Phillips v. United States Grand Lodge of Independent Order Sons of Benjamin

MacLean, J. A relict seeking to recover from a fraternal benevolent association an endowment or death benefit upon the demise of her late husband, sometime a member of the defendant, alleges that the deceased, during his lifetime and membership, duly performed all the conditions required on his part to bo performed. These allegations are denied in the answer, wherein also are pleaded, as a separate and distinct defense, that it was provided by the association’s constitution, whereunder only the endowment can be claimed, that in the event of a member being indebted to his lodge at his death in a sum equal to six months’ dues and assessments or either his widow shall not be entitled to any endowment, and that the decedent was so indebted; further, that when a member is indebted to his lodge in a sum equal to six months’ dues or assessments or either he shall be stricken from the roll, with certain requirements of notice, and forfeit all benefits and endowments, and that the deceased was so stricken from the roll, and, furthermore, that all claimants must attend before a committee upon request, give full proof of the correctness of their claims and prosecute the same according to regulations of the association and that this and these things the plaintiff had failed to do and respect. Evidence was given for the defendant in support of each of its affirmative defenses. Ho evidence was offered by the plaintiff to sustain her allegations of performance. The issue was submitted to the jury by the learned justice who charged: “ The simple question in this case for you to determine is, did the defendant in this action send the notice required by its constitu [298] tion. If it did then your verdict must be for the defendant. If not, your verdict must be for the plaintiff.” The jury found for the defendant. The judgment entered upon the verdict has been reversed by the General Term, holding that the only question to be determined is was the deceased properly notified before his suspension and that therein the defendant has wholly fáiled. However faulty was the proof that the deceased had been suspended with due formality and his name stricken from the roll upon proper notice, it was proven without contradiction that the decedent, at the time of his death, was indebted to his lodge for two quarters in a sum equal to six months’ dues and assessments. This fact may not have escaped the consideration of the jury whose finding may have been based upon it and from whose consideration it could not be withdrawn in the manner of the charge.' This fact, although it does not appear to have been called to the attention of the court at Trial Term or to have been urged before the General Term, is now pressed here, and so remaining a hindrance to the plaintiff’s recovery, the order of the General Term should be reversed and the judgment entered upon the verdict should stand. The order of the General Term is reversed and the judgment of the Trial Term affirmed, with costs to the appellant.