Case Name: James Gleavy vs. James W. Walker
Court: Supreme Court of Rhode Island
Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
Decision Date: 1900-04-30
Citations: 22 R.I. 70
Docket Number: 
Parties: James Gleavy vs. James W. Walker.
Judges: Pbisbnt : Matteson, C. J., Stiness and Tillinghast, JJ.
Reporter: Rhode Island Reports
Volume: 22
Pages: 70–70

Head Matter:
James Gleavy vs. James W. Walker.
PROVIDENCE
APRIL 30, 1900.
Pbisbnt : Matteson, C. J., Stiness and Tillinghast, JJ.
(1) Beneficial Associations. Liability of Agent to Member.
An action will not lie against an agent of a beneficial association in favor of a-member for wrongfully refusing to comply with the by-laws of the association relative to the obtaining of sick-benefits by .such member.
Semble, the remedy of the member is against the association, the wrongful refusal of the agent being no protection to the association.
Assumpsit. The facts are sufficiently stated in the opinion.
Heard on exception to the ruling of District Court. Exception overruled.
Hugh J. Qarroll, for plaintiff.
James F. Murphy, for defendant.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The exception presents the question whether the plaintiff, a member of a beneficial association, can maintain an action against the defendant, a physician appointed by the association, for willfully, maliciously, and wrongfully refusing to certify, in accordance with the by-laws of the association, the bill of another physician who had attended the plaintiff during an illness, so as to enable the plaintiff to-receive from the association certain sick-benefits provided by its by-laws.
Our opinion is that the plaintiff's remedy is against the association, for refusing to pay the benefits to which the plaintiff is entitled, since the association cannot protect itself from payment on the ground of the refusal, that refusal being wrongful, of its agent or officer to certify the physician's bill for attendance upon the plaintiff during his illness. The Supreme Sitting Order of the Iron Hall v. Stein, 120 Ind. 270.
Exception overruled, and case remitted to the District Court-of the Tenth Judicial District with direction to enter judgment for the defendant for costs.