Court Opinion

ID: 8060688
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 04:38:03.125542+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:38:02.796582
License: Public Domain

The opinion of the court was delivered by
Garrison, J.
An act to incorporate benevolent and charitable associations was originally passed in 1844. Pamph. L., p. 197. It was re-enacted in the Revised Statutes of 1846 (R. S., p. 127), and again, with unimportant changes, in 1853 (Pamph. L., p. 355), and in the Revision of 1875. Rev., p. 79. All of these enactments set forth that “the sole and exclusive object of incorporations” thereunder shall be “ the relief or support of such of the members thereof as shall by sickness, casualty, or other cause be rendered incapable of *52attending to their usual occupation or calling, * * * and also the decent interment of deceased members, or the widows of deceased members, and other charitable purposes.” In 1876 a supplement to the act was passed (Pamph. L., p. 84), extending its provisions to “persons or associations whose object is to give and extend benevolent and charitable relief to persons who are not members or incorporators,” and in 1883 (Paraph. L., p. 57) a further supplement provided that “it shall be lawful for associations incorporated under this act to contract with their members to pay death benefits according to the rules or by-laws adopted by such associations, and to agree to pay the same to the husband, wife, father, mother, brother, sister or legal representative of such member after his or her death, which contract the beneficiary therein named shall have full legal power to enforce in proceedings at law or in equity.” In 1886 (Paraph. L.,p. 221) the provision of the preceding supplement was extended so as to include “ sons ” and “ daughters.”
It is contended by the plaintiff that, by force of these statutes, the associations in question were invested with power to insure lives, and hence that, so long as that law is operative, the associations in question are legitimate subjects for the supervisatory control of the insurance laws of the state. It cannot be denied that, if these statutes be efficient to extend the capacity of these associations beyond the objects specified in the act to which they owe their incorporation, the result will be life insurance pure and simple. No insurance company could ask more ample competency. The question is not directly before us upon the facts of the case certified, but it may well be doubted whether such a construction is in anywise permissible. In a well-considered opinion in the Circuit Court, Mr. Justice Depue reviews the legislation upon this subject, reaching the conclusion that “ it is clear that none of this legislation empowers these associations to engage in the business of life insurance.” This opinion likewise holds that an attempt by these associations by means of by-laws or otherwise to extend their contracts beyond the benevolent *53purpose of their creation would be in contravention of their statutory powers, and hence nugatory. Stewart v. Odd Fellows’ Mutual Life Insurance Association, 12 N. J. L. J. 110.
That the exercise of such a power, if it existed, would fall within the prohibition of the insurance laws, does not admit of debate. The language of the act of 1889 {Pamph. L.,p. 174) includes in its interdict “any contract of insurance of any kind,” and also the transaction of “ the business of insurance of any kind whatsoever,” save under the provisions of that act. If, therefore, in the case before us, the contract made on behalf of the Commonwealth Benevolent Association with John H. Robbins were in the nature of an insurance upon his life, it would be within the prohibition *of the insurance laws, and judgment should be for the plaintiff accQrdingly. But there is nothing in the facts of the case before us upon which such a contention can rest. The contract between Robbins and the benevolent association is contained in the by-laws of the association and in his certificate of membership. Article I. of the by-laws sets forth the objects of the association to be twofold—first, to provide for its members weekly benefits in the event of sickness and disability, and second, to provide a funeral benefit in the event of death. While the certificate given to Robbins, as his evidence of membership, begins by stating in words and figures as follows, “ Sick benefits, $5.00; funeral benefit, $100.00,” the only conclusion from the evidence before the court below is that the-contract went no further than the objects declared in the by-laws and specified in the certificate, viz., that the $100 agreed to be paid in the event of the member’s death was the $100 for funeral expenses mentioned in the latter instrument. It must be borne in mind that this is a suit to enforce a penalty and that the burden is upon the plaintiff to establish, by clear preponderance of proof, the special circumstances upon which a recovery may rest. It is evident, therefore, that in the present case the plaintiff must fail unless an agreement by a charitable and benevolent association to pay to a member sick benefits and burial expenses constitutes *54“the carrying on of the business of insurance” within the meaning of the Insurance act above stated. Such a contention cannot, however, be seriously pressed. The legislature has, by numerous contemporaneous acts, recognized and provided for.the distribution of the funds of these benevolent societies among their members for the two purposes above mentioned, while enacting, at the same time, laws of increasing stringency for the regulation of the business of insurance in all of its forms. Neither in principle nor in practice can there exist any honest confusion between the two. Mutual associations for the purpose of securing, inter alia, sick benefits and burial expenses are benevolent institutions in the strictest sense of the term, whereas a contract- for life insurance is a mere business undertaking entirely divorced from all charitable considerations. In my judgment, the one is as plainly outside the purview of the insurance laws as the other is clearly within the scope of their restrictive and supervisatory provisions. The view here taken is discussed and elaborated in the opinion of Mr. Justice Depue, already referred to.
The Circuit Court should be advised that an association incorporated under the Benevolent Association act does not come within the prohibition of the insurance laws so long as it confines its agreements to the payment of sick benefits and burial expenses. Second. That the contract made by the Commonwealth Benevolent Association with John H. Robbins was not a contract of insurance within the meaning of the Insurance act of March 4th, 1889. Pamph. L., p. 174. Third. That judgment in the case should be given in favor of the defendant.