Court Opinion

ID: 7808284
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-07 17:09:17.597041+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:30:23.593118
License: Public Domain

Kirby, J., (after stating the facts). It is conceded that the contract was terminated in accordance with its provisions on the 20th day of November, • 1914, and admitted by appellee that he had received all renewal commissions to that time, his contention being that under the terms of the contract he is entitled to the designated per cent, of renewals on the three classes of policies written for the term of five years of the policies’ existence. The parties had the right to agree upon the terms of their contract and their rights are determined by its provisions, the whole of the contract and all its terms being considered in arriving at their intention in making it, each provision being given full effect as far as the language of the whole instrument will permit. It is plain from the provisions of said section 3-A, that there was only an agreément to pay the agent as long “as this contract is in force.” Then follows the stipulation as to the amount of the commissions upon the first year’s premiums and the renewal commissions upon- subsequent premiums paid in cash upon the entire table of policies designated, with additional renewal commissions of 2 per cent, for five years on premiums of policies written on the first three plans or classes designated in the schedule or table. The payment of 5 per cent, commission on the policies specified in the table, extended to the life of the policy and there is no more reason for saying that the agent’s right to collect the 7 per cent, renewal commission for five years on the policies in the first three dasses designated continued after the termination of the contract of agency, than to say that he was entitled'notwithstanding its termination, to the 5 per cent, renewal commissions for the life of all the policies written. It is insisted that the last clause of said section 18, providing that the contract may be changed in certain events, or for the termination of it upon the company’s ceasing to do business in the State, which concludes, “except as to any rights the agents may have acquired as to renewal commissions,” indicates a contrary intention and the right of the • agent ■ to' renewal commissions after the termination of the contract, but we do not think so. .. ■ The insurance company recognized its liability to the payment of all commissions, renewal commissions included, up to the time of-the termination of the contract, in accordance with section 11 providing for the termination thereof by the act of the, parties, and, under which, it was terminated, and paid him ¡ all commissions of , every kind due to that date, as shown by his own statement. It was evidently only the intentidh by this latter clause to protect the agent’s right-tó!>renewal commissions upon the termination of the contract by the company’s being refused permission or ceasing to do business in the State, and whether the renewal ’commissions could have 'been exacted by the agent upon the termination' of the contract under such contingency for a longer time than the date of its termination, is not necessary to decide, since it was terminated by act of the parties. The agent having the right to receive commissions only so long as the contract continued in force and it having been annulled was without right to any commissions on renewal premiums,' after the date of the termination of his contract of agency. Stagg v. Insurance Co., 10 Wall. 589; Fidelity & Deposit Co. v. Washington Life Ins. Co., 193 Fed. 512; Scott v. Travelers Ins. Co., 63 Atl. 377, 16 Am. & Eng. Enc. Law, 919; 2 May on Ins., section 576. The contract of agency having been terminated by the act of the parties in accordance with its terms, which provided that the agent should receive commissions only, so long as the contract continued in force, ended his right to claim commissions thereafter and the court erred in holding otherwise. The judgment is reversed and the cause dismissed. Justice Hart being disqualified did not sit in case.