Court Opinion

ID: 8770950
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-26 12:43:34.689448+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:02:12.513032
License: Public Domain

ALDRICH, District Judge.
In the Massachusetts district partly paid up life insurance policies, with the usual contingencies and provisions as to changing the beneficiaries and as to surrendering policies and receiving the benefits thereof, are treated as an asset of a bankrupt estate to which the creditors are entitled. In re Hayden (No. 12,477) was so decided by the referee upon the ground that it was something somewhat analogous to liquor licenses and stock exchange seats. The order of the referee was affirmed by Judge Dodge without opinion. In re Whitney (No. 13, 834) was similarly decided by the referee, and the order was likewise affirmed by the District Court without an opinion. The case was taken to the Court of Appeals for review, where the decree of the District Court was affirmed upon consent.
I am inclined to hold that independent of state statutes an insurance policy like the one in question is an asset which the trustee is entitled to hold for the benefit of creditors. The policy in question, however, is apparently within the New Hampshire statutory exemptions (Pub. St. N. H. 1901, c. 171, §§ 1, 2), and I think it is controlled by the state law, and therefore not to be held by the trustee in bankruptcy for the benefit of the creditors. See Remington on Bankruptcy, § 1003, and cases cited in the notes.