Minnesota Commercial Men’s Assn. v. Benn, 261 U.S. 140 (1923)

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Minnesota Commercial Men’s Association v. Benn


No. 103


Argued January 12, 1923
Decided February 19, 1923
261 U.S. 140

CERTIORARI TO THE SUPREME COURT
OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA

Syllabus

1. A judgment by default rendered against a foreign corporation on process served on a state officer as its agent, in a state in which it has done no business, nor otherwise consented to be so served, is void. P. 145.

2. Upon facts stated, held:

(a) That a contract of insurance made between a mutual insurance company and a person domiciled in another state, through acceptance at the company’s home office of an application received by mail, was a contract made and to be performed in the the company’s domicile; and

(b) That the company could not be said to be doing business in the other state merely because one or more of its members, at its suggestion but without authority to obligate it, solicited new members there, or because it insured persons living there, mailed notices to them, and paid losses by checks upon its home bank, mailed from its home office. P. 144.

149 Minn. 497 reversed.

Certiorari to a judgment of the Supreme Court of Minnesota affirming a judgment recovered by the respondent against the petitioner in an action based on a Montana judgment.