Kansas City Life Insurance v. Ridout

Smith, J. This is a suit to collect an insurance policy issued by the appellant company on the life of Homer W. Ridout, and this appeal is from a verdict and judgment in favor of the beneficiaries named in the policy. The applicant was examined and the medical report made out by the company’s examiner on August 2, 1919. The application was received on August 6, 1919, at the home office of the company in Kansas' City, Missouri, but the application was held for certain reports and was not approved by the medical director until August 18, 1919, on which date the policy issued. Upon issuing the policy the company sent it to its general agency in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, which was its “exclusive representative in the. Southern States.” This agency transmitted the policy to J. F. Hudson, the company’s local agent at Des Arc, the postoffiee address of the insured. The letter transmitting the policy contained the following directions concerning it: “In order to advise policy holder at the earliest possible moment of the issuance of his policy, we suggest that you immediately send him a postcard notice reading as follows: ‘At your earliest convenience please call at the bank.’ “When he calls, point out that the policy as issued is in every respect what he applied for. Then ask him to sign the receipt — Form C103 — attached to policy. As this receipt is necessary for completion of our records, please return same to this office at your earliest convenience. Your co-operation in promptly returning signed policy receipt will be greatly appreciated.” The policy arrived in Des Arc on August 27, and on August 28 a brother of' the insured called at Hudson’s office in the bank of which he was cashier for the policy, and asked to be permitted to sign his brother’s name to the receipt therefor, stating to Hudson at the time that his brother, the insured, was at home sick and could not call for the policy. Hudson first agreed to this, but upon reconsideration decided it would be better to have the receipt signed by the insured himself. This the insured did on the 28th, when the policy was delivered to him. The insured died August 30th. Proof of death was duly made, but payment of the policy was refused because of a provision on the back thereof reading as follows: “Section 1. This policy shall not take effect unless the first premium herein has been paid and this policy delivered to the applicant within thirty days from the date hereof, or unless the applicant is in good health at the time of its delivery.” The insured paid the first premium by executing his note on the date of the application. Hudson accepted this note as payment, and remitted to the company its part of the premium. After the death of the insured the company offered to return this premium, but the tender thereof was refused. It stands undisputed that the policy was issued, and was delivered, and the premium was paid; but Hudson testified that he was unaware of the insured’s illness, and that he would not have delivered the policy had he been apprised of that fact. This question of the agent’s knowledge of the insured’s illness presents the only question of fact in the case. No contention is made that any false answers were found in the application for the insurance. The jury was told there could be no recovery if Hudson was not advised of the insured’s illness; so that the jury’s verdict eliminates that question of fact. There is no allegation or proof of collusion between the agent of the company and the insured. The decision of the case turns upon the effect to be given the act of the agent in delivering the policy after being advised of the insured’s illness — in view of the provision of the policy quoted above. Eespective counsel have collected many cases dealing with the question stated; but we find it unnecessary to review these authorities, as we have announced the principles which control here. The policy sued on in the case of Peebles v. Columbian Woodmen, 111 Ark. 435, contained a provision substantially identical with the one set out above in regard to the health of the applicant at the- time of the delivery of the policy. The policy there sued on contained provisions for disability benefits, and Peebles became disabled. It was insisted, on the motion for rehearing, as is indicated in the opinion on rehearing, that the agent who delivered the policy did not know the insured was seriously hurt. But we said the jury would have been justified in believing that, under the circumstances attending the delivery of the policy, the agent did know the insured was severely or seriously injured at the time of the delivery, although the agent testified that it was not thought that the insured was seriously hurt. We held that the company was bound by the act of its agent in delivering the policy. The doctrine of that case has since been reaffirmed in Maloney v. Maryland Casualty Co., 113 Ark. 174; Clinton v. Modern Woodmen, 125 Ark. 115; Grand Lodge A. O. U. W. v. Davidson, 127 Ark. 133; Missouri State Life Ins. Co. v. Burton, 129 Ark. 137; American Life & Accident Assn. v. Walton, 133 Ark. 348; Sovereign Camp W. O. W. v. Anderson, 133 Ark. 411; Hutchins v. Globe Life Ins. Co., 126 Ark. 360; Sovereign Camp W. O. W. v. Newsom, 142 Ark. 132. It is finally insisted that Hudson was not such an agent as could bind the company by a delivery of the policy. But we do not agree with learned counsel in this contention. The delivery of the policy was the final act to the consummation of the contract. That duty was expressly committed to Hudson. He was admonished to discharge that duty expeditiously, and he was directed to secure and return signed policy receipt. Hudson had acted for the company in taking the apolication, and in remitting the premium, and he was necessarily acting as .the company’s agent when he delivered the policy. The provision quoted above was for the company’s benefit, yet, notwithstanding that provision, he did the final and essential thing to consummate the contract of insurance, towit: he delivered the policy. The case of Independent Order of Forresters v. Cunningham, 127 Tenn. 521, 156 S. W. 192, is found annotated in 5 A. L. R. 1569. The annotator’s case-note reads as follows: “It has been generally held that provisions in an insurance contract of a mutual benefit association stipulating that liability for benefits on the part of the insurer shall not attach unless the certificate or policy is delivered to the applicant while in good health, or unless he is in good health at the date of the policy or date of issuance, or unless he is in good health at the time of payment of the first premium, are conditions precedent which may be waived by the insurer. ’ ’ The rule stated is, of course, applicable to other insurance companies as well as to mutual benefit associations. In support of the note quoted the author cites a large number of cases in addition to our own case of Peebles v. Columbian Woodmen, 111 Ark. 435. Judgment affirmed.