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Brown v. Posin

United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
Nov 11, 1960
284 F.2d 300 (4th Cir. 1960)

Summary

In Posin, 183 F. Supp. at 386, Judge Watkins stated that it was the plain purpose of the statute "to encourage men to insure their lives for the benefit of their families."

Summary of this case from IN RE RIEF

Opinion

No. 8154.

Argued November 7, 1960.

Decided November 11, 1960.

Edward L. Genn, Washington, D.C. (Benjamin B. Brown, Silver Spring, Md., on brief), for appellant.

J. Martin McDonough, Baltimore, Md. (Wm. Holland Wilmer, II, and Piper Marbury, Baltimore, Md., on brief), for appellee.

Before SOBELOFF, Chief Judge, SOPER, Circuit Judge, and BRYAN, District Judge.


This appeal relates to the exemptions allowable to a bankrupt. Maryland Law is here controlling, and the answer depends upon the proper interpretation of a Maryland statute and the Maryland Constitution. The District Court held that Article 48A, section 166, of the Maryland Code (1957) applies. This statute exempts the cash surrender value, without limitation, of life insurance policies made for the benefit of or assigned to the wife or children or other dependent relative of the debtor. The court held this statute valid and not in conflict with section 44 of Article III of the Constitution of Maryland, which limits to $500 the amount of a debtor's property which the legislature may exempt from execution.

For the reasons stated in the able opinion of the District Court, reported in 183 F. Supp. 380, the judgment below is

Affirmed.


Summaries of

Brown v. Posin

United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
Nov 11, 1960
284 F.2d 300 (4th Cir. 1960)

In Posin, 183 F. Supp. at 386, Judge Watkins stated that it was the plain purpose of the statute "to encourage men to insure their lives for the benefit of their families."

Summary of this case from IN RE RIEF

In Posin, 183 F. Supp. at 386, it was held that a debtor's exemption of the cash surrender value of life insurance policies as provided for by the statute quoted above was not limited to the amount of $500 imposed by the Maryland Constitution on exemptions from execution.

Summary of this case from IN RE RIEF

In Posin, 183 F. Supp. at 386, Judge Watkins stated that it was the plain purpose of the statute "to encourage men to insure their lives for the benefit of their families."

Summary of this case from IN RE RIEF

In Posin, 183 F. Supp. at 386, it was held that a debtor's exemption of the cash surrender value of life insurance policies as provided for by the statute quoted above was not limited to the amount of $500 imposed by the Maryland Constitution on exemptions from execution.

Summary of this case from IN RE RIEF
Case details for

Brown v. Posin

Case Details

Full title:Benjamin B. BROWN, Trustee in Bankruptcy of the estate of Hyman R. Posin…

Court:United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit

Date published: Nov 11, 1960

Citations

284 F.2d 300 (4th Cir. 1960)

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As was stated by the Fourth Circuit, Maryland law is controlling with respect to the exemptions allowable to…

IN RE RIEF

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