Armstrong v. Modern Brotherhood of America

This is a suit on a certificate of life insurance issued by a fraternal beneficiary association. Plaintiff recovered and defendant appeals. The question involved for decision is whether the association is one of that character exempted from the general insurance laws of this State, under the provisions of section 1408, Revised Statutes 1899. The beneficiary certificate sued upon contained a provision exempting the society from liability in event the insured took his own life, whether sane or insane. The insured committed suicide. The defendant invoked the stipulation in the insured’s…