Pistel v. Imperial Mutual Life Insurance

Boyd, J. delivered the opinion of the Court. The declaration filed by the appellants against the appellee contains eight counts — the first six being the — 557 — common counts and the other two on instruments under seal. There was no demurrer filed to the whole declaration on account of the misjoinder of actions, but there was a demurrer to the seventh count which the court sustained and the parties went to trial on the others, which resulted in a verdict for the defendant. Judgment having been entered, the plaintiffs appealed and the only question before us is the ruling of the Court on that demurrer. The first objection to this count urged at the argument, was that it alleges that the defendant promised to pay the amount of “ the obligation under seal or certificate of indebtedness ” described in it “ at such times and in such sums as it, said defendant, might feel able to pay the same,” and it is contended that there can be no recovery on an instrument subject to such conditions. Although we are of the opinion that such allegations as are necessary are not made, even if a suit can be maintained on this instrument, we will refer to some of the cases in which the Courts have determined the effect of language somewhat similar to or resembling that before us. There is some apparent conflict between them owing to the fact that many of the cases turned on the question whether the paper sued on was a promissory note, or a negotiable instrument, and not whether there could be a recovery in any form of action when such limitations had been inserted in the evidences of debt sued on. Most of the decisions hold that a suit on an obligation payable “ when the maker is able,” or words to that effect, can be maintained upon an allegation and proof that he was able before suit brought. In Davis v. Smith, 4 Esp. Rep. 36, the defendant admitted he was “ bound in honor and should pay when he was able.” Lord Kenyon held that he was liable upon proof of ability to pay. That was followed in Mitchell v. Clay, 8 Texas 443. In Salinas v. Wright, 11 Texas 572, the suit was on an instrument which said, “ which sum I bind myself to pay so soon as circumstances will permit me.” It was held not to be a promissory note and that the plaintiff could not recover on that instrument alone without proof — 558 — of the ability of the defendant to pay. In Veasey v. Reeves, 6 Ind. 406, a note was made payable by the maker “ when able ” and it was held that it matured so soon as the maker was able. In ex parte Tootell, 4 Ves. Jr. 372, there was a promise to pay “ at such a period of time that my circumstances will admit without detriment to myself or family and not to be distressed upon any account whatsoever until such time that my circumstances will be as above described,” and the conclusion was that an action did not lie, without proving that he was in good circumstances. There is another class of cases in which the makers of the instruments have undertaken to limit the time of payment to their convenience. In Works v. Hershey, 35 Iowa 340, it was held that the maker of a note which read “ on demand after date I promise to pay . . . payable at Cincinnati when convenient ” was bound to pay it within a reasonable time. The Court said the latter words could not nullify the words “ on demand after date I promise to pay.” In Lewis v. Tipton, 10 Ohio St. 88, a note payable “ when I can make it convenient with ten per cent, interest till paid ” was held to create a legal liability upon the maker and to be payable within a reasonable time after its date. In Smithers v. Junker, 41 Fed. Rep. 101, Judge Gresham held that a note “ payable at my convenience and upon the express condition that I am to be the sole judge of such convenience and time of payment ” may be enforced by an action after the expiration of a reasonable time, on demand and refusal of payment. In Barnard v. Cushing, 4 Metc. 230, a note was given by which defendants promised to pay a sum named on demand with interest. At the same time the payees endorsed on the note “ we agree not to compel payment for the amount of this note, but to receive the same when convenient for. the promisor to pay it.” It was held that no action could be maintained upon the promise. But in Page v. Cook, 164 Mass. 1x6, the suit was on a note which read “ on demand after date I promise to pay . . . payable when payor and payee mutually agree,” and it was construed — 559 — to mean that it was payable on demand when and after the payer ought reasonably to have agreed. The Court referred to the case of Barnard v. Cushing and emphasized the fact that by the endorsement on the note in that case the payees agreed that they would not compel payment, and concluded its reference to it by saying “ possibly if the question arose now a different result might be reached from that arrived at in that case.” In Ramot v. Schotenfels, 15 Iowa 58, after the maturity of a note the parties endorsed thereon this agreement: “ Renewed for an indefinite time at ten dollars interest per month and the whole amount then to be paid when both parties may agree.” It was held that as no definite time was fixed for payment, the note was payable within at least a reasonable time. In Brannin v. Henderson, 12 B. Monroe 61, an acceptance on the back of an order that, “ I will see the within paid eventually,” was held payable within a reasonable time, if not forthwith. In Crooker v. Holmes, 65 Me. 195, a note was made “ payable when I sell the place where I now live.” .Held, that the maker was bound to sell the place within a reasonable time and failing in that the note was due. We have thus referred to a number of cases which show that the tendency of the Courts is to hold the makers of notes and other written obligations responsible whenever they admit indebtedness, but are only uncertain as to the time of payment. In the last mentioned case the Court said: “ the debt is due in praesenti. Its payment is postponed to a future time, but the debt nevertheless exists. The debt is absolute, the time of its payment indefinite.” All of the authorities seem to agree that on an obligation to pay “ when able ” the holder can recover upon proof of the ability of the promisor to pay; and when it is payable “ when convenient ” or “eventually,” or like expression, the Courts have generally held it is payable within a reasonable time. The case which seems to be most in conflict with any of the above, and indeed the only one we have found that is difficult to reconcile with them, is that of Nelson v. Von Bonhorst, 29 Pa. St. 352. There a party gave an instrument of writing, under seal, — 560 — acknowledging an indebtedness to another which he agreed “ to pay whenever in my opinion my circumstances will enable me to do so.” It was held that such contract imposed no legal obligation and that no action would lie upon it, even though the Court and jury should find that the party was of sufficient ability to pay the debt, because by the terms of the contract the debtor was made the sole judge of that fact. But we cannot give our assent to that decision without some qualification. If the indebtedness is unqualifiedly acknowledged, as is done in the certificate sued on in this case, but the payment is simply postponed until the circumstances of the debtor will enable him to pay, he is morally and legally under obligations to pay when that condition exists, and although he is made the judge of the fact, his judgment must be honestly exercised. Upon the allegation and proof that his circumstances did enable him to pay and that he fraudulently refused to do so, although he knew he was able, such a promisor should be held liable. Any other conclusion, it seems to us, would encourage dishonesty and unfair dealings. The question of fraud was not raised in that case and hence the Court may not have felt called upon to qualify its decision or the language used, which was of course only intended to apply to the facts before the Court. We do not understand a case of this character to be governed by such as those where it is stipulated that an article is to be furnished subject to the approval or satisfaction of the proposed purchaser, which approval or satisfaction is made a condition precedent to the right to recover compensation or the contract price. There the defendant does not get the plaintiff’s property and then wilfully refuse to pay for it, and as the contract is made subject to the condition that he shall approve of or be satisfied with it before accepting it, the Court will not dispense with the condition and say that the article was of a quality or character that ought in reason to have been accepted as satisfactory. But in cases such as this the defendant has received the money, or other consideration, and has acknowledged his indebtedness — 561 — and the only question is when it shall be paid. The parties contract with the understanding that it is to be paid when the conditions mentioned exist, and if they do exist it would be a fraud for the promisors to wilfully refuse to pay, notwithstanding their ability to do so. Now let us apply the law as thus established to the case before us. If this certificate of indebtedness had been simply to pay “ at such times and in such sums ” as the defendant was able, upon proper allegations and proof that it was able to pay the whole, or such part as gave the Court jurisdiction, the plaintiffs could unquestionably have recovered — the amount being payable when the defendant was able, and it being shown to be able, the obligation would have matured by the very terms of the contract. But the terms are when it might “ feel able.” To say that a corporation can feel able may seem odd, at first glance, but, as it must act through its agents, it means when its officers, directors or agents, whoever they may be that have charge of such matters, feel able — that is to say, as we understand the use of that term, when they are “ conscious of being ” able or know it is able. It was necessary to make such allegations as would bring the defendant within the meaning of the contract. This count should not only have alleged that the defendant was able to pay, either the whole of the obligation or whatever part of it the plaintiff proposed to prove it could pay (so as to embrace the terms “ at such times and in such sums,” etc.), but that it felt able, of knew it was able, or something that would be equivalent to the terms used in the certificate of indebtedness sued on. If the facts so justified, there could have been added the allegation that it fraudulently refused to pay, etc. If the declaration had so alleged we think it would have been sufficient so far as this part of the certificate of indebtedness is concerned, under the authorities we have already cited. The only cases referred to by the appellee which seem to be to the contrary are those of Barnard v. Cushing and Nelson v. Von Bonhorst, and what we have already said will relieve us of a further discussion of them, excepting to add that the case of — 562 — Smithers v. Junker, supra, is in conflict with the Pennsylvania case. We do not understand that the cases of Blakiston v. German Bank, 87 Md. 302; Thompson v. Gortner, 73 Md. 475, and other authorities cited in connection with them, in any wise conflict with these views. In them the question was whether valid contracts had been entered into and it was determined that the terms used were too vague and indefinite to enable the Court to so find. But in this case the contract is sufficiently definite — the amount of the indebtedness is clearly stated and the only question in doubt was the times of payment and, as we have already said what the contract means in that respect, a recovery cannot be denied by reason of the contract being too vague and uncertain. As it was not to pay when able but when it “ might feel able,” the statement in the narr. that the defendant “ has failed and refused to pay the certificate herein named although able to do so ” was not sufficient and the demurrer was properly sustained for that reason. But this count is defective in another respect. The promise to pay was further qualified by saying “ provided, that all certificates of similar import should be paid upon pro rata and that no preference should be given to any such certificate over others.” That is attempted to be avoided by alleging that “ said company has received and accepted a surrender and extinguishment of all other certificates of similar import.” There is no allegation that anything had or had not been paid on them, nor is it stated under what circumstances the other certificates had been surrendered and extinguished. We have nothing to inform us as to the circumstances under which they were issued, and are confined to the narr., but suppose the holders of all the other certificates only received a small sum — five or ten per cent, for example — and then surrendered their certificates, it is apparent that the appellants could not recover, in an action on this certificate, more than was paid to the others, without at least some allegation and proof of fraud or collusion. Or if all were surrendered and extinguished without any payment on the belief that — 563 — they were worthless or for other reasons satisfactory to the holders, how can the appellants recover on this certificate — at least without alleging and proving something that will avoid the effect of that provision, if that is possible? The very contract sued on expressly prohibits the recovery beyond the amounts paid on the other certificates. If the holders of them chose to surrender them without any payment, it may be unfortunate for the appellants, but that is the contract their assignor made with the defendant, and in the absence of fraud or collusion the effect of the surrender of these certificates on the plaintiffs’ right to recover is fatal and cannot be avoided. There is not enough in this count to entitle them to recover on the certificate sued on and the demurrer was therefore properly sustained. (Decided December 20th, 1898.) Judgment affirmed, appellants to pay costs above and below.