Court Opinion

ID: 9711645
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 04:36:00.50316+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:23:06.508997
License: Public Domain

SUPPLEMENTAL OPINION ON DENIAL OF REHEARING Mr. PRESIDING JUSTICE ROMITI delivered the opinion of the court:  Royal Globe in its petition for rehearing has contended that this court has attempted to overrule the Illinois Supreme Court, citing Immel v. Travelers Insurance Co. (1940), 373 Ill. 256, 26 N.E.2d 114. In Immel, the court as dictum stated that the parties to a contract may agree that it may not be assigned and such a provision is valid. It further stated that an insurance company may provide that any policy can only be assigned on such terms as are therein provided and if such terms are not complied with, the assignment is invalid as against the company. But, since (1) this rule was conceded and not contested by the parties, (2) the claimant was claiming under a pledge not an assignment, and (3) the suit was for negligence, the statements are clearly dictum and not a holding of the case. The issue in Immel was whether the defendant, a life insurance company, was negligent in paying the proceeds to someone other than the plaintiff or in issuing a duplicate policy upon demand. The supreme court held that the policies were not negotiable, an insurer could issue duplicate policies for the convenience of the policyholder and the company could safely pay promptly to those shown by their own records to be entitled to payment. Any other result, the court pointed out, would defeat the public policy that life insurance be promptly paid. Unlike Immel, there is no attempt in this case to force the insurer to pay twice under the same policy. The sole issue is whether it can escape on a technicality any liability under a policy for which it received a premium even if there was no increase in the risk or the insurer would have routinely approved the assignment had there been no loss. Petition for rehearing is denied. JOHNSON and JIGANTI, JJ„ concur.