Case ID: mass_79/html/0090-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Hoar, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

General Mutual Insurance Company vs. William Phillips.
    The provisions of the Eev. Sts. c. 37, § 40, (which required each agent of a foreign insuiance company to deposit a copy of their charter and of his power of attorney with the treasurer of the Commonwealth,) applied to mutual insurance companies.
    
      L. F. Brigham & J. C. Stone, for the plaintiffs,
    contended tho. the provisions of the Rev. Sts. c. 37, were not applicable to foreign insurance companies doing business on the mutual principle, before the St. of 1847, c. 273, § 3, which was not passed until after this contract was made.
    
      T. D. Eliot & T. M. Stetson, for the defendant.
   Hoar, J.

This is an action of contract upon a promissory-note dated May 7th 1845, given by the defendant as a premium of insurance. The plaintiffs are an insurance company incorporated in the State of New York on the mutual principle; the contract of insurance, in consideration of which this note was given, was made in this commonwealth through an agent of the plaintiffs; and such agent had not, at the time of making such contract, complied with the provisions of the Eev. Sts c. 37, in relation to foreign insurance companies.

These facts are decisive of the case, and render a decision of any other points which were raised at the trial unnecessary The consideration of the note was a contract on the part of the insurance company, made by an agent, which he was prohibited from making by the laws of this commonwealth. The payee of the note could therefore maintain no action upon it. The provisions of the Rev. Sts. c. 37, § 40, were applicable to mutual insurance companies as well as others. Williams v. Cheney, 3 Gray, 222. Washington County Mut. Ins. Co. v. Dawes, 6 Gray, 379. Plaintiff’s exceptions overruled.