Boseman v. Connecticut Gen. Life Ins. Co., 301 U.S. 196 (1937)

U.S. Supreme Court

Boseman v. Connecticut Gen. Life Ins. Co., 301 U.S. 196 (1937) Boseman v. Connecticut General Life Insurance Co.

No. 531

Argued March 4, 5, 1937

Decided April 26, 1937

301 U.S. 196

CERTIORARI TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT

Syllabus

1. In a suit in a federal court in Texas, brought by an employee of an oil company upon a policy of group insurance, issued to the company in Pennsylvania by a Connecticut insurer, it appearing that the insurer had never executed or delivered any contract of insurance of any kind in Texas, that none of the negotiations for the policy had taken place in Texas, that all of the insurer's dealings in connection with the policy were with the oil company, and not with any of its employees, that the company and the insurer intended the law of Pennsylvania to apply, and the policy expressly so provided, and that the employee, in his application for the insurance, made to and filed with the oil company, agreed to be bound by the provisions of the policy, held that the validity of a provision of the policy requiring as a condition precedent to payment, after the termination of employment, of any claim for permanent total disability incurred during the period of employment, notice within 60 days after the termination of the employment was governed by the law of Pennsylvania. Pp. 301 U. S. 202, 301 U. S. 206.

2. The law of Texas, which forbids notice of less than 90 days as a condition precedent to suit upon any contract requiring notice, held not rendered applicable to the policy in question by

(a) The fact that the insurer was authorized to do business in Texas -- it actually had no qualified agents there, and had never executed or delivered any contract of insurance of any kind in that State. P. 301 U. S. 204.

Page 301 U. S. 197

(b) The delivery to the employee in Texas of a certificate, issued by the insurer to the oil company, acknowledging that the employee was insured under the policy. The certificate was no part of the contract of insurance. P. 301 U. S. 203.

(c) The fact that the employee became one of the insured group through the execution in Texas of a payroll deduction order approved by the employer, to compensate the employer in part for its payment of the premium. P. 301 U. S. 202.

(d) The acts of the oil company in obtaining the insurance, receiving applications therefor from its employees, taking payroll deduction orders, reporting changes in the insured group, paying premiums, etc., all of which were done by the oil company not as agent of the insurer, but for and on behalf of itself and its employees. P. 301 U. S. 204.

(e) Arts. 5054 and 5056, Rev.Civ.Stats. of Texas, which are inapplicable to the facts and the question presented in this case. P. 301 U. S. 205.

3. In determining a question as to the construction of an insurance policy, involving only general law, the federal courts are not bound to follow the decisions of the courts of the State in which the controversy arises, but may exercise their own independent judgment. P. 301 U. S. 203.

84 F.2d 701 affirmed.

Certiorari, 299 U.S. 537, to review a judgment reversing a judgment of the district court in favor of the claimant in a suit against the insurance company upon a policy of group insurance. The suit had been removed to the district court from a state court of Texas.

MR. JUSTICE BUTLER delivered the opinion of the Court.

Petitioner, a citizen and resident of Texas, brought this action against respondent, a Connecticut corporation, in

Page 301 U. S. 198

a Texas court to recover $4,000 with interest and attorney's fees. Respondent removed the case to the federal court for the Eastern District of Texas.

The suit was to recover for permanent total disability under a policy of group insurance issued in Pennsylvania by respondent to the Gulf Oil Corporation. It covers employees of that corporation and its subsidiaries, of which the Gulf Refining Company is one. Petitioner, an employee of that company, by that policy was insured in respect of life and disability. It provides that

"no claim for permanent total disability incurred by any employee during his period of employment shall be paid after the termination of such employment unless such employee gave written notice of such disability to the Company during the said period of employment or within 60 days thereafter."

That provision is conceded to be valid under Pennsylvania law. Petitioner failed to give the notice within the time specified. Article 5546, Revised Civil Statutes of Texas, declares that no stipulation in a contract requiring notice as a condition precedent to the right to sue thereon shall be valid unless reasonable. "Any such stipulation fixing the time within which such notice shall be given at a less period than ninety days shall be void." The District Court held the Texas law controlling, and refused to give effect to the quoted policy provision. The Circuit Court of Appeals held the Pennsylvania law applicable, the policy provision valid, and that petitioner, having failed to give the required notice, was not entitled to recover. 84 F.2d 701. The sole question is whether the Pennsylvania law or the Texas law governs.

In 1916, petitioner became an employee of the refining company, and thereafter worked for it until October 8, 1932. During parts of that period, he was insured by two group policies issued by defendant to the oil corporation. Both covered employees of the refining company.

Page 301 U. S. 199

One, No. G5039, became effective in 1919; the employer paid the premiums; the employees contributed nothing to reimburse the employer or to procure the insurance or to keep the policies in force. The other, No. G5545, became effective in 1925; employees contributed part of the premiums thereon. Both terminated at the time of the taking effect, April 1, 1932, of the one, No. G5039R, under which petitioner brought this action.

March 7, 1932, plaintiff made an application under the last-mentioned policy -- then in contemplation -- for the amount applicable on and after April 1, 1932, according to his salary classification and continuous service as provided in the policy. In his application, he agreed to be bound by the rules governing the insurance, authorized his employer to deduct in advance the proper amount per month from his pay to cover a part of the premiums to be paid by the oil corporation to defendant on the policy to be issued, accepted cancellation of his insurance, and released claims under the earlier policies and, in lieu of that protection, took the benefits granted by the new policy. The application was not addressed, made, or sent to defendant. It was delivered to, became and remained a part of the permanent records of, the refining company.

March 15, 1932, the oil corporation made written application, which was signed by it and delivered to defendant in Pennsylvania, for the policy of insurance and in the same instrument asked cancellation of the earlier policies. It requested that the policy be issued in Pennsylvania, and that it be governed by the laws of that state. Final agreement between defendant and the oil corporation for execution and delivery of the policy was reached in Pennsylvania. On or about the same day, defendant accepted the application; it signed the policy in Connecticut and issued and delivered it to the oil corporation in Pennsylvania. In that state, the oil corporation paid the binding

Page 301 U. S. 200

premium required by the policy. None of the negotiations for the policy and no act done for its execution or delivery took place in Texas or in any state other than Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

The policy also provides: it is issued for a term of one year in consideration of the application of the employer, the payment of a binding premium and of other premiums provided for. Each employee in service April 1, 1932, insured up to that date under policy G5545 becomes eligible on April 1, 1932. An employee may elect insurance under the policy by completing any form of payroll deduction order approved by the employer. Each employee electing the insurance before becoming eligible will be insured automatically on the day he becomes eligible. On the effective date of the policy and on each annual renewal date, an average annual premium rate will be established. The employer shall give the insurer notice of terminations of insurance and additions of employees becoming eligible. The changes shall be considered as having taken effect as if notice thereof had been given in advance. Upon termination of employment of any insured employee, his insurance shall be canceled.

"he Company will issue to the Employer for each insured employee an individual certificate. This certificate will in no way void any of the terms and conditions outlined in the policy, but will show the insurance protection to which the employee is entitled. . . . The policy and the application of the Employer . . . and the applications of the employees, if any, shall constitute the entire contract between the parties. . . . This contract is issued and delivered . . . in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is governed by the laws of that Commonwealth."

Defendant was not writing disability, life, or group insurance in Texas in 1918, 1925, or 1932, the years respectively in which it issued to the oil corporation the above-mentioned

Page 301 U. S. 201

policies, Nos. G5039, G5545, and G5039R. March 21, 1932, the Texas Board of Insurance Commissioners issued its certificate authorizing defendant to pursue the business of life, health, and accident insurance within that state for the year ending February 28, 1933. But, since 1917, defendant has not written any contracts of insurance, nor has it had there any agent qualified so to do. It has no licensed agent, has not qualified to write insurance contracts in Texas or since 1917 accepted any application for insurance originating in that state. The evidence is that respondent "has never written or delivered a contract or policy of insurance of any kind or character in the Texas."

On April 1, 1932, petitioner automatically became insured under the policy. The monthly premium for his insurance was $3; monthly deductions of $2.40 were made by the refining company and sent by it to the oil corporation at Pittsburgh. Defendant charged the premiums to the oil corporation, and the latter paid them by check sent from Pittsburgh to defendant at Hartford.

About May 1, 1932, respondent issued and delivered to the oil corporation an individual certificate stating that it was issued pursuant to the policy and that, subject to its terms and conditions, petitioner, John Boseman, an employee, was insured under Schedule B of the policy. The certificate contained the above-quoted policy provision requiring notice of disability. The oil corporation sent the certificate to petitioner's employer, and, July 20, 1932, the latter delivered it to petitioner in Texas. The defendant did not deal with the plaintiff or any of the employees of the refining company with reference to the insurance, certificates issued under the policy, or premiums. All its dealings were with the oil corporation. Petitioner became totally disabled prior to termination of his employment which ended October 8, 1932. His insurance was cancelled as of that date.

Page 301 U. S. 202

1. The oil corporation and respondent intended, and the policy definitely declares, that Pennsylvania law should govern. Undoubtedly, as between employer and insurer, Pennsylvania law controls. [Footnote 1] "In every forum, a contract is governed by the law with a view to which it was made." [Footnote 2] But the precise issue for decision is whether, as between petitioner and insurer, the policy provision requiring notice of claim is governed by Pennsylvania law or Texas law. Petitioner and other insured employees were not parties to, nor did they have any voice in, the negotiation or consummation of the contract. The terms of the policy were settled by the oil corporation, and respondent. Eligible employees were given opportunity upon specified conditions to have insurance by giving payroll deduction orders approved by their employer. The policy did not of itself insure petitioner or any other person. It merely made available specified insurance to certain employees. For the payment of premiums, the insurer looked only to the corporation. The latter, for the benefit of its insured employees, assumed the burden of paying to the insurer premiums to which they by the deduction orders had contributed. [Footnote 3]

Page 301 U. S. 203

By his application, petitioner accepted the provisions of the policy, including the agreement of the oil corporation and respondent that the policy is governed by Pennsylvania law.

2. Petitioner insists that the delivery of the certificate in Texas made the law of that state, Article 5546, applicable. But the certificate is not a part of the contract of, or necessary to, the insurance. [Footnote 4] It is not included among the documents declared "to constitute the entire contract of insurance." Petitioner was insured on the taking effect of the policy long before the issue of the certificate. It did not affect any of the terms of the policy. It was issued to the end that the insured employee should have the insurer's statement of specified facts in respect of protection to which he had become entitled under the policy. It served merely as evidence of the insurance of the employee. Petitioner's rights and respondent's liability would have been the same if the policy had not provided for issue of the certificate . And, plainly, delivery of the certificate by the refining company to petitioner in Texas has no bearing upon the question whether Pennsylvania law or Texas law governs in respect of the notice of claim. We are unable to agree with decisions of the Court of Civil Appeals of Texas in cases similar to this that the certificate is a part of the contract of insurance, or that its delivery

Page 301 U. S. 204

is necessary to make the policy effective. [Footnote 5] Nor are we required to follow their construction. [Footnote 6]

3. In support of his contention that Texas law applies, petitioner suggests that the insurer, acting through the employer as its agent in that state, solicited and procured him to take insurance under the policy. There is no evidence that the insurer expressly authorized the oil corporation or any of its subsidiaries to act for it in consummating insurance under the policy. Petitioner's election and the employer's application for the policy were made before the Texas Board authorized the insurer to do business in that state. By uncontradicted evidence, it is shown that the insurer did not qualify to solicit or write insurance or accept any application originating there. Employers regard group insurance not only as protection at low cost for their employees, but also as advantageous to themselves in that it makes for loyalty, lessens turnover, and the like. [Footnote 7] When procuring the policy, obtaining applications of employees, taking payroll deduction orders, reporting changes in the insured group, paying premiums, and, generally, in doing whatever may serve to obtain and keep the insurance in force, employers act not as agents of the insurer, but

Page 301 U. S. 205

for their employees or for themselves. [Footnote 8] And wholly in accord with that view are the acts done in Texas that are claimed by petitioner to be attributable to the refining company or its agents. They are: the termination of the earlier policies; acceptance of petitioner's release of claims under them and his application under the new policy by the giving of payroll deduction orders; delivery of the certificate to petitioner; the forwarding to the oil corporation of the amounts deducted from his pay on account of premiums. None of these was done for or on behalf of the insurer. The undisputed circumstantial facts require the conclusion that the employer acted not as agent of the insurer, but for and on behalf of petitioner and other insured employees and in its own interest. [Footnote 9]

4. Petitioner cites articles 5054 and 5056, Revised Civil Statutes, as opposed to the lower court's ruling:

"If employees in Texas desire to join in an insurance plan about to be set up or already in operation in Pennsylvania, and either in person or through their employer take steps in Pennsylvania to do so, the laws of Texas do not control it."

Article 5054 applies only to contracts of insurance made by an insurance company doing business in Texas. [Footnote 10] The respondent did no business in that state. [Footnote 11] Article 5056 merely declares that one who in Texas does specified things in respect of insurance shall be held to be the agent of the insurance company for which the act is done or the risk taken "as far as relates

Page 301 U. S. 206

to all the liabilities, duties, requirements and penalties set forth in this chapter." Clearly there is nothing in that article as expounded by the Supreme Court of Texas (Hartford Fire Insurance Co. v. Walker, 94 Tex. 473, 61 S.W. 711) that has any bearing on the question under consideration. The challenged ruling is sound and well supported by our decisions. [Footnote 12]

5. The conclusion that Pennsylvania law governs the policy provision requiring notice of claim is supported not only by the making and delivery of the contract of insurance in that state, the declaration in the policy that Pennsylvania law shall govern and petitioner's acceptance of the insurance according to the terms of the policy, but also by the purpose of the parties to the contract that everywhere it shall have the same meaning and give the same protection, and that inequalities and confusion liable to result from applications of diverse state laws shall be avoided. [Footnote 13]

Affirmed.

[Footnote 1]

Equitable Life Assurance Society v. Clements, 140 U. S. 226, 140 U. S. 232; Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. Cohen, 179 U. S. 262, 179 U. S. 264, 265, 179 U. S. 267; Northwestern Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. McCue, 223 U. S. 234, 223 U. S. 246-247; New York Life Ins. Co. v. Dodge, 246 U. S. 357, 246 U. S. 372 et seq.; Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. Liebing, 259 U. S. 209, 259 U. S. 214; Hartford Acc. & Ind. Co. v. Delta & Pine Land Co., 292 U. S. 143, 292 U. S. 150. Cf. Seeman v. Philadelphia Warehouse Co., 274 U. S. 403, 274 U. S. 408-409; Home Ins. Co. v. Dick, 281 U. S. 397, 281 U. S. 408; John Hancock Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. Yates, 299 U. S. 178.

[Footnote 2]

Wayman v. Southard, 10 Wheat. 1, 23 U. S. 48; Pritchard v. Norton, 106 U. S. 124, 106 U. S. 136.

[Footnote 3]

See Meyerson v. New Idea Hosiery Co., 217 Ala. 153, 157, 115 So. 94.

[Footnote 4]

All States Life Ins. Co. v. Tillman, 226 Ala. 245, 248, 146 So. 393; Equitable Life Assurance Society v. Austin, 255 Ky. 23, 26, 72 S.W.2d 716; Seavers v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 132 Misc. 719, 722, 230 N.Y.S. 366; Thull v. Equitable Life Assurance Society, 40 Ohio App. 486, 488, 178 N.E. 850; Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Lewis, 142 So. 721, 722; Hardie v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 7 S.W.2d 746, 747; McBride v. Connecticut Gen. Life Ins. Co., 14 F. Supp. 240, 241.

[Footnote 5]

Connecticut General Life Ins. Co. v. Moore, 75 S.W.2d 329; Connecticut General Life Ins. Co. v. Dent, 84 S.W.2d 250; Connecticut General Life Ins. Co. v. Lockwood, 84 S.W.2d 245; Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Worton, 70 S.W.2d 216; Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Wann, 81 S.W.2d 298.

[Footnote 6]

Carpenter v. Providence Washington Insurance Co, 16 Pet. 495, 41 U. S. 511-512; Washburn & Moen Mfg. Co. v. Reliance Marine Ins. Co., 179 U. S. 1, 179 U. S. 15; Aetna Life Ins. Co. v. Moore, 231 U. S. 543, 231 U. S. 559. See Swift v. Tyson, 16 Pet. 1, 41 U. S. 19; B. & W. Taxi Co. v. B. & Y. Taxi Co., 276 U. S. 518, 276 U. S. 530, and cases cited.

[Footnote 7]

Nohl v. Board of Education, 27 N.M. 232, 234 et seq., 199 P. 373; State ex rel. v. Memphis, 147 Tenn. 658, 663 et seq., 251 S.W. 46; Aetna Life Ins. Co. v. Lembright, 32 Ohio App. 10, 14, 166 N.E. 586. Encyclopaedia of Social Sciences, vol. 7, Group Insurance, pp. 182, 185.

[Footnote 8]

Duval v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co, 82 N.H. 543, 548, 136 A. 400; People ex rel. Kirkman v. Van Amringe, 266 N.Y. 277, 282, 194 N.E. 754; Connecticut General Life Ins. Co. v. Speer, 185 Ark. 615, 617, 48 S.W.2d 553; Leach v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 124 Kan. 584, 589, 261 P. 603; Equitable Life Assurance Society v. Hall, 253 Ky. 450, 452-453, 69 S.W.2d 977; Dewease v. Travelers' Insurance Co., 208 N.C. 732, 734, 182 S.E. 447.

[Footnote 9]

See note 8

[Footnote 10]

Article 5054 (then article 4950, Rev.Civ.Stat. 1911) is quoted in Aetna Life Ins. Co. v. Dunken, 266 U. S. 389, 266 U. S. 390-391.

[Footnote 11]

Cf. Minnesota Association v. Benn, 261 U. S. 140, 261 U. S. 145.

[Footnote 12]

Allgeyer v. Louisiana, 165 U. S. 578, 165 U. S. 588; Minnesota Association v. Benn, 261 U. S. 140, 261 U. S. 145; Aetna Life Ins. Co. v. Dunken, 266 U. S. 389, 266 U. S. 399; Hartford Indemnity Co. v. Delta & Pine Land Co., 292 U. S. 143, 292 U. S. 149.

[Footnote 13]

See note 11 Cf. Royal Arcanum v. Green, 237 U. S. 531, 237 U. S. 542; Modern v. Woodmen v. Mixer, 267 U. S. 544, 267 U. S. 551.