{ "id": 8613958, "name": "ROBERT CORDELL v. BROTHERHOOD OF LOCOMOTIVE FIREMEN AND ENGINEMEN", "name_abbreviation": "Cordell v. Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen & Enginemen", "decision_date": "1935-11-01", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "632", "last_page": "643", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "208 N.C. 632" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C.", "id": 9292, "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "139 N. C., 540", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8653066 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/139/0540-01" ] }, { "cite": "267 U. S., 544", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 6143624 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/267/0544-01" ] }, { "cite": "141 N. C., 117", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11252305 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/141/0117-01" ] }, { "cite": "122 N. C., 498", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8660255 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/122/0498-01" ] }, { "cite": "167 N. C., 185", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11271899 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/167/0185-01" ] }, { "cite": "154 N. C., 98", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "72 S. E., 998", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "52 L. R. A. (N. S.), 829", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L.R.A.N.S.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "157 N. C., 194", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8656934 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/157/0194-01" ] }, { "cite": "69 S. E., 764", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "52 L. R. A. (N. S.), 823", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L.R.A.N.S.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "154 N. C., 97", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8651816 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/154/0097-01" ] }, { "cite": "51 S. E., 775", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "83 S. E., 322", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "139 N. C., 540", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8653066 ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/139/0540-01" ] }, { "cite": "167 N. C., 185", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11271899 ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/167/0185-01" ] }, { "cite": "72 S. E., 998", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "157 N. C., 194", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8656934 ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/157/0194-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1110, "char_count": 31532, "ocr_confidence": 0.473, "pagerank": { "raw": 9.417477212180032e-08, "percentile": 0.516383001480009 }, "sha256": "bddb83ba338a336aae574f7088e6cdc76087d5f89a522b1226323c31bd39699d", "simhash": "1:a2ed8eb862e051cd", "word_count": 5342 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:53:32.811961+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "ROBERT CORDELL v. BROTHERHOOD OF LOCOMOTIVE FIREMEN AND ENGINEMEN." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "ClabksoN, J.\nAt the close of plaintiff\u2019s evidence and at the close of all the evidence the defendant in the court below made motions for judgment as in case of nonsuit. C. S., 567. The court below overruled these motions, and in this we can see no error.\nIn 51 R. O. L., at p. 1421 \u2014 II. General Rules, is the following: \u201cThere is a decided conflict of authority on the question of the validity of provisions of the constitution, by-laws, or contracts of a mutual benefit association undertaking to make conclusive decisions of its tribunals or officers directly upon claims for benefits. What seems, however, to be the weight of authority holds that such provisions are contrary to public policy and void, and so will not preclude either the member, in case of a claim for disability or sick benefits, or his beneficiary or representative, in case of a claim for death benefits, from resort to the civil courts, if by its contract the association assumes an absolute legal obligation to pay the benefits in a certain event, and does not merely engage to pay sucb benefits as may be awarded by its officers or tribunals.\u201d Tbe N. C. case of Kelly v. Trimont, 154 N. C., 97, is cited.\nIn 51 A. L. R., supra, at p. 1436, we find: \u201cIn Kelly v. Trimont Lodge (1910), 154 N. C., 97, 52 L. R. A. (N. S.), 823, 69 S. E., 764, it was said: \u2018Our Court bas uniformly field to tfie doctrine that, when a cause of action fias arisen, tfie courts cannot be ousted of tfieir jurisdiction by agreements, previously entered into, to submit tfie liabilities and rights of tfie parties to tfie determination of other tribunals named in tfie agreement; but it has been also generally field that tfie agreement to submit tfie particular question of tfie amount of loss or damage to' tfie assured under an insurance policy is not against public policy, and is sustained. That is simply a method for tfie ascertainment of a single fact, and not tfie determination of the legal liability of tfie insurer.\u2019 And stating it to be tfie rule now, with reference to agreements to arbitrate, that it is competent for such societies to contract that tfie amount of damages which may be recovered, or tfie existence of any fact which may enter into tfie right to recover, shall be submitted to arbitration, provided tfie right is not embraced in tfie agreement, tfie Court, in Nelson v. Atlantic Coast Line R. Co. (1911), 157 N. C., 194, 52 L. R. A. (N. S.), 829, 72 S. E., 998, field that a railway relief department may make tfie determination of its own tribunals conclusive as to tfie duration of tfie time in which a member is entitled to benefits, distinguishing tfie case from tfie Kelly case (N. C.), supra, upon tfie ground that in that case tfie agreement was to submit tfie whole controversy to- arbitration. It will be observed, too, from tfie quotation above, that tfie Kelly case in effect approved tfie rule which tfie Nelson case adopted.\u201d\nIn Nelson v. R. R., supra, at p. 207, it is said: \u201cThis is not in conflict with tfie opinion in Kelly v. Trimont Lodge, 154 N. C., 98. In that case it is stated that the plaintiffs were entitled, under tfie rules and regulations, to tfie sum demanded, and tfie defendant denied tfie right of action. It was field that an agreement to submit tfie whole controversy to arbitration was not binding; but it is distinctly stated that it was competent to agree that tfie decision of a single fact, such as we have here, could be submitted to a tribunal within the order. When a member submits fiis claim to tfie committee fie is entitled to a hearing, and is not concluded by its action if it is fraudulent or oppressive, of which tfie facts on this record furnish no evidence.\u201d\nIn S. c., 167 N. C., 185, tfie principle is reiterated that a party is not bound by tfie award of tfie committee if it is fraudulent or oppressive.\nIn Cyc. of Ins. Law (Couch), Yol. 1, part sec. 266, pp. 666-7, tfie law is thus stated: \u201cThere is a decided conflict of authority on tfie question of tfie validity of provisions undertaking to set up society tribunals with exclusive jurisdiction and conclusive decisions as to controversies wbicb involve property rights. The apparent weight of authority \u2014 at least, numerically as to cases and jurisdictions \u2014 denies validity to such absolute and arbitrary restrictions on the theory that they oust the courts of jurisdiction in violation of the law of the land; at least, where the society has assumed an absolute legal obligation to pay in a certain event, as distinguished from a mere engagement to pay such benefits as may be awarded by its officers or tribunals in the exercise of a discretion vested in them. Nor need remedies within the order always be exhausted where property rights are involved. And any rule which precludes a beneficiary from bringing an action in the courts, even though no remedies can be had within the order because of the default or non-action of its officials over whom the beneficiary has no control, is unreasonable and contrary to public policy. A benefit society or association cannot make itself a judge in its own case by requiring that all claims or cases shall be tried by its tribunal in the first instance. But even in jurisdictions which in general deny, or at least do not concede, the validity of provisions purporting to make the decisions of internal tribunals conclusive upon claims for benefits, an exception is made where the insurance contract expresses no legal obligation to pay any definite sum, but only to pay such sums as may be determined or allowed by the officers or tribunals of the society, the distinction being rested upon the difference between a contract which creates an absolute legal liability and one which does not.\u201d 45 O. J., 270.\nIn support of the text in 51 A. L. R., supra, cases from both North Carolina and Ohio are cited. Therefore, the point is not material as to the law of Ohio controlling. Then, again, N. C. Code, 1931 (Michie), sec. 6287, is as follows: \u201cAll contracts of insurance on property, lives, or interests in this State shall be deemed to be made therein; and all contracts of insurance the applications for which are taken within the State shall be deemed to have been made within the State, and are subject to the laws thereof.\u201d Policies of insurance issued by foreign companies, the applications for which are taken in this State, are to be construed in accordance with the laws of this State. Horton v. Life Ins. Co., 122 N. C., 498. A provision in a contract of insurance that, \u201cThis contract shall be governed by, subject to and construed only according to the laws of the State of New York, the home office of said association,\u201d is void in so far as the courts of this State are concerned. Blackwell v. Life Assn., 141 N. C., 117. See Modern Woodmen of Am. v. Mixer, 267 U. S., 544. In the present case the allegations of the complaint clearly bring the case under the jurisdiction of this State.\nThe only question now under consideration in this jurisdiction was there any evidence to support the finding of the jury on the following two issues: \u201c1. Did the defendant unreasonably, arbitrarily, and in want of good faith, reject plaintiff\u2019s claim for a monthly compensation on account of alleged permanent and total disability? Answer: 'Yes.\u2019 2. Is the plaintiff totally and permanently disabled? Answer : 'Yes.\u2019 \u201d\nWhat was the evidence succinctly, taking the circumstances: The plaintiff was not in arrears under the policy and had, on account of total and permanent disability, been receiving $75.00 a month since 1927. On 19 November, 1931, he agreed with defendant to release his rights under the Relief Department and receive $50.00 a month under the Disability Benefit. In March, 1933, plaintiff was cut off and required to furnish evidence of his total and permanent disability. The following witnesses testified to the effect that plaintiff was totally and permanently disabled: The plaintiff; Dr. D. R. Bryson, an expert and plaintiff\u2019s attending physician; Dr. A. O. Ambler, an expert who examined plaintiff at defendant\u2019s request. The Local Lodge\u2019s report to the General Secretary and Treasurer shows: \u201cWe beg to inform you that at a regular meeting of Lodge No. 455, held 23 May, Asheville, N. O., the above application for Disability Benefit Allowance of Brother Robert Cordell, of Lodge No. 455, was duly considered and approved.\u201d The International President disallowed the claim, and on appeal the Board of Directors also disallowed it. Dr. P. R. Bennett certified to defendant, at its request, \u201cthat he is totally disabled, and it is my opinion he always will be.\u201d On the trial, Dr. T. W. Folsom, an expert, testified: \u201cI think the plaintiff is permanently and totally disabled,\u201d and has been in that condition three and a half years. G. N. Denton, Financial Secretary of Blue Ridge Lodge, testified: \u201cI have observed his physical condition. He has been sick for the last 10 or 12 years to my knowledge and I, as an officer of the defendant, knew that.\u201d Dr. Charles Hartwell Cocke, an expert, testified: \u201cI would say that my opinion is, from the nature of the disabilities that I have observed in Mr. Cordell, that he has been continuously disabled and totally disabled from gainful occupation since I first knew him, in December, 1927.\u201d Plaintiff\u2019s wife\u2019s testimony is to like effect. The plaintiff was unable to travel to Ohio to appear in person before the committee which cut him off.\nThe testimony of Dr. Edward W. Schoenheit, the witness for defendant, was to the effect, \u201cI don\u2019t know whether I can give an exact answer as to what I found Mr. Cordell was suffering from in October and November, 1933; but I was asked to try to find a diagnosis at that time, whether or not he was suffering from active tuberculosis; whether or not tuberculosis was the cause of his present disability,\u201d etc.\nUnder the policy plaintiff was entitled to recover for total and permanent disability from engaging in any occupation, etc. Dr. Schoenheit was directed by defendant to diagnose \u201cWhether or not he was suffering from active tuberculosis; whether or not tuberculosis was the cause of his present disability.\u201d It would appear that defendant had the idea that if plaintiff did not have active tuberculosis plaintiff would be cut off, although he was totally and permanently disabled. This was not defendant's contract with plaintiff. It appears that all the positive evidence was to the effect that plaintiff was totally and permanently disabled under the provisions of the policy. Ur. Schoenheit\u2019s evidence was not to the point in controversy and negative evidence. It has been long settled in this jurisdiction that positive evidence is entitled to more weight than negative testimony. State v. Murray, 139 N. C., 540. The temporary holding of the position of justice of the peace is not material from the evidence. We think all the evidence shows \u201ca state of bodily incapacity.\u201d Gossett v. Ins. Co., ante, 152.\nNotwithstanding all the positive evidence, and, in fact, it may be conceded that all the evidence as to the total and permanent disability of plaintiff under the recovery clause was one way, the defendant\u2019s Board of Directors denied plaintiff\u2019s right for compensation under the policy. We think the matter was properly left to the jury. The charge of the court below to the jury was fair and impartial, applying the law to the facts. In fact, there was no exception and assignment of error to any part of the charge.\nThe second question presented: \u201cDid the court err in excluding the constitution of the defendant from the evidence?\u201d We think not. All the material parts of the constitution of the defendant that bore on the controversy were allowed to be introduced. The constitution, including index, is a book comprising 391 pages. At least, there was no prejudicial error.\n\u25a0 The third question presented: \u201cShould the recovery have been limited to the Disability Fund and the Disability Benefit Department of defendant organization?\u201d This action was against the defendant. It contended that it owed plaintiff nothing. Under his Beneficiary Certificate, the plaintiff did not sue a department of defendant, but the defendant. In fact, he could not sue a part of defendant\u2019s activities. Under the present judgment defendant can pay plaintiff out of its Disability Fund and the Disability Benefit Department. It is a matter of bookkeeping on the part of defendant. On the entire record, we see no prejudicial or reversible error.\nNo error.", "type": "majority", "author": "ClabksoN, J." }, { "text": "Stagy, C. J.,\ndissents on the ground that the evidence is not sufficient to go to the jury on the first issue. True, there was evidence before the General Secretary and Treasurer of defendant organization, and its International President and Board of Directors on appeal, to the effect that tbe plaintiff was totally and permanently disabled, as be claimed, but this, and tbis alone, does not warrant tbe finding of arbitrariness or mala fides on tbeir part. Nelson v. R. R., 157 N. C., 194, 72 S. E., 998; S. c., 167 N. C., 185, 83 S. E., 322. Furthermore, there was evidence to tbe contrary before these officials at tbe time they passed upon plaintiff\u2019s claim, as witness tbe following from certificate of Dr. E. W. Schoenheit, tbe last physician appointed to examine plaintiff: \u201cI cannot say that be is totally and permanently disabled.\u201d\nTo say that a jury or fact-finding body may be convicted of fraud simply because it selects out of conflicting evidence, or, at most, rejects tbe positive and accepts tbe negative testimony in a case, is to announce a doctrine at once new and novel in view of tbe many such verdicts rendered and upheld in tbis jurisdiction. Nor does tbe rule which attributes more weight to affirmative testimony go to tbis extent. Why admit negative testimony at all, if it is not to be accepted? S. v. Murray, 139 N. C., 540, 51 S. E., 775.", "type": "dissent", "author": "Stagy, C. J.," } ], "attorneys": [ "Edwards & Leatherwood for plaintiff.", "Johnsion & Horner for defendant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "ROBERT CORDELL v. BROTHERHOOD OF LOCOMOTIVE FIREMEN AND ENGINEMEN.\n(Filed 1 November, 1935.)\n1. Insurance E h: Contracts A i \u2014 Provision that decision of association\u2019s board should be final as to disability of member held void.\nA clause in the constitution and by-laws of a mutual benefit association that the decision of its board of directors shall be final on the question of whether a member is totally and permanently disabled within the meaning of its benefit certificate, as distinguished from a clause providing for payment of such benefits as may be awarded by its officers or tribunals, is void as being against public policy, and will not prevent a beneficiary under its certificate from bringing action in the courts for the unreasonable and arbitrary rejection of his claim for benefits under the terms of the certificate.\n2. Insurance E i: States A a \u2014 Policies for which application is taken in this State are governed by laws of this State.\nPolicies of insurance issued by foreign companies, the application for which is taken in this State, are to be construed in accordance with the laws of this State, and a provision in the policy that it should be governed by the laws of the State of the domicile of the insurer is void in so far as the courts of this State are concerned.\n8. Insurance R c\u2014\nWhere a policy provides certain benefits if insurer becomes totally and permanently disabled as defined in the policy, insurer may not escape liability by proof that insured was not suffering from a specific disabling disease, if insured is rendered disabled as defined in the policy by other ailments.\n4. Insurance E h. \u2014 Evidence that mutual benefit association arbitrarily rejected claim for disability benefits held for jury.\nPlaintiff member of defendant mutual benefit association was not in arrears in his dues, and bad, on account of total and permanent disability, been put on defendant\u2019s Belief Department and paid a stipulated sum monthly. Thereafter he agreed to release his rights under the Belief Department, and received disability benefits as prescribed in his certificate. Several years thereafter disability benefits were cut off, and he was required to furnish evidence of his total and permanent disability. Plaintiff furnished certificates of several physicians that he was totally and permanently disabled. Disability benefits were denied by defendant\u2019s board of directors. The constitution and by-laws of defendant provided that the decision of its board of directors should be final on the question of the existence of disability. Upon the trial of the action plaintiff introduced the testimony of several expert witnesses and several nonexpert witnesses that he was totally and permanently disabled as defined in the certificate, and defendant introduced some negative testimony that plaintiff was not so disabled. Held: The evidence was properly submitted to the jury on the issues of whether defendant\u2019s board of directors unreasonably, arbitrarily, and in want of good' faith, rejected plaintiff\u2019s claim, and whether plaintiff was totally and permanently disabled.\n5. Insurance P b\u2014\nThe exclusion of the constitution of defendant mutual benefit association from the evidence held not prejudicial, all material parts of the constitution bearing on the controversy having been admitted in evidence, and the constitution, including index, comprising several hundred pages.\n6. Insurance G e\u2014\nHeld: The refusal to limit the recovery of disability benefits to the Disability Department of defendant mutual benefit association was not error, defendant having the right under the judgment to pay plaintiff from its disability fund, and the matter being one of bookkeeping on the part of defendant.\n7. Evidence N b\u2014\nPositive evidence should be giyen more weight than negative evidence.\nStacy, O. J., dissenting.\nAppeal by defendant from Hill, Special Judge, and a jury, at January Term, 1935, of Swain.\nNo error.\nThis is an action brought by plaintiff against the defendant to recover the sum of $650.00, on account of monthly payments due from 1 April, 1933, to 1 May, 1934, under Beneficiary Certificate No. A-316839 of the series of 1907, issued by defendant to plaintiff on 12 June, 1922. The disability benefit for which recovery is sought in this action is set forth in the Constitution of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen (in effect on and after 1 January, 1932), sec. 23 (a), page 94: \u201cIn this Constitution of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, total and permanent disability shall he construed to mean sueb a state of bodily incapacity as shall wholly and permanently prevent a member from engaging in any occupation, profession, or business, or from performing or directing any work for remuneration or profit, but shall not include claims resulting solely from old age.\u201d\nThe plaintiff was 49 years of age. He was working on the railroad, running a switch-engine, and joined the defendant organization in 1915 or 1916. He is still a member and pays defendant $4.50 a month. Since December, 1927, the plaintiff, from the Relief Department, has been paid $75.00 a month for disability. On 30 September, 1931, he was a member in good standing of the Relief Department, and received notice that payment for disability was going to be discontinued. (Letter of A. Phillips, General .Secretary and Treasurer, 15 September, 1931.) On 19 November, 1931, he agreed with defendant to become a member of its Disability Benefit Department and release his rights to the Relief Department, and the defendant paid plaintiff $50.00 a month under the new arrangement until March, 1933, when plaintiff was cut off.\nThere is in Asheville, N. C., a local lodge of defendant, known as the Blue Ridge Lodge, No. 455. Plaintiff joined this lodge in Asheville and is in good standing. There are about 100 members in the lodge. The money is all collected in Asheville. When plaintiff was cut off on 20 May, 1933, he filed an application on blanks (as did the doctors) furnished by defendant \u201cto the members of Lodge 455,\u201d stating, \u201cI am totally and permanently disabled from engaging in any occupation, profession, or business, or from performing or directing any work for remuneration or profit on account of asthma and chronic bronchitis. . . . My last occupation or employment of any kind was engineer. . . . Q. Are you now totally disabled? Yes. Have you performed work of any nature for remuneration or profit since this disability was incurred? No.\u201d\nThe affidavit of Dr. D. R. Bryson, attending physician, states in part: \u201cI have carefully and thoroughly examined Robert Cordell, age 46, a member of Lodge 455 of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, and find as follows: Date and place of examination: 5/18/33, Bryson City, N. C. How long have you been his attending physician? At times for 5 years. . . . Date and cause of injury or onset of present illness \u2014 followed influenza in 1925. Date on which he was obliged by reason of injury or illness to give up all work \u2014 1927. What improvement, if any, has occurred since you first attended him? None. 'Total and permanent disability shall be construed to mean such a state of bodily incapacity as shall wholly and permanently prevent a member from engaging in any occupation, profession, or business, or from performing or directing any work for remuneration or profit, but shall not include claims resulting solely from old age.\u2019 In your opinion, is be totally and permanently disabled, as above defined? Yes. Do you believe be is able to engage in any of tbe duties of bis usual occupation ? No. Do you believe'be is able to engage in any occupation for at least part time? (Please explain fully.) Nothing in way of actual labor. If not, wben, in your opinion, will be be able to do so ? Indefinite.\u201d\nEeport of Dr. A. C. Ambler, examining physician: \u201cDate and place of examination, Asheville, N. 0., 15 June, 1933. Give below, under Eemarks, a complete statement of your examination, with an accurate \u25a0description of this claimant\u2019s condition as you found it upon examination, giving all tbe evidence, physical signs, available X-ray or laboratory findings, of illness or injury. Diagnosis? Bronchial asthma and broncbieetous. Are you able from this examination to confirm this diagnosis? If not, please explain? Yes. Do you believe be is able to engage in any of tbe duties of bis tisual occupation? No. Do you believe be is now able to engage in any work, either manual, clerical, sedentary, or directive nature, for at least part time? No. Please explain fully. Patient extremely short of breath and weak, slightly cyaustic, coughing and expectorating continuously. Expectoration muco purulent. Wben, in your opinion, did total disability begin? 1928. Wben, in your opinion, did total disability cease? Still disabled. If now totally disabled as defined above, please estimate tbe length of future total disability? Probably permanent. In your opinion, is be totally and permanently disabled as defined in above law? Yes. (This is set forth and is quoted before \u2014 Const., sec. 23 (a), p. 94, supra).\u201d\nOn this application of plaintiff, accompanied by tbe affidavits of tbe physicians, tbe local lodge made its report: \u201cEeport of tbe Local Lodge \u2014 To tbe General Secretary and Treasurer \u2014 We beg to inform you that at a regular meeting of Lodge No. 455, held 23 May, Asheville, N. 0., tbe above application for disability benefit allowance of Brother Eobert Cordell, of Lodge No. 455, was duly considered and approved. President 0. H. Bradshaw, Acting Eecording Secretary. T. J. Ledwell, Eec, Sec. (Lodge Seal.) (Application will not be approved by a local lodge unless sworn statements from tbe applicant and examining physician are completed.)\u201d\nOn 18 January, 1934, tbe International President disallowed tbe claim, and plaintiff appealed to tbe Board of Directors, who set a time for bearing. Tbe plaintiff sent certificate from Dr. P. E. Bennett that be was unable to travel, and also in tbe record is a certificate as follows: \u201cTo tbe Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, Cleveland, Ohio. This is to certify that I have examined and treated Bob Cordell, and find him suffering from chronic bronchial asthma in a severe form and also from intercostal neuritis, and I further certify that be is totally disabled, and it is my opinion be always will be. Yours respectfully, (Signed) P. E. Bennett, M. D.\u201d\nC. Y. McLaughlin, Acting General Secretary and Treasurer for defendant, wrote a letter to plaintiff directing him to present himself to Dr. Ambler for examination, which he did.\nOn 19 February, 1934, the Board of Directors, on appeal, disallowed the claim of plaintiff. Dr. T. W. Folsom, an expert, testified in part: \u201cI first treated him in 1931, soon after I came here. He is my patient now and has been continuously since 1931; however, he has seen other doctors in the meantime. It is rather difficult to say how frequently during that time I have treated Mr. Cordell; often here I would treat him for a week or two at a time, and then maybe he would go a week or so without treatment. It went along about that rate until now. At the present time he is residing in Asheville. I reside at Swannanoa; I have been called from Swannanoa to see Mr. Cordell since he has been in Asheville. I think the plaintiff is permanently and totally disabled; that is my opinion; in my opinion, he has been in that condition for three and a half years, that is as long as I have known him; I couldn\u2019t say beyond that. When I first examined him I found several conditions there, intermedial emplyseum, dilitation of the lung cells themselves; bronchitis, bronchial asthma, paroxysms, and chronic fibroid tuberculosis.\u201d\nG. N. Denton, for 16 years a member of Blue Ridge Lodge, No. 455, and Financial Secretary, testified in part: \u201cThe plaintiff is now paying his dues of $4.50 to the defendant. On 30 September, 1931, the plaintiff in this action was then a member and in good standing with the defendant. I have known the plaintiff in this action, Mr. Cordell, about 20 years, I guess. He at one time worked for some railroad company; I know that. Since 1927, and on up to the present time, I saw Mr. Cordell very often, I couldn\u2019t tell, but every month, anyway. I have observed his physical condition; he has been a very sick man. He has been sick for the last 10 or 12 years to my knowledge; and I, as an officer of the defendant, knew that.\u201d\nDr. Charles Hartwell Cocke, an expert, testified in part: \u201cI have seen him within the last three months. As I have not examined him for the last six weeks, I would not want to make any categorical statement, but from my knowledge and observation of him, I would feel that he is still totally incapacitated from gainful occupation. When I examined him within the last 3 months, I think he was then totally incapacitated from gainful occupation; that is my opinion; that he was at that time. I would say that my opinion is, from the nature of the disabilities that I have observed in Mr. Cordell, that he has been continuously disabled and totally disabled from gainful occupation since I first knew him, in December, 1927; because of the presence of advanced bilateral fibroid tuberculosis, with extensive emphysema and asthmatoid attacks resulting from tbe above, and from tbe numerous instances in wbicb I bave bad to attend bim for pulmonary hemorrhages resulting from tbe above disease.\u201d\nMrs. Eobert Cordell testified: \u201cMr. Cordell and I bave been married 22 years, I believe. For tbe last seven years, Mr. Cordell hasn\u2019t been able to work, what you say to work regularly, for a long time, I couldn\u2019t say just bow long; be has helped me what be could in tbe little business I would try to run; be would help at times and other times be couldn\u2019t help. I bave seen bim bave hemorrhages of tbe lungs; in October and November, 1934, very bad, be bad several. He bled and spit up blood, more than be does right now, but be does some now, but in those two months it was right bad. I should say be does cough. It is very difficult for bim to breathe. He doesn\u2019t sleep much, be doesn\u2019t bave much rest. I bave observed that condition for some several years. During all this period of time I bave described to tbe jury, be spends a good deal of bis time in bed.\u201d\nThe defendant bad Dr. Edward W. Scboenbeit to examine plaintiff. Tbe physician said: \u201cI don\u2019t know whether I can give an exact answer as to what I found Mr. Cordell was suffering from in October and November, 1933; but I was asked to try to find a diagnosis at that time, whether or not be was suffering from active tuberculosis; whether or not tuberculosis was tbe cause of bis present disability, or whether it was bronchietasis or bronchial asthma. My findings were that be bad an old healed \u2014 healed, so far as I could determine by examination at that time \u2014 at least inactive \u2014 pulmonary tuberculosis. He has profuse cough and expectoration, wbicb I thought might be due to tbe bronchietasis. Tbe X-ray did not reveal any evidence of this. Due to tbe fact that be bad those asthmatic attacks, I felt that tbe cause of tbe trouble at that time was bronchial asthma. In my own opinion, I did not find any evidence of activity at that time.\u201d\nIn a letter from tbe same physician on 21 November, 1933, be states, in regard to plaintiff: \u201cHe has numerous rales and squeaks throughout bis chest and is somewhat short of breath; he also has asthmatic attacks. I saw bim in one of these and administered adrenalin hypodermically.\u201d\nOn cross-examination, Dr. Folsom testified in part: \u201cI know about bim being elected justice of the peace out here. I have an opinion about whether or not be could sit in his office and take affidavits and handle matters which a justice of tbe peace ordinarily bandies; my opinion is that bis physical and mental condition would not permit it. ... I know that on account of the plaintiff\u2019s physical condition he couldn\u2019t hold tbe office of justice of the peace, and resigned.\u201d\nTbe plaintiff alleged in his complaint: That defendant has arbitrarily, unreasonably, and unlawfully and fraudulently refused to pay plaintiff the aforesaid sum of $50.00 per month, and has arbitrarily, unreasonably, wrongfully, and unlawfully refused to carry out and perform the terms of the aforesaid contract and the terms and conditions of said Constitution in effect 1 January, 1932, and plaintiff\u2019s said Beneficiary Certificate. That plaintiff has exhausted all remedies he has by appeal provided by the laws of the defendant Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, and has given the General Secretary and Treasurer of defendant thirty (30) days\u2019 notice in writing of his intention to bring this action.\nThe issues submitted to the jury and their answers thereto were as follows:\n\u201c(1) Did the defendant unreasonably, arbitrarily, and in want of good faith, reject plaintiff\u2019s claim for a monthly compensation on account of alleged permanent and total disability? Answer: \u2018Yes.\u2019\n\u201c(2) Is the plaintiff totally and permanently disabled? Answer: \u2018Yes.\u2019\n\u201c(3) Is the plaintiff entitled to receive from the defendant $50.00 per month on account of said total and permanent disability, as alleged ? Answer: \u2018Yes.\u2019\n\u201c(4) In what amount, if any, is the defendant indebted to the plaintiff? Answer: \u2018$650.00.\u2019\u201d\nThe court below rendered judgment on the verdict. The defendant made numerous exceptions and assignments of error, and appealed to the Supreme Court. The material ones and other necessary facts will be considered in the opinion.\nEdwards & Leatherwood for plaintiff.\nJohnsion & Horner for defendant." }, "file_name": "0632-01", "first_page_order": 698, "last_page_order": 709 }