Case Name: MATTIE PAUL v. RELIANCE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1922-03-15
Citations: 183 N.C. 159
Docket Number: 
Parties: MATTIE PAUL v. RELIANCE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 183
Pages: 159–162

Head Matter:
MATTIE PAUL v. RELIANCE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.
(Filed 15 March, 1922.)
1. Insurance, Lile — Days of Grace — Premium—Time of Payment — Forfeiture — Waiver.
The time limited by a contract of life insurance for the payment of premiums to avoid a forfeiture is for the benefit of the insurer, which it may waive by its acts and conduct.
2. Same — Evidence.
The days of grace for payment of a life insurance premium were out on 3 August. On 27 July preceding, insurer wrote calling attention to the forfeiture, and offering to make helpful suggestions for payment. Insured’s immediate reply offering premium note was received by insurer on 2 August, and on the same day it wrote enclosing its form note for a part of the premium and requesting a cash payment for the balance, evidently too late for a compliance by due course of mail by 3 August, which was received by the insured on 6 August, and on the following day he signed and mailed the note and his check for. the cash balance; 10 August the insurer wrote declining acceptance, and insisted on the forfeiture. On the day following the insured died of sudden illness, and the beneficiary instituted this action on the policy: Held,, the evidence raised a reasonable inference of the defendant’s waiver of the strict time limit for payment, and tbat tbe insured acted witb reasonable promptness, sufficient for tbe determination of tbe jury, and an instruction directing, a verdict for defendant constituted reversible error.
Appeal by plaintiff from Lyon, J., at November Term, 1921, of Pasilico.
Civil action to recover on a life insurance policy issued by tbe defendant to Reginald Paul, now deceased, tbe plaintiff being named as beneficiary in said contract of insurance.
From a verdict and judgment in favor of defendant, tbe plaintiff appealed, assigning errors.
B. L. Ward and F. 0. Brinson for plaintiff.
Guión & Guión for defendant.

Opinion:
Stacy, J.
On 3 July, 1919, tbe defendant entered into a contract of' insurance witb plaintiff's minor son, a boy fifteen years of age, whereby it was agreed tbat tbe Reliance Life Insurance Company of Pittsburg, Pa., would pay to tbe plaintiff, mother of tbe insured, tbe sum of $5,000-upon receipt, at its borne office in Pittsburgh, of due proof of tbe death, of Reginald Paul; provided, said contract of insurance was in full force and effect at tbe time of bis death. Tbe second annual premium of $135 was due and payable on 3 July, 1920, witb one month or 31 days-of grace, during which time it was provided tbat tbe insurance should remain in force; but it was further stipulated: "If any premium or installment thereof be not paid before tbe end of tbe period of grace, then this policy shall immediately cease and become void, and all premiums previously paid shall be forfeited to tbe company." This second premium was not paid when due, nor strictly within tbe period of grace-allowed by tbe terms of tbe policy; but it is contended tbat tbe defendant waived a strict compliance with tbe provisions, in respect to time, and tbat tbe policy was in force on 11 August, 1920, tbe date of tbe death of tbe insured.
Tbe facts relating to tbe alleged waiver are as follows: On 26 July,. 1920, tbe defendant, writing from its office in Charlotte, N. C., addressed a letter to tbe insured at Grantsboro, N. O., calling bis attention to tbe fact tbat tbe last day of grace for tbe payment of bis insurance premium would expire on 3 August; and further added: "If it is inconvenient, for you to pay tbe premium at this time, or if you are delaying payment for any other reason, we shall be glad to have you advise us immediately as no doubt we shall be able to offer to you some suggestion tbat will be of benefit to you." Immediately upon receipt of this letter, tbe insured and bis father, Smith Paul, replied, writing in pencil at tbe bottom of defendant's letter, as follows: "Gentlemen: — Please let us give you our note, clue 1 November, 1920." This communication reached Charlotte 2 August, and on the same day the defendant answered, saying: "In reply to yours of recent date in regard to payment of premium on the above policy we regret to advise that as you have paid only one premium on this policy the company cannot accept a note for the entire amount of the premium. However, we can accept as small a cash remittance as $17, and take your note for the balance of $118, due 3 October. If this proposition meets with your approval, kindly sign the extension note and return to us at once, together with your check for $17. The days of grace expire on your policy 3 August, and it is therefore very necessary that you let us have this settlement promptly to avoid the lapsing of your insurance."
Enclosed with this communication was a nóte for $118 made out on a special form used by the defendant. The insured did not receive said letter until the night of 6 August; and on the following morning, 7 August, his father, who was attending to the matter for him, at the request of the insured, went to the postof6.ee in Grantsboro and mailed the defendant a check for $17 and the note for $118, which had been duly executed by Reginald Paul, as per instructions in the defendant's letter of the 2d instant. On 10 August the defendant acknowledged receipt of the note and check, but stated that, as the last day of grace had expired, it would be necessary for the insured to furnish a personal health certificate before the policy could be reinstated. This was in accordance with its provisions. The insured died on 11 August. He had made no complaint, and apparently was well on 7 August, up to the time his father mailed the letter containing the note and check.
At the close of the evidence, his Honor directed a verdict for the defendant; plaintiff excepted.
It is conceded that but for the defendant's letters of 26 July and 2 August the case at bar would be controlled by the decision in Clifton v. Ins. Co., 168 N. C., 499. But, in view of these communications, plaintiff contends that it comes under the doctrine announced in Murphy v. Ins. Co., 167 N. C., 334, wherein it was held that "this provision as to forfeiture, being inserted for the benefit of the company, may be waived by it, and such a waiver will be considered established and a. forfeiture prevented whenever it is shown that there has been a valid! agreement to postpone payment, or that the company has so far recognized an agreement to that effect, or otherwise acted in reference to the matter as to induce the policyholder, in the exercise of reasonable business prudence, to believe that prompt payment is not expected, and that the forfeiture on that account will not be insisted on." This position is amply supported by the authorities cited in the Murphy case, supra.
It should be observed that the defendant's letter of 2 August, which admittedly could not have reached Grantsboro before the evening or night of the 3d, requested that the note be signed and returned with check at once, if the proposition meet with approval, and prompt action was urged in order to avoid a forfeiture. Plaintiff contends that this, of necessity or by reasonable interpretation, clearly anticipated an acceptance of the defendant's counter offer after 3 August. Plaintiff further says that immediately upon receipt'of this letter the offer was accepted and the note and check promptly mailed back to the defendant. This is denied by the defendant; but, considering all the facts and circumstances, we think the question as to whether there had been a waiver of the strict time limit, and further, as to whether the insured acted with reasonable promptness, should be submitted to the jury under proper instructions from the court.
"A course of action on the part of the insurance company which leads the party insured honestly to believe that by conforming thereto a forfeiture of his policy will not be incurred, followed by due conformity on his part, will estop the company from insisting upon the forfeiture, though it might be claimed under the express letter of the contract." Coile v. Com. Travelers, 161 N. C., 104; Ins. Co. v. Eggleston, 26 U. S., 577; Ins. Co. v. Norton, 96 U. S., 234.
The defendant, of course, contends that no waiver was intended or made; and that, on the contrary, the insured's attention was specifically directed to the necessity of acting within the period of grace allowed by the terms of the policy. The facts present a situation from which conflicting inferences may be drawn. This makes it a case for the jury. We think his Honor erred in directing a verdict.
New trial.