Pierce v. Sentry Insurance

Approximately nine months after the cancellation of their home owner’s insurance policy for nonpayment of the premium, the plaintiffs, Roberta and Sumner H. Pierce, sustained a fire loss. The sole question before us is whether the cancellation was valid under G. L. c. 175, § 99, as amended through St. 1974, c. 498, § 1. Section 99 establishes a standard form of fire insurance policy for use in Massachusetts. See O’Roak v. Lloyds Cas. Co., 285 Mass. 532, 535 (1934). It provides that a “policy may be can-celled 2 ... by giving to the insured and to any mortgagee to whom this policy is payable…