Patterson v. Supreme Commandery United Order of the Golden Cross of the World
Supreme Judicial Court of Maine
On report. Action of assumpsit by the plaintiff to recover the sum of $500, the same being the amount of certain life insurance for which Hollis L. Patterson, a son of the plaintiff, had made application in the defendant Order, the plaintiff being the beneficiary named in the application.
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On report. Action of assumpsit by the plaintiff to recover the sum of $500, the same being the amount of certain life insurance for which Hollis L. Patterson, a son of the plaintiff, had made application in the defendant Order, the plaintiff being the beneficiary named in the application. The said Hollis L. Patterson was accidentally killed before his medical examination had been approved by the Supreme Medical Director, and before any certificate of insurance had been issued to him. Plea, the general issue. When the action came on for trial, an agreed statement of facts was filed and the…
1Opinion of the CourtSavage, J.
The defendant corporation is a fraternal beneficiary organization, having a lodge system with ritualistic ceremonies of initiation of members, and carried on for the sole benefit of members and their beneficiaries, and not for profit. It is the supreme body, having under it grand commanderies and subordinate commanderies. It provides under its charter and laws, by assessments on members, a Benefit Fund, out of which death benefits are paid to the designated beneficiaries of deceased members. The assessments are collected and forwarded to the supreme treasury by means of the machinery of the…
2Cases cited3 opinions
- Supreme Lodge Knights & Ladies of Honor v. JohnsonSupreme Court of Arkansas · 1907
- Matkin v. Supreme Lodge Knights of HonorTexas Supreme Court · 1891
- Bruner v. Brotherhood of American YeomenSupreme Court of Iowa · 1907
3Cited by1 opinion
- Pink v. Town Taxi Co.Supreme Judicial Court of Maine · 1941