Case Name: Drury's Admx. v. New York Life Ins. Co.
Court: Kentucky Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Kentucky
Decision Date: 1903-05-28
Citations: 115 Ky. 681
Docket Number: 
Parties: Drury’s Admx. v. New York Life Ins. Co.
Judges: 
Reporter: Kentucky Reports
Volume: 115
Pages: 681–690

Head Matter:
Case 83 — Action by Charles N. Drury’s Admx. against the New . York Life Insurance Company on a Policy of Insurance.—
May 28.
Drury’s Admx. v. New York Life Ins. Co.
APPEAL FROM UNION CIRCUIT COURT.
Prom a Judgment Granting Insufficient Relief Plaintiff Appeals.
Reversed.
Life Policy — Stipulations—Extended Insurance — Surrender Values — Premium Note — Recitals.
Held: An insured in a life policy which contained! a “fable of loams and surrender values in paid-up insurance or extended insurance” available at the end of the thifid iyear of the policy, and which stipulated that the polliey should he forfeited after being in force’ three full year.s, and that, if any subsequent premium was mot paid, the policy would he indonsied for the amount of paid-up insurance specified in the table on the surrender .off the policy within six .months after such nonpayment, or, if the policy was not surrendered, the insurance, without request, would be extended'for the face of the policy during the term provided in the table of loans and surrender values' — executed for the-fourth annual premium his note, reciting that unless the interest thereon- and subsequent premiums should be) paid, -the policy should be forfeited “except as to the right to- a surrender value or paid-up policy.” The insured failed to pay. the interest -and subsequent premiums, and died withiln the period fixed fin the table for extended insurance-. Held, that -th-e -stipulation in the note for the forfeiture of the policy did not destroy the right of the insured to the extended insurance, alt being one of the “surrender values” provided for in the “tablel of loans and surrender values.”
DRURY & DRURY and H. X. MORTON, iron appellant.
■The policy sued on was issued July 7, 1897,, and one year’s premium paid in advance, and the premiums due July 7, 1898, and July 7, 1899, were likewise paid in cash. The policy expressly prO-v-idleO that after it has been in force three years it can not be forfeited.
Under ¡the terms of the policy, after making [three full caáh payments the policy was extended without request or ddtmand, during the term provided in the table entitled. “Table of Loans and .Surrender Values» in Paid-up Insurance or Extended Insurance,” and by reference to this table we find that at the- end of the thii'r’d year insured would have been ¡entitled to' four y-earls- and ten months’ extended insurance. There was then no, indebtedness against Mm, nothing for hiim to pay, and as he died before the end of the extended term his -administratrix is entitled to the entire $1,000 covered by the policy.
It is contended, however, that at the end of the fourth year he gave Ms note for the premium then, duie>, by Which he made, a mew contract agreeing that unless) the interest om ¡the note and the premiums are duly paid the policy ¡shall immediately become forfeited.
¡We submit that the condition in said note declaring the policy forfeited 'is against the declared policy of our laiw, Kentucky Statutes), section 656, which in terms provides that “no life insurance company nor agent thereof shall1 make any contract of insurance or agreement as to such contract, other» than is plainly expressed in the policy issued thereon,” and by the express te-rmsi of the policy making it nonforfeitable after the payment of the third- premium the» new contract or assignment is not -enforceable, where fihe insured dies during thiei period of extended insurance provided by the terms of the policy by the payment of the third premium.
AUTHORITIES' CITED.
Ky. Starts., secs. 656 and 659; Manhattan Life! Ins. Co. v. Myers, 22 R., S75; Montgomery v. Phoenix Life Ins. Co., 14 Bush, 51; Northwestern Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. Port’s Admr., 82 Ky., 274; Cravens v. New York Life Ins. Co., 71; Am. St. Rep., 628 (58 L. R. A., 305).
HUMPHREY, BURNETT & HUMPHREY, aitobkevs for appellee.
It is admitted that three annual premiums were paid in cash, and by virtue thereof the insured was entitled to paid-up insurance for $150, provided he should elect not to pay any further premium at or after July 7, 1900. By the terms of the policy, at that date, upon his signifying his election -not to pay any further premium, it is conceded that' he would have been entitled to extended insurance for $1,000 for four years and ten months. It is admitted, however, that he did not exercise his election as to extended insurance), hut on said date, July 7, 1900, executed his note to the company, which is as follows:
“PREMIUM LIEN NOTE. ,
$29.70. $ July 7, 1900.
“Twelve months after date I promise to pay to the order of the New York Life Insurance Company art the office of said company in the city of New York, the sum of twenty-nine and seventy ome-hundredths dollars, with interest in advance at the rate of five per cent, per annum (for value received), being for premium due Juiy 7, 1900, on policy No. 801525, issued by said company on the life of Charles N. Drury.
“It is understood and agreed:
“1. That- this note may be renewed if the interest theracm and .subsequent premium on said policy are duly paid.
“2. That unless said 'interest and premiums are duly paid, said policy and its accumulations shall immediately become forfeited amid void, exoeipt as to the right-to a surrender value or paid-up policy which may he provided in said policy, or by statute.
“3. 'That in -the settlement of any claim or any benefit under said policy, before this policy shall' have been fully paid the amount thereof shall he deducted from the amount otherlwilse payable by said company.
“Signed, CHARLES NEWMAN DRURY.”
It is admitted the insured failed to pay either the interest or principal of said note, that he did not pay or offer to pay any part. of the premium due for the ensuing twelve months, that no demand was made by him to surrender the policy and no application w.as made for paid-up insurance, hut it is cointended that by virtue of the payment of three premiums in cash, aind by virtue of the execution of the note he was ipso facto entitled to extended insurance from July 7, 1901, for eight yearns and roue month.
The 'contention of the company is that hy the terms of the contract as appears in the policy and in the, note, the insured waived or abandoned the right to extended insurance by his failure to pay the inteirest and the faca of the note at maturity ox within a reasonable time thereafter.
AUTHORITIES CITED.
Union Central Life Ins. Co. v. Buxer, 49 L. R. A., 737; Rife v. Union Central Life Ins. Co., 63 Pa., 48; Omaha Nat. Bank v. Mutual Benevolent Life Ins. Co., 81 Fed., 935.

Opinion:
Opinion op the court by
CHIEF JUSTICE BURNAM
Reversing.
On the 7th day of July, 1897, the New York Life Insurance Company issued and delivered to Charles N" Drury a policy for $1,000 upon the 20-years payment life plan, payable to his executors, administrators, or assigns, or such other beneficiary as might be designated by the insured, in consideration of $29.70 paid in advance, and the payment of a like sum on the 7th day of July in every year during the continuance of the policy until twenty full years' premiums should have been paid. As an inducement to take the policy, the company offered certain special advantages in the way of loans and surrender values, which were set out in a table on the second page of the policy, and which were made a part of the contract of insurance, and which are as follows:
Table of Loans and Surrender Values in Paid-up Insurance or Extended Insurance, under the conditions specified on next page.
On the third page of the policy, under the head of "Benefits and Provisions," the policy contained these stipulations :
"This policy can not be forfeited after it shall have been in force three full years as hereinafter provided:
"First. If any subsequent premium is not duly paid, this policy will be endorsed for the amount of paid-up insurance payable at the death of the insured, specified in the table on the preceding page, less the value of any indebtedness on this policy, provided demand is made therefor with the surrendér of this policy within six months after'such nonpayment, or,
"Second. If any subsequent premium is not duly paid, and if this policy is not surrendered as provided in the preceding clause, the insurance under this policy, will after the repayment of any indebtedness, be extended without request or demand therefor, for the amount of one thousand dollars, during the term provided in the table on the preceding page, payable only if the insured dies within said term. At the end of said term, if the insured is then living, this policy shall cease and determine."
The annual premium of $29.70 was paid when the policy 'was issued, and on the 7th day of July, 1898, and 1899. On the 7th day of July, 1900, the insured, Drury, failed to pay in cash the premium of $29.70 in advance, and by agreement, with the company executed the following note:
"Premium Lien Note.
"$29.70 July 7, 1900.
"Twelve months after date I promise to pay to the order of the New York Life Insurance Co., at the office of said company in the city of New York, the sum of $29.70, with interest in advance at the rate of five per cent, per annum (for value received), being for premium due July 7th on policy number 801,525, issued by said company on the life of Charles N. Drury.
"It is understood and agreed:
"First. That this note may be renewed if interest thereon and subsequent premiums on said policy are duly paid.
"Second. That unless said interest and premiums are duly paid, said policy and its accumulations shall immediately be forfeited, except as to the right to a surrender value or paid-up policy, which may be provided in said policy or by statute.
"Third. That in the settlement of any claim or any benefit under said policy before this obligation shall have been fully paid, the amount thereon shall be deducted from the amount otherwise payable by said company.
"[Signed] Charles N. Drury."
Drury failed to pay either the principal or interest on this note at maturity, and he also failed to pay any part of the premium of $29.70 for the ensuing twelve months, which fell due on the 7th day of July, 1901, and departed this life intestate, on the 16th day of August, 1901. And the appellant, Ann T. Drury, shortly thereafter qualified as his administratrix, and forwarded to the company proofs of the death of the insured, and demanded the payment to her under the terms of the policy of $1,000, with interest from October 4, 1901, and, payment being refused by the company, instituted this suit against appellee on the 11th day of October thereafter.
The company, in its answer, admitted the issual of the policy and the payment of the premiums for the years 1897, 1898 and 1899; that no application was made by the insured for paid-up insurance; but. denies that it was indebted to the appellant in any amount exceeding $84, and the second paragraph of the answer reads as follows: "Defendant says that by the terms oí the contract above quoted the assured waived and surrendered his right to extended insurance by refusing or failing to pay the interest on his premium note above set out, and by refusing or failing to pay the premium due July 7, 1901. Defendant says that by the terms of the premium lien note quoted supra it was expressly agreed, in addition to the contract set out in the policy, and in conformity therewith, 'that, unless said interest and premiums are duly paid, said policy and accumulations shall immediately become forfeited and void, except as to the right to a surrender value or paid-up policy;' that the assured, by the terms of the policy above set out, and by the terms of the premium note aforesaid, is entitled to a paid-up policy only as specified in the policy, less the amount of his indebtedness at the time to the company, leaving a net amount, as of date July 7, 1901, of $84, for which amount this defendant hereby offers to confess judgment in full of-plaintiff's recovery."
A general demurrer was filed by plaintiff to the defendant's answer, and it was overruled, and, plaintiff declining to plead further, it was adjudged by the trial court that the. plaintiff recover judgment for $84, with interest from the 16th of August, 1901, until paid, and so much of her petition as sought to recover more than this sum was dismissed, and plaintiff has appealed.
It is admitted that the conditions of the policy had all been complied with by the assured up to the time he executed the note of July 7, 1900, for the premium then due, carrying the policy up to July 7, 1901; and that by the express terms of the policy he was on that date entitled to a loan of $40, or to a paid-up policy of $150, or to extended insurance for $1,000 for four years and ten months. It is also admitted that, if the appellant had not executed the premium note relied on, or paid any of the subsequent premiums in accordance with the terms of his contract, and had died at any time within four years and ten months from the 7th of July, 1900, that his administratrix would have been entitled to recover the full amount of the policy. But the defendant insists that the note given on the 7th of July, 1900, contained a new contract between the company and the assured, by which it was agreed that, unless the principal and interest of the premium note was paid at maturity, the policy and its accumulations were immediately forfeited, except as to the right of the assured to a paid-up policy for $150, less the indebtedness of the assured to the company growing out of the execution of the note. It does not seem to us that this is a fair construction of the second condition attached to the premium note of July, 1900, While it recites that, unless the interest and premiums are duly paid, the policy and its accumulations shall be forfeited it expressly stipulates that the right to a surrender value' or paid-up policy provided in the policy shall remain intact. Under the head of "Surrender Values," in the table.of loans and surrender values set out on the second page of the policy, we find paid-up insurance and extended insurance both under the head of "Surrender Values;" and under the head of "Nonforfeiture Provisions," on the third page of the policy, we find it provided that, if any subsequent premium is not duly paid, this policy shall be indorsed for the amount of paid-up insurance, payable at the death of the insured, specified in the table on the preceding page, less the amount of indebtedness on this policy; provided demand is made therefor with surrender of this policy within six' months after such payment. There is no pretense that the insured ever complied, or attempted to comply, with this provision of the policy. It therefore follows that his right to a policy for paid-up insurance was abandoned. In the second condition under this head it is provided that if any subsequent premium is not duly paid, and if the policy is not surrendered as in the preceding clause, the insurance under this policy will, after the repayment of any indebtedness, be extended without request or demand therefor for the amount of $1,000.00 during the term provided in the table on the preceding page, payable only if the insured dies within said term. At the end of said term, if the insured is then living, the policy shall cease and.determine. It will be observed that extended insurance for the full amount of the policy is one of the surrender values expressly provided for, and the only one which, under all conditions, is not forfeitable. Paid-up insurance is also a surrender value, but, to enable the insured to take advantage of this provision, the policy requires that the insured should, within six months after failure to pay a premium, surrender his policy and demand paid-up insurance. If the contention of the company is a sound one, the effect of the failure of the insured to pay the interest and premium note at maturity is to exactly reverse these conditions of the policy. In other words, it forfeits automatically the provision for extended insurance, and revives the provision for a paid-up policy, which had been forfeited by the assured's failure to make demand therefor and surrender his policy within six months. The law does not favor forfeitures, and will not assume that the assured intended by the execution of the note of July, 1900, to forfeit the right to extended insurance, which he had already acquired by the payment of three annual premiums on the policy. The only reasonable construction which can be put upon the language of the policy and note is that on the forfeiture of the policy by the nonpayment of interest assured forfeited all right to further participate in accumulations, to receive dividends, to- be reinstated after the lapse of the policy, etc.; but did not surrender his right to extended insurance for the tei¡m earned by the premiums paid. Nor can we doubt that, if the insured had made a demand for paid-up insurance at the time of his default in the payment of the premium note and interest, the company would have been prompt to claim that he was not entitled to a paid-up policy, as he had failed at the proper time to make demand therefor, but only to such extended insurance as his interest in the policy would purchase after the payment of his indebtedness to the company.
It therefore follows that the judgment must be reversed, and cause remanded, with instructions to sustain plaintiff's demurrer to the defendant's answer, and for other proceedings consistent'with this opinion.