Haney v. Old Equity Insurance

295 N.E.2d 828, 156 Ind. App. 212, 1973 Ind. App. LEXIS 1109
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 14, 1973
DocketNo. 1-1272A113
StatusPublished

This text of 295 N.E.2d 828 (Haney v. Old Equity Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Haney v. Old Equity Insurance, 295 N.E.2d 828, 156 Ind. App. 212, 1973 Ind. App. LEXIS 1109 (Ind. Ct. App. 1973).

Opinion

Robertson, P.J.

This is an action by plaintiff-appellant (William K. Haney) as the administrator of the estate of Jessie M. Haney, deceased, to recover benefits under an insurance policy entitled as a “Lifetime Income Protection Policy,” issued by defendant-appellee (Old Equity) to the decedent. The cause was tried without a jury and upon conclusion of plaintiff’s evidence the court sustained defendant’s motion to dismiss the complaint, and entered judgment for defendant. Plaintiff’s motion to correct errors, which was overruled, alleges that the court’s decision in sustaining the motion to dismiss was contrary to the evidence and contrary to law.

The insurance policy in question was issued to Jessie M. Haney, the plaintiff's mother, on March 15,1950, and remained in effect continuously until December 18, 1961, when the insured died, according to the testimony of plaintiff, a licensed physician, as the result of an embolism caused by a fractured humerus. The diagnosis as to the cause of death was confirmed by two other physicians. Dr. Haney also testified that [214]*214the insured was involved in an automobile accident nine to ten days prior to death and that in his opinion the accident caused the fractured humerus and ultimately death.

The named beneficiary of the Old Equity policy was Fred J. Haney, the insured’s husband, who predeceased Jessie Haney, leaving Dr. Haney as the sole surviving heir. The policy provided, among other things, payment of benefits for accidental injuries resulting in loss of life, limb, sight or time. The principal sum of the policy and the amount payable upon accidental death was $2,500, with an annual death benefit increase of ten per cent, not to exceed one hundred per cent, for each year the renewal premium was paid in advance. In the standard provisions section of the policy it was further provided that:

“No action at law or in equity shall be brought to recover on this policy prior to the expiration of sixty days after proof of loss has been filed in accordance with the requirements of this policy, nor shall such action be brought at all unless brought within two years from the expiration of the time within which proof of loss is required by the policy.”

Within approximately thirty days after the insured’s death, Dr. Haney notified Old Equity of his mother’s death and requested and received the appropriate claim forms, which he filled out and returned as proof of loss. Dr. Haney filed the claim as the sole surviving heir of the insured. Thereafter, Dr. Haney received a check for $53.34, payable to the estate of Jessie M. Haney, from Old Equity, with an accompanying letter stating that the $53.34 was in complete settlement of the claim. The letter further represented that the insurance company admitted liability only for the insured’s disability prior to death, and that under the terms of the policy the accidental death provision did not apply in this case. The check was returned to Old Equity who, in turn, returned it to Dr. Haney. On March 5, 1969, Dr. Haney was appointed personal representative for the estate of Jessie Haney, and on that same date he filed suit in this cause against Old Equity. [215]*215The reason Dr. Haney delayed so long in bringing this action, according to his testimony, was that he relied on the language printed on the back of the policy which he read to mean that it would not be necessary to employ an attorney to pursue the claim and that the situation could not be considered “pressing.” The language referred to is printed in bold-faced type on the back of the policy, and reads:

“IT IS UNNECESSARY to employ any person, firm, or corporation in collecting any of the benefits of this Policy. Communicate with the Home Office or the Agency, whose duty it is to serve without charge.”

Also printed on the back of the policy in bold-faced type is the language “READ YOUR POLICY.” Dr. Haney admitted that he did not read the standard provision which stipulated that any action on the policy must be brought within two years from the expiration of the time within which proof of loss is required by the policy (90 days from such loss).

While the trial court's judgment is not supported by any findings of fact or conclusions of law which would indicate upon what basis it made its decision, it would, nonetheless, appear that the court determined that the action should be dismissed because Dr. Haney failed to bring suit within the two year time period required in the policy. It would further appear that the court determined that the time limitation provision was valid and that the language on the back of the policy did not excuse Dr. Haney from bringing his cause of action within the stipulated time.

It is argued on appeal by Dr. Haney that the two year time limitation in the Old Equity policy violates IC 27-1-12-18, Ind. Ann. Stat. § 39-4207 (Burns 1965 Repl.) which provides that no life insurance policy shall limit the time within which any action may be commenced to less than three years after the cause of action shall accrue. It is further urged that because the two year limitation is void and thus the policy contains no time limitation, then IC 34-1-2-2, Ind. Ann. Stat. § 2-602 (Burns 1967 Repl.) is applicable which requires that [216]*216actions upon written contracts for the payment of money shall be commenced within ten years after the cause of action has accrued.

We are not persuaded by the arguments advanced on behalf of Dr. Haney that the Old Equity policy is a life insurance policy. To the contrary, we think the policy more correctly falls under the category of a health and accident policy, and as such was subject to the provisions of Ind. Ann. Stat. § 39-4306 (Burns 1940 Repl.)1 which the legislature made applicable to policies of insurance “against loss or damage from sickness, or the bodily injury or death of the insured by accident.” It is clear from the foregoing language that the legislature intended Burns § 39-4306 to apply to the type of policy issued to Jessie Haney by Old Equity. Burns § 39-4306 further provided that every such policy shall contain a standard provision limiting the time within which suit may be brought upon the policy as follows:

“No action at law or in equity shall be brought to recover on this policy prior to the expiration of sixty [60] days after proof of loss has been filed in accordance with the requirements of this policy, nor shall action be brought at all unless brought within two [2] years from the expiration of the time within which proof of loss is required by the policy.”

The time limitation provision, as heretofore set out, in the Old Equity is in verbatim conformity with the foregoing standard provision requirements of Burns § 39-4306, and as such was correctly found to be valid by the trial court.

Dr. Haney’s next argument relates to the language in boldfaced type on the back of the policy which reads:

“IT IS UNNECESSARY to employ any person, firm or corporation in collecting any of the benefits of this policy. Communicate with the Home Office or the Agency, whose duty it is to serve without charge.”

[217]*217It is contended that this language induced Dr. Haney to not consider his pursuance of the claim as a “pressing” matter, and thereby resulting in his failure to bring a legal action on the policy within the applicable time limitation period. Dr.

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Bluebook (online)
295 N.E.2d 828, 156 Ind. App. 212, 1973 Ind. App. LEXIS 1109, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/haney-v-old-equity-insurance-indctapp-1973.