Armes v. Missouri Ins. Co.

263 S.W.2d 873, 1954 Mo. App. LEXIS 207
CourtMissouri Court of Appeals
DecidedJanuary 19, 1954
DocketNo. 28764
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 263 S.W.2d 873 (Armes v. Missouri Ins. Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Missouri Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Armes v. Missouri Ins. Co., 263 S.W.2d 873, 1954 Mo. App. LEXIS 207 (Mo. Ct. App. 1954).

Opinion

ANDERSON, Presiding Judge.

This is an action on two policies of life insurance which were issued by the defendant, Missouri Insurance Company, to Roy W. Armes, deceased. Plaintiff, Thelma Armes, widow of the deceased, sues as beneficiary named in the policies. There was a verdict and judgment below for plaintiff. From this judgment, defendant has appealed.

The policies were issued on October 11, 1948. Each policy provided for a death benefit in the sum of $500, and a like sum in addition upon receipt of due proof that insured’s death was the result of bodily injury sustained through accidental means.

Insured died September 24, 1950, as the result of gunshot wounds inflicted by a person unknown. Thereafter, plaintiff made claim under the policies. Upon receipt of this claim, defendant issued and forwarded to plaintiff a check for $1,020.16, being the amount of the ordinary death benefit provided by said policies, plus the sum of $20.16, being a premium refund due at the time. Plaintiff refused to accept this check and returned it to defendant. Plaintiff’s refusal was based on the contention that she was entitled to an additional $1000 under the double indemnity provision of the policies. Thereafter, defendant denied liability for any amounts under the policies, on the ground that said policies were void by reason of misrepresentation by the insured as to the nature of his occupation.

Plaintiff’s petition was in conventional form, alleging the issuance of said policies, the death of insured by accidental means, and a demand and refusal to pay.

By way of affirmative defense, defendant pleaded that the policies were applied for and delivered in Illinois and were subject to the law of Illinois. It was then alleged that:

“(b) Roy W. Armes, as insured under the two above mentioned insurance policies, represented to defendant in his insurance application that his occupation was an ‘Athletic Director’, when in truth and fact that was not his occupation then or thereafter, but that his occupation consisted of the operation of certain gaming and gam[875]*875bling rooms, together with other attendant enterprises.
“(c) Defendant relied upon said application, containing the statements, answers, and representations aforesaid and approved said application and issued its policies aforesaid on October 11, 1948. Had defendant known the true facts it would not have issued the policies herein involved, and said facts were material to the acceptance of the risk and substantially increased the hazards of the event insured against, namely, the death of said insured, Roy W. Armes.
“(d) By virtue of the facts and misrepresentations aforesaid and under the provisions of Chapter 73, Section 766 (Illinois Revised Statutes 1949) said policies were voidable and were so declared by the defendant.
“8. And by way of further answer, defendant states that Roy W. Armes, insured aforesaid, did willfully, intentionally, and fraudulently deceive defendant by concealing from defendant the fact that he was engaged in an occupation different from that so stated to defendant and by falsely, fraudulently, and intentionally stating to defendant that he was engaged in an occupation different from that which he, in truth and in fact, was then and thereafter engaged, all for the purpose of causing defendant to issue said policies of insurance as aforesaid, and that defendant, in relying upon said statements and concealments of the insured aforesaid, caused said policies to be issued, and that because of said deceptions, concealment and fraudulent statements, said insurance policies never became binding contracts and were and are wholly void and of no effect, and defendant makes tender of the full •return of premiums paid upon said policies in the amount of $135.52, with interest, to abide the orders of this court.”

Plaintiff, in her reply, denied each and every allegation of the affirmative defense set up by defendant in its answer. By said reply it was further averred that defendant did not attach to said policies a copy of insured’s application therefor, and. for that reason, under Section 766 of Chapter 73 Illinois Revised Statutes, defendant, was precluded from availing itself of its affirmative defense.

The applications for the policies were dated September 28, 1948, and were signed by the insured. In both said applications insured stated that his occupation was “Athletic Director”. Plaintiff testified that the applications were signed by her husband in Herrin, Illinois, and that the policies were delivered to insured in Herrin. She further stated that her husband was on September 28, 1948, director of the Her-rin Recreation and Athletic Club located at 207 North Park Avenue in Herrin, Illinois, and that he received no compensation except in his capacity as athletic director of said club.

The Herrin Recreation and Athletic Club, Inc., is a corporation organized under the laws of Illinois June 3, 1947. Its certificate of incorporation shows that it was organized under the “general Not For Profit Corporation Act” of the State of Illinois. The purposes for which the corporation was organized, as recited in the articles of incorporation attached to the certificate of incorporation were: “the establishment and operation of a social and athletic club for the mutual social intercourse and benefit of its members in social, recreational and athletic activities to be engaged in at its club-rooms and headquarters in said city of Her-rin and at such other place or places in Williamson County, Illinois, as may be determined upon by its members or directors from time to time.”

Insured was shot September 24, 1950-, and died shortly thereafter. James Scott was with him at the time. The shooting took place late at night, in front of the Russo Night Club in Herrin. Scott and insured were at the time in an automobile preparing to leave the premises. Scott testified that during the time he was with insured that night the latter had no trouble with [876]*876anyone, and that he did not know who the persons were who fired the shots.

Appellant’s first complaint is that the court erred in excluding’ evidence of insured’s occupation at the time he made application for the policies. The assignment does not specifically point out the evidence excluded, the court’s rulings, or the offers of proof made. However, we have searched the. record and have found that the court excluded certain evidence offered by defendant in support of its affirmative defense, which is apparently the basis of appellant’s complaint. By this evidence defendant sought to show that insured’s occupation was that of gambler, in addition to being an athletic director. The first attempt along this line was when plaintiff was on the stand. On cross-examination plaintiff was asked the following question:

“Q. Do you, of your own knowledge, know whether your husband was engaged in any gambling activities as a means of livelihood?”

An objection to this question was sustained by the court, whereupon the following offer of proof was made by defendant’s counsel.

“Mr. Gaebe: If permitted to answer, the witness would testify as follows: That the insured was a gambler, in addition to his occupation as athletic director, at the time the applications were signed by the insured; and, that these answers are material and relevant, and within the witness’s own knowledge.”

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Bluebook (online)
263 S.W.2d 873, 1954 Mo. App. LEXIS 207, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/armes-v-missouri-ins-co-moctapp-1954.