed to rely upon provision until long after suit was filed.” (Syl. 4.) Also see the later case of Woodmen, etc., Ins. Society v. Armstrong, Tex.Civ.App., 170 S.W.2d 526, app. refused, want of merit; and 45 C.J.S., Insurance, § 707, page 677. In the alternative, appellant also contends that as a matter of fact the policy had not lapsed for failure to pay premiums at the time of Vela’s death. This matter will be discussed later; for the present we will take up appellant’s answer to appellee’s contention that the policy was neither delivered to nor accepted by the insured. The material facts bearing upon the delivery and acceptance of the policy are substantially these: As before shown, Vela applied to appellee for a $5,000 life policy which was not issued, but in lieu appellee issued the policy in suit for $2,500 which required payment of a higher premium quarterly. After issuing the $2,500 policy, appellee forwarded same to Joe H. Kubena, its local agent, for delivery to Vela. On October 19, 1942, Kubena left the policy in the possession of Mrs. Vela, in the language of the jury — “not for inspection only.” The inescapable inference, in view of the respective contentions of the parties, is that the policy was not only left for inspection, but for acceptance as well. This idea is in harmony with the conduct of Kubena, as he collected $5 on the first quarterly premium and returned seven days later (October 26) to collect balance of the premium. At this time he was informed by Mrs. Vela, who seemed throughout to act as agent for her husband, that they desired a change in payment of premiums from quarterly to monthly. Her testimony on this point has been previously set out. We think it shows that the Velas accepted the policy and simply desired a change in premium payments. Kubena’s testimony heretofore set out indicates that similar requests were frequent and appear to have been granted as a matter of course. This idea is consistent with his conduct at the time, as he made a calculation, ascertained that the monthly premiums would be $7.44, collected $2.44 in addition to the $5 previously collected, and in each instance gave a receipt showing the payments were made on the policy. The record discloses that Kubena obtained a postal money order for $7.44, forwarded same to appellee at its home office in Dallas,, together with the policy and his accompanying message stating the change desired. This communication was received at the home office of appellee November 27, 1942. On November 30 appellee wrote its local agent in regard to the matter, giving him. *215 certain instructions, but it is nowhere shown that the contents of this letter were ever brought to the attention of the Velas, or that Kubena ever contacted or conferred with them again prior to the death of insured. The record also discloses that on December 4, appellee through its underwriting department wrote Vela in answer to his inquiry in regard to the policy. This was eight days after the remittance and policy, with request for change, were received. This letter, in our opinion, contains some significant language; it . reads : “Mr. Aurelio Vela, Avenue A, Robstown, Texas. Policy 260555 — Your Life. Dear Mr. Vela: We are in receipt of your inquiry of recent date in regard to your above numbered policy. Under date of November 30 we .wrote our representative, Air. Joe H. Kubena, requesting that he discuss with you a proposed change. If Mr. Kubena has not yet seen you with regard to this matter, I am sure that he will within the next few days. Yours very truly, W. L. Candler, Underwriting Department.” However, as before stated, Kubena never did contact or discuss with the Velas the matter referred to in this letter, although on December 4th appellee recognized that the policy was continuing and valid, and had not at that time or at any time thereafter declined to make the change in the premium payments as requested. Although Kubena did not contact the Velas or discuss with them any matter contained in the letter of November 30, appellee seems to base an argument adverse to the appellant upon the contents of this letter, as though the matters stated therein were material for our consideration (pp. 9, 10, brief). We do not think so, or that appellant’s case should in any way be prejudiced by reason of the contents' of a letter of which she was ignorant. In view of these facts we are Of opinion that the policy in suit was delivered and accepted on October 19, 1942 and that its provision for the payment of premiums quarterly by construction was changed so as to provide for monthly payments; as equity will consider that as done which should have been done. Appellee combats the# contentions of appellant and insists that recovery on the policy is precluded by reason of the fact that the written portion of the insurance contract provides for payment of a quarterly premium of $22.30, payable in advance on the 18th day of September, 1942; also provides the effective date of the policy as being September 18, 1942, and further provides “that no agent is authorized to modify this policy or to extend the time of payment of premiums and only the president, a vice president, secretary, actuary or assistant secretary, has the power on behalf of. the company to modify this, or any contract of insurance, and then only in writing at the Home Office of the company and the com-, pany shall not be bound by any promise or representation heretofore or hereafter made by any other person.” The record discloses that Mr. Candler handled most of appellee’s home office correspondence in regard tO' the policy in suit. He was appellee’s assistant secretary and supervisor of the issuance of policies; supervised the issuance of the policy in suit and mailed same to appellee’s local agent Kubena for delivery. As heretofore shown, Kubena had full authority to make delivery of the policy. Mr. Candler received the remittance of $7.44, one month’s premium, mailed to the home office by Ku-bena together with the policy and his communication stating the request for change in payment of premiums. After receiving this request on November 27, Candler wrote Kubena, November 30, a letter of instructions in regard to the policy; and also, in answer to Vela’s request for information in regard to the policy, wrote the letter of December 4 which has heretofore been set out. While Candler was not one of the officers specified in the policy, it is obvious that appellee relied on his letters and transactions and we do not think appellee should be permitted to rely upon Candler’s acts if considered favorable and repudiate them if considered unfavorable. We therefore conclude that the letter of December 4, 1942, adressed to Mr. Vela in regard to the policy, constituted an acknowledgment on behalf of appellee of the policy’s validity and constituted an effectual ratification of Kubena’s *216 transactions in regard to the delivery of the policy and the change in the method of paying premiums; or, to say the least, was a waiver of Kubena’s lack of authority, if in fact such authority was really lacking. The policy involved in Equitable Life Assurance Society of United States v. Ellis, 105 Tex. 526, 147 S.W. 1152, 152 S.W. 625, provided among other things that it could not be varied except in writing by one of certain executive officers of the Society at its home office. The Supreme Court held that the Society through a letter written by one Brophy at its home office, not one of the executive officers named, had recognized the continued existence of the policy, notwithstanding under its terms it was forfeited. The court used this pertinent language [105 Tex. 526, 147 S.W. 1158]: “The limitation in the policy that it could not be varied except by certain officials other than Brophy was not conclusive.” Disposing of a similar question in Home Ins. Co. of New York v. Roberts, 129 Tex. 178, 100 S.W.2d 91-93, the Supreme Court said: “It is now well settled in Texas that a provision in an insurance policy that no condition or stipulation shall be waived except by a written indorsement attached to the policy is ineffectual to prevent a parol waiver of such provisions and conditions by an authorized agent acting within the scope of his authority.” (Several cases are cited) “These cases are based on the proposition that an insurance corporation cannot thus limit its power subsequently to contract in any lawful' manner by and through its authorized age.nts acting within the scope of their authority. For the same reason, a stipulation in the policy that only certain officers and agents named therein shall have the power to waive the conditions of the policy does not preclude an authorized agent, other than the officials named, acting within the scope of his authority, from effecting such a waiver.” A number of other pertinent authorities could also be cited, but we do not deem it necessary. We are of opinion that appellee waived any lack of authority in Kubena by. receiving and holding the premium paid by insured and remitted by Kubena, in view of its letter of December 4, 1942 in which appellee treated the policy as valid and in full force and effect. As heretofore shown, appellee’s witness, Mr. Candler, testified that the entire matter of the delivery of the-policy was left up to Mr. Kubena; but if there existed a lack of authority, we are of opinion it was clearly waived by the facts heretofore stated. In 24 Tex.Jur. 892, sec. 157, it is said that “By treating the policy of insurance as being in full force and effect, the insurer may no doubt preclude itself from asserting that the contract had been forfeited because of a failure to pay premiums in accordance with the provisions thereof.” In Underwood v. Security Life & Annuity Co., 108 Tex. 381, 194 S.W. 585-587, the policy was forfeited because of failure to pay a quarterly premium when due. After the forfeiture the company wrote letters to the insured, just as was done in the instant case, referring to “Your policy No. 1319” and requesting payment of the premium. The court held that “ * * * in these letters the insurance company plainly recognized the validity of the policy long after the forfeitures occurred, * * In American National Ins. Co. v. Tross, 138 Tex. 116, 157 S.W.2d 620, affirming a judgment of this court, 138 S.W.2d 872, a similar contention was made. It seems that when the policy was delivered by defendant’s agent, insured expressed a wish to pay premiums annually instead of quarterly, as had been originally agreed. The agent altered the official premium receipt accompanying the policy, accepted the changed premium and delivered the policy. The company received and kept the premium. In a suit on the policy after insured’s death, the contention was made that because of the limitation on the agent’s authority contained in the policy and prescribed by statute, the company was not liable; but this court as well as the Supreme Court hela otherwise, as both courts held that the company had waived the lack of authority, if any, in the agent. Disposing of the question, the Supreme Court said [138 Tex. 116, 157 S.W.2d 621] : “We do not find it necessary for us to determine what would be the rights of the parties if an agent without authority should collect a premium under the circumstances herein set out. Compliance with the provisions of the policy limiting *217 the authority of an agent to collect premiums could be waived by the insurance company.” By receiving at its home office the monthly premium together with the agent’s message, keeping same fifteen days before insured’s death, writing to Vela the letter of December 4, 1942 recognizing the validity of the policy, we think appellee waived Ku-bena’s lack of authority, if in fact such was lacking. It seems that when the premium was received at the home office it was entered on the “Suspense Account.” It is obvious, we think, that this was a mere matter of ex parte bookkeeping on the part of appellee, and in no sense binding upon or prejudicial to appellant. The material fact is that appellee received and retained the premium under its control, to be disposed of as it should see fit to do. Answering a similar contention in Dunken v. Ætna Life Ins. Co., 221 S.W. 691, 696, app. dismissed, the Court of Civil Appeals said: “It is urged that we have practically nullified article 4968, Revised Statutes, which provides that an agent soliciting insurance shall be deemed' the agent of the company, but shall not have the power to waive, change, or alter any of the terms or conditions of the application or policy. We have not intended, to hold, nor do we hold, that Alexander had such power, but merely that his acts, tending to show a waiver, would be binding on the company only when authorized or acquiesced in by some executive officer named in the policy, with knowledge of his acts. In such case it is our opinion that the statute is not violated. It is competent for an insurance company to stipulate in the policy, as here, that a waiver may be- accomplished only through the acts or conduct of executive officers, but that stipulation itself may be waived by the company, and a waiver may result by acts of its agents authorized or acquiesced in by such officers. The acts of the agents then become the acts of the company, notwithstanding the statute, which was enacted for the benefit of such companies.” To the same effect, see Lone Star Insurance Union v. Brannan, Tex.Civ.App., 184 S.W. 691. One of appellee’s contentions is stated in Great Southern Life Ins. Co. v. Peddy, 139 Tex. 245, 162 S.W.2d 652, 653, as follows: “* * * when a policy.specifically provides for the payment of premiums, and expressly specifies the date from which the premium period is to be computed, and makes that date the date on which recurring premiums are due and payable, such date will control, irrespective of the date on which the policy is delivered.” However that may be, we are of opinion that the policy in suit was modified by Kubena’s agreement with Mrs. Vela in connection with appellee’s waiver or ratification concerning that agreement. The modification changed its written provisions by providing for monthly rather than quarterly payment of premiums and, as modified, the policy contains no date for the payment of monthly premiums; hence we think the date of delivery must control and under the grace period of thirty days allowed by statute, the policy would not have lapsed until December 19, which was after the date of insured’s death. In this connection we call attention to a similar situation presented in Great Southern Life Ins. Co. v. Alcorn, Tex.Civ.App., 80 S.W.2d 429, 430, writ refused. There the life policy was executed August 7 and mailed to the insured three times before it was received on November 18. The court held that the policy was not effective until November 18, in view of the provision of the application (similar to a provision in the application in the instant case) that the contract should not be binding until receipt and acceptance by the insured. Therefore the court held that the premium period should be computed from November '18, the date of actual delivery; .in the present case October 19, as found by the jury, was the date of actual delivery. In the instant case Kubena testified that after receiving the policy from the home office he took the same to Mr. and Mrs. Vela several times and they would tell him to come back, and finally they accepted it and asked for the change in the payment of premiums. Speaking of Alcorn’s application to the insurance company, which, like the application in the instant case, provided that the contract should not be binding until receipt and acceptance by the insured, the court said: “Alcorn, in making his offer to the appellant, reserved the right to accept or *218 reject the written contract of insurance when it reached him, and provided that the contract should not be binding until the actual delivery to, and acceptance by, him of the contract. * * * But the agent cannot compel Alcorn’s acceptance, a right which he had and which he did not exercise until November 18, 1931.” The court also held that since the policy did not specify a date for payment of premiums, the delivery date was the daté from which the premium period should be computed. So we are of opinion that even if appellee is not estopped to urge the lapse of the policy as a defense, nevertheless, in view of what has just been said, we are of opinion that the policy had not lapsed at the time of the death of the insured. We think the court erred in rendering judgment non obstante veredicto; therefore the same is set aside and judgment is here rendered against appellee in favor of the appellant for $3,800 (principal, penalty and attorney’s fees of $1000 as fotind by the jury) with 6 per cent interest from December 12, 1942, costs of suit, and for $350 additional attorney’s fees for services rendered on the appeal of the case, as found by the jury. Reversed and rendered. YOUNG, Justice, dissents.