Case ID: wis_163/html/0205-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Siebeoker, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Ormond, Respondent, vs. McKinley, Appellant.
    
      April 12
    
    May 2, 1916.
    
    
      Mutual benefit societies: Change Of beneficiary.
    
    Under see. 1955c, Stats. 1898 (sub. 5, sec. 1957, Stats. 1915), a member of a mutual benefit society may change the beneficiary named in his certificate or policy without the consent of such beneficiary, by complying with the by-laws of the society.
    Appeal from an order of the circuit court for Manitowoc county: Michael KiRwan, Circuit Judge.
    
      Affirmed.
    
    
      The action is brought to determine the right to the proceeds of a benefit certificate'issued by the Modern Woodmen of America.
    In September, 1905, William J. Ormond joined the Modern Woodmen of America, a fraternal benefit society, and the society issued a certificate of insurance to him for $1,000. Ormond named his wife, Nellie, the defendant, now Mrs. McKinley, the beneficiary in this certificate. In 1909 the defendant, as the wife of William J.' Ormond, instituted divorce proceedings and secured a divorce from him. In these proceedings the court did not consider or render any order or judgment in reference to this insurance. Ormond thereafter married his second wife, the plaintiff, Laura Ormond. In December, 1910, Ormond had the certificate of insurance changed, making his second wife, Laura Ormond, the beneficiary in place of his divorced wife, Nellie. This was done without the knowledge or consent of the first wife, and she at no time waived, surrendered, assigned, or gave up any right or interest in the certificate. In 1915 Ormond died, and both the defendant, his first wife, and the plaintiff, his second wife, claim the proceeds of the certificate. The insurance company paid the money into court and was released, and this action is prosecuted to determine to whom the money belongs.
    The plaintiff demurred to the answer and to the cross-complaint of the defendant and the court made an order sustaining each of these demurrers. It is from such order that this appeal is taken.
    For the appellant the cause was submitted on the briefs of Oljen & Oijen.
    
    For the respondent there was a brief by Hougen & Brady, and oral argument by Charles E. Brady.
    
   Siebeoker, J.

The rights of the parties to the proceeds of the benefit certificate are controlled by the statute, sec. 1955c, Stats. 1898, which provides:

“Any member of such society, order or association may name as bis beneficiary any person having an insurable interest in bis life or make bis insurance payable to bis estate, and may change the beneficiary named in his certificate or policy without the consent of such beneficiary by complying with the by-laws of the corporation which issued the same

Tbe conditions of these provisions of tbe statute are material in showing tbe rights of tbe parties to tbe proceeds of tbe certificate. As declared in tbe Rawson Case (Rawson v. Milwaukee Mut. L. Ins. Co.] 115 Wis. 641, 92 N. W. 378, tbe beneficiary’s right or interest under such a certificate “. . . was subj ect to defeat at any moment during tbe life of tbe member by bis act without her consent. It did not become absolute and indefeasible until tbe death of tbe member without having exercised anew his power of appointment.” Under familiar rules tbe provisions of tbe foregoing statute are a part of the terms of tbe certificate, and all persons who acquire any rights or interest in it receive them subject to tbe conditions imposed by this law. It is obvious that tbe legislature of 1898 intended tbe provisions of this statute to apply generally to all mutual benefit and fraternal societies by omitting tbe limitation of tbe prior statute confining it to those “organized in Wisconsin”, and inserting tbe word “such” before tbe words “society, order or association,” thus referring to tbe class designated under tbe title of which sec. 1955c is a part, namely, “Mutual beneficiary and fraternal organizations, societies, orders and associations.” Tbe case of Raschke v. Haderer, 138 Wis. 129, 119 N. W. 812, declared it as tbe right of members of such societies to make a change of beneficiaries without the consent of tbe beneficiary named therein by complying with the regulations of tbe society. It is clear that William J. Ormond as a member of tbe order bad the right to designate tbe plaintiff as beneficiary in place of tbe defendant' and that the defendant has no right to nor interest in the proceeds of the certificate here involved. Tbe circuit court properly sustained tbe demurrers to tbe answer.

By the Court. — Tbe order appealed from is affirmed. •