White v. Coventry & Benson

A provision in the charter of a mutual insurance company organized under the act of April 10, 1849, relative to “the incorporation of insurance companies,” that the corporation may divide applications for insurance into two or more classes, according to the degree of hazard, and that the premium notes shall not in such case he assessed for any losses, except in.the class'to which they shall belong, is valid, and not in conflict with any part of the act under which the company is formed. And a company thus formed having divided its business and risks, pursuant to its charter, into two distinct classes or departments, viz. & farmers’ department, and a commercial department, and taken notes for risks in the latter department, which notes were afterwards assessed by the receiver.of the corporation, to pay losses in that department; Meld that an action would lie, by the receiver, to collect an assessment so made. Parties who have contracted with a corporation, as such, cannot afterwards raise the objection that the company was not legally incorporated. If there are any defects in the organization of a company, they will be cured by a subsequent act of the legislature which treats it as an existing corporation, and changes its name.

THIS action was tried by consent, at a special term of this court, in Chenango county, in August, 185V, before 'Mr. Justice Mason, without a jury. It was upon a note in the form following: “$150. For value received in policy Ho. 2094, dated the 4th day of September, 1851, issued1 by the Union Mutual Insurance Company, I promise to 'pay the company, or their treasurer for the time being, the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars, in such portions and at such time or .times as the directors of the company may require, agreeably to their act of incorporation. (Signed,) Coventry & Benson.” The complaint stated that the insurance company named in the note was incorported as a mutual insurance company, pursuant to the general act providing for the incorporation of insurance companies, passed April 10, 1849. (Laws of 1849, p. 441.) That it had been proceeded against in the supreme court as an insolvent corporation, and that the plaintiff was, on the 6th June, 1853, appointed receiver of its property and effects; and that subsequently it had been adjudged to be insolvent, and its property had been sequestrated for the payment of its debts. The complaint then set forth the note above mentioned, and averred that an assessment had been made thereon by the plaintiff, as receiver, to pay costs and expenses which had accrued whilst the policy accompanying said note was in force. The plaintiff claimed to recover said assessment, which was the whole balance due on said note. The answer set forth, among other things, that the' company was fraudulently organized, and had not power to issue policies of insurance, and had not a capital of one hundred thousand dollars. That said company had no legal existence, and that the defendants’ note was without consideration. On the trial, the declaration of intention to form a company, commission and certificates of the comptroller, and the certificate of the attorney general with the charter annexed, were proved, and also the order of the court appointing the plaintiff receiver, and the judgment sequestrating the company and confirming the plaintiff’s appointment as receiver, and directing an assessment by him of the notes of the company, whereby it appeared that the defendants’ note was assessed to the entire balance due thereon; and that said assessment was confirmed by the supreme court, and the plaintiff ordered to make collection thereof. It also appeared that the notes were assessed to pay for losses by fire, and for liabilities which acv crued whilst the policies accompanying said notes were in force. The second section of the company’s charter was as follows: “2d. Said company is formed to make insurance on dwelling houses, stores, and all kinds of buildings, and upon household furniture, merchandise and other property, against loss or damage by fire, and the risk of inland navigation and transportation, as provided in the second subdivision of the first section of the aforesaid act. Its business shall be conducted on the plan of mutual insurance, and it shall possess all the powers conferred by said act, which now are or hereafter may be conferred by law upon an incorporated company fonhed under, said act for the purpose aforesaid, whose business is to be conducted on the plan aforesaid.” The eighth section was as follows: “8. The rates of insurance shall be from time to time fixed and regulated by the company, and premium notes therefor shall be received from the insured, which shall be paid at such time or times, and in such sum or sums, as the corporation shall from time to time require; any person applying for insurance, so electing may pay a cash premium in addition to a premium note, or a definite sum in money, to be fixed by said corporation in full for said insurance, and in lieu of a premium note.” The tenth and eleventh sections were as follows: “10. The board of directors may, pursuant to the provisions of the said act, unite a cash capital to any extent, as an additional security to the members over and above their premium and stock notes, and prescribe the mode and manner in which such cash capital shall be subscribed and united as aforesaid. 11. The corporation may divide applications for insurance into two or more classes, according to the degree of hazard, and the premium notes shall not in such case be assessed for any losses, except in the class to which they belong.” The by-laws, as proved, contained the following, among other provisions: (Art. 2, § 1.) “ The company shall divide their business and risks, pursuant to their charter, into two diatinct classes or departments, viz. first class, or farmers’ departr merit: • This class is designed for and confined strictly to insuring, against fire, farm property and detached buildings. Second class, or commercial department. This class is, designed for insuring stores, shops, merchandise and all kinds of property -in villages -and cities, expepting what may be Specially hazardous, which' will not .be taken, by the company. To this'class-may be added risks on inland navigation and ■transportation.-- -The accounts of-each. class shall be kept distinct, atd the premium-notes ■ in either shall not be assessed for 'any'loss-'except in the- class to which they may belong. The 'company will insure -for five years or less in. the first class; but in the second class, for a time not to exceed two years, viz. one year or'less-upon stock rates, and for two years and not less than-one, mutually or for cash only; but not more .than ‘two thirds of - the estimated value of any building, above the cellar--wall, shall be insured .therein. “§17. The directors may make such'assessment on the premium, notes as may be '•necessity ’to pay losses and expenses of assessment, and in 'making the same -the maker shall be assessed.only in proportion' td'the time his note bears date.” The defendants’ note was in the- “ commercial department,” and the notes of that department were assessed to the entire 'balance due thereon;■ but the notes in the “farmers^ department” were assessed - to less than the balance due thereon. ' The-plaintiff recovered a judgment against the defendants for -$90.45, being the amount • of said assessment, with interest thereon from' the time the same- was payable, besides. costs. The defendants- appealed therefrom to a general term of this 'bourt. - ; Upon- the argument at general term, the defendants’ counsel claimed that-the-two separate organizations were entirely unauthorized by the general act, and that the object of the statute was to have-but■ one organization; to subject the whole •capital in solido’ to all the risks assumed, and to make each person insured an insurer of all the rest to the amount of his own note; and that this assessment which was sought to be enforced, not being an assessment upon the whole capital, but only upon a part, was illegal and void. The defendant .also claimed that the company was not legally incorporated, - •• -