Collins v. Nationwide Life Insurance

282 N.W.2d 8, 90 Mich. App. 399, 1979 Mich. App. LEXIS 2172

• Court: Michigan Court of Appeals
• Decided: May 22, 1979
• Docket: Docket 78-5527
• Status: Published

Opinions

On Remand

D. C. Riley, J.

The Michigan Supreme Court has reversed our original determination of this matter and remanded the case to us for a resolution of whether injury or death resulting from voluntary intoxication can constitute an "accidental injury or death”.

Upon consideration of the issue, we approve and adopt the majority rule that a death or injury is accidental only if the agency effecting the death or injury can be termed accidental, that is, unexpected, unanticipated and unforeseen, irrespective of whether the result so qualifies. See, e.g., Perry v Aetna Life Ins Co of Connecticut, 380 SW2d 868 (Tex Civ App, 1964), Murphy v Western & Southern Life Ins Co, 262 SW2d 340 (Mo App, 1953). See also, Wells v Prudential Ins Co of America, 3 Mich App 220, 226-227; 142 NW2d 57 (1968), lv den 378 Mich 728 (1966). Pursuant to this standard, decedent’s voluntary acts of intoxication which resulted in a reasonably foreseeable consequence was not "accidental”.

Reversed and remanded for reinstatement of the district court’s original judgment.

Costs to defendant.

J. H. Gillis, J., concurred.