Case ID: cal_67/html/0135-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Ross, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

[No. 8862.
    Department One.
    June 23, 1885.]
    MICHAEL ROBINSON, Respondent, v. THE IRISH-AMERICAN BENEVOLENT SOCIETY, Appellant.
    Benevolent Corporation—Constitution and By-laws—Assent to Bind Membebs. —A member of a benevolent corporation who has assented to the provisions of its constitution and by-laws is bound by them.
    Id.—Allowance to Sick Members—Action to Recover.—The constitution of the corporation provided that members when sick, upon complying with certain conditions, should be entitled to an allowance out of tho funds of the corporation; that the board of trustees should examine all claims of members for such allowance, and that no money should be paid out of the corporate funds except upon the order of the trustees. Held, that a member could not maintain an action to recover the allowance until after the board of trustees had been given an opportunity to examine his claim therefor.
    Appeal from a judgment of the Superior Court of the city and county of San Francisco, and from an order refusing a new trial.
    The facts are stated in the opinion of the court.
    
      M. C. Hassett, for Appellant.
    The plaintiff was bound by the constitution and' by-laws of the corporation. (Civ. Code § 599; Angell & Ames on Corporations, § 325; Cummings v. Webster, 43 Me. 192; Come v. Brigham, 39 Me. 35.) The action cannot be maintained as no opportunity was given the trustees to examine the plaintiff’s claim. (Anacosta Tribe No. 12, Improved Order of Red Men v. Murbach, 13 Md. 91; Black and Whitesmith’s Society v. Van Dyke, 2 Whart. 309; Toram v. Howard Beneficial Assoc. 4 Pa. St. 519.)
    
      H. A. Powell, for Respondent.
   Ross, J.

The defendant is a benevolent corporation organized under the laws of the State, its object in part being the relieving and assisting of its sick members. The plaintiff became a member in 1869, and has since been a member thereof in good standing and entitled to all its benefits. The constitution governing the corporation provides for the election of a physician, whose duty it is to attend the sick members, and among other things, “ to give a certificate of bad health when applied to and the case warrants it.” It is also provided by the constitution that “any beneficial member of this society who is sick and receives the doctor’s certificate, shall be entitled to eight dollars per week during the continuance óf his illness, provided such sick member shall not be absent from his house later than 8 o’clock P. M.; and it shall be the duty of the society’s physician to send in a written statement every two weeks, stating how such sick mem-., her is getting on, and also send certificate of sickness at the same time, stating the nature of his disease,’’etc. It is further provided that the board of trustees provided for by the constitution, and who are required to hold their regular meetings on the Friday evening preceding the regular meetings of the society, “shall investigate all complaints connected with the affairs of the society, and the recording secretary shall report the same at the following meeting. They shall have full power to act in all cases submitted to them by the society, and from their decisions there shall be no appeal. . , . Ho-moneys shall be withdrawn from-the deposit unless by a majority of the board of trustees. They shall also examine all claims of members for sick allowance, and if found, correct order the same paid.”

It appears from the record that on the 3d of October, 1881, the plaintiff demanded of the society payment to him of $352,' which he claimed to be due him as sick allowance, accruing subsequent to November 29,1880. The claim was presented to the society at its regular monthly meeting, which was held the even- ■ ing of the day of the demand, and was by the society referred to its board of trustees. Instead of awaiting the consideration and determination of the board, the plaintiff within a few days commenced this suit against the society to recover the amount claimed by him. He undoubtedly did so, as appears from the record, because the physician at the instance of one of the trustees had some time before ceased furnishing the plaintiff with a certificate of his illness. It clearly appears from the evidence that plaint-" iff was sick and unable to work during' the time for which he claimed the allowance, and had been so circumstanced for a long, time prior thereto. But it is not to be presumed that the board of trustees would, upon the facts being made to appear, have, refused to award the plaintiff the relief to which he was entitled. • At all events, the plaintiff, when he became a member of the society, assented to the provisions of its constitution and. by-laws and is bound by them. The constitution of the society in terms. provides that the board of trustees shall examine all claims of members for sick allowance, and if found correct, order the same paid. In this case, without even giving the board an opportunity to examine his claim, the plaintiff resorted to suit. (See Anacosta Tribe No. 12, Improved Order of Red Men v. Murbach, 13 Md. 91; 71 Am. Dec. 625, and Van Dyke’s Case, 2 Whart. 309.)

Judgment and order reversed.

McKee, J., and McKinstry, J. concurred.

Hearing in Bank denied