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Insurance--Effective Termination--Temporary Contract Of Life Insurance Requires Both Notice And Refund Of Premium For Termination, Thomas F. Cassidy

Fordham Urban Law Journal

Plaintiff Dolores Smith appealed from a judgment in a favor of the Westland Life Insurance Company after a nonjury trial. Mrs. Smith, as the widow and administratrix of the estate of her husband, sought recovery of $10,000 under a temporary life insurance contract. Mr. Smith had paid the first month’s premium and received a conditional receipt, also known as a binder or a binding receipt, from a soliciting agent of Westland on April 8, 1963. However, due to the hazardous nature of Smith’s employment as a railroad laborer, Westland issued him a modified policy, with increased premiums, on April 24. …