Court Opinion

ID: 9767040
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 05:06:56.441421+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:30:27.257317
License: Public Domain

OPINION ON MOTION FOR REHEARING
PER CURIAM.
In its Motion for Rehearing appellant Hermann Hospital contends this court erred in overruling all three of its points of error. Its argument concerning the second point of error requires this additional opinion on motion for rehearing.
In the second point of error appellant says the trial court should have disregarded the jury’s answer to Special Issue No. 1 and rendered judgment for appellant on the remainder of the jury verdict. Its point is based on argument that the evidence proved as a matter of law that Mr. Johnson intended to assign to appellant the benefits under any and all insurance policies that might be covering him at the time.
By answering “We do not” to Special Issue No. 1, the jury failed to find from a preponderance of the evidence that Mr. Johnson intended to assign his rights, if any, under the Liberty Life policy to the appellant Hermann Hospital.
Appellant’s argument is grounded on the contention that Mr. Johnson executed the assignment containing blanks to be filled in with the name of the insurance carrier and the policy number and thereby impliedly authorized Hermann Hospital to fill in the blanks with the name of appellee Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston and its policy number. For cases relied on by appellant see Sentinel Fire Insurance Co. v. Anderson, 196 S.W.2d 649 (Tex.Civ.App.—Amarillo 1946, no writ); Stephens v. Underwood, 157 S.W.2d 936 (Tex.Civ.App.— Eastland 1941, no writ); Republic National Bank v. Strealy, 343 S.W.2d 284 (Tex.Civ.App. —Fort Worth), rev’d, 163 Tex. 36, 350 S.W.2d 914 (1961); Holliday v. Anderson, 428 S.W.2d 479 (Tex.Civ.App.—Waco 1968, no writ).
In our opinion those eases do not require a reversal of this case. Although they hold that a party who signs an instrument containing blanks entrusts to the person to whom it is delivered the duty or right to fill in the blanks, they also hold that such person must properly fill in the blanks strictly in accordance with the agreement between the parties in order to bind the party signing the instrument. See, e.g., Sentinel Fire Insurance Co. v. Anderson, 196 S.W.2d 649 (Tex.Civ.App.— Amarillo 1946, no writ). Under the evidence in this case implied authority to fill in the blanks in the assignment form did not result in the assignment or the intention to assign being established as a matter of law.
In the instant case whether the parties agreed that Hermann Hospital was authorized to fill in the blanks with the name of Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston and its policy number was vigor*44ously disputed both in the pleadings and the evidence. Hermann Hospital alleged and offered evidence to prove that Johnson so agreed and intended to assign to the hospital his rights under the Liberty Life policy. On the other hand there is evidence in the record from which the jury could believe that Johnson did not so agree and did not intend to make such an assignment. This evidence was set out in this court’s original opinion and need not be repeated here.
An assignment is a manifestation by the owner of a right of that person’s intention to transfer such right to the as-signee. See Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 317 (1981); Wolters Village Management Co. v. Merchants & Planters National Bank, 223 F.2d 793 (5th Cir. 1955); and discussion in 7 Tex.Jur.3rd Assignments § 25 (1980).
In the instant case the trial court, apparently recognizing that the validity of the assignment turned on the question of Johnson’s intention, submitted Special Issue No. 1 inquiring whether Johnson intended to assign to the hospital Johnson’s rights under the Liberty Life policy. Appellant made no objection whatsoever to the submission of such issue. We hold that, under the facts of this case, Johnson’s intention was an ultimate issue of fact, appellant did not establish such intention as a matter of law and the answer of the jury is not contrary to the overwhelming weight and preponderance of the evidence.
Appellant’s motion for rehearing is overruled.