United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Hartford Life Ins. Co. v. Douds, 261 U.S. 476 (1923)

Hartford Life Insurance Company v. Douds

Nos. 265 and 271

Argued March 7, 1923

Decided April 9, 1923

261 U.S. 476

Syllabus

1. The lack of power in a state court to interfere in the management of an insurance company of another state or to control the discretion of its officers does not deprive it of jurisdiction to render a pecuniary judgment, in an action by an insured to recover amounts collected through assessments exceeding the maxima specified in the contract of insurance. P. 261 U. S. 478.

So held where the company appeared and contested the jurisdiction upon the ground that the proceedings involved its internal affairs and the validity of its action relative to its Safety Fund Department, over which matters the courts of its domicile had exclusive jurisdiction, and that the enforcement of the judgment would deprive it of property without due process of law. Hartford Life Ins. Co. v. Ibs, 237 U. S. 662, distinguished.

103 Ohio St. 398, 433, affirmed.

Page 261 U. S. 477

Certiorari to judgments of the Supreme Court of Ohio affirming judgments against the insurance company in actions by the respondents to recover money paid under excessive assessments.