Court Opinion

ID: 9825987
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 15:09:17.876271+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:41:45.408482
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Fraser:
Tdissent. I do not see that the evidence as to the life insurance is relevant in any view. Money corporations are established to produce, ultimately, money. It is true a money corporation may establish a hospital for the care and restoration of those injured or worn out in their service, and, while benevolent officials rejoice in the resultant benefit to those in its employ, there must be a pecuniary benefit to warrant the expenditure of corporate funds. The resultant benefit may draw employees to its service or retain them after they come. It may save time and promote efficiency. It is too often claimed that that which is done and justified by financial reasons is done *232for sweet charity’s sake. Liberal dealings with employees is good policy. A business corporation has no' right to do charity for charity’s sake. The doing of personal favors does not even tend to disprove fraud. There is no more effectual means of fraud than the doing of favors. The fear of a charge of ingratitude is the most efficient means of driving sometimes good men and women into doing evil. It often happens that an old man or woman who has property is .taken care of by some one, and at his or her death it is found that the deceased has made a will, leaving all or a great portion of his property to- the one who has made the closing days of his life comfortable, and the will is attacked for fraud. The question is, What was the motive for the services admittedly rendered? If these acts were done from love and kindness of heart, then it is all right. If done for the purpose of securing ah undue influence, then it is all wrong. If the proceeds of a policy of life insurance can be used to fix the amount of damage, then why may not all proceeds of life insurance be used to diminish the amount of damage, and why not the inheritance be used for the same purpose? I do not see that it is relevent in any view of the case. I think our cases have decided that policies of insurance are irrelevant, and wisely so.
I think it was prejudicial error to tell the jury that, if the verdict was for the defendant, the plaintiff would be entitled to retain and cash the check for the $500. I do not see how the disposition of the check could affect the question of fraud. It is easy to see how it would affect the verdict.
For these reasons, I dissent.