Borneman v. John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance

263 A.D. 1068, 34 N.Y.S.2d 377, 1942 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 8089

• Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
• Decided: March 27, 1942
• Status: Published

Opinion

Judgment and order of the Special Term reversed on the law and judgment of the Buffalo City Court affirmed, with costs in all courts. All concur, except Harris, J., who dissents and votes for affirmance of the Special Term in the following memorandum: The policy in question is to be construed in the light most favorable to the insured and the burden of establishing the facts necessary to support the defense based on the exception “ * * * nor shall any such benefit be payable if death results, directly or indirectly, or wholly or partially * * * from injuries intentionally inflicted on the Insured by any person, while sane or insane * * * ” is on the defendant. The facts here do not come within the limits of such exception. The injury that caused the death.of the insured was the fracture of the skull. There is no proof to sustain a finding of fact that such fracture of the skull was intentionally inflicted and without such proof the defense based on the exception falls. In the light of other language of the policy it appears the meaning of the language in the exception in reference to death from injuries intentionally inflicted is that such injuries come as a result of fault or negligence on part of the insured. Of this there is no proof here. (The judgment and order reverse a judgment of the Buffaló City Court for the defendant in an action by the beneficiary to recover the accidental death benefit under a double indemnity rider on a life insurance policy.) Present — Crosby, P. J., Cunningham, Taylor, Dowling and Harris, JJ.