Harp v. United States

2 F. Supp. 32, 1932 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1578
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. Arkansas
DecidedFebruary 5, 1932
DocketNos. 1581, 1573, 1576, 1571, 1568, 1565, 1547, 1534
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 2 F. Supp. 32 (Harp v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Arkansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Harp v. United States, 2 F. Supp. 32, 1932 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1578 (W.D. Ark. 1932).

Opinion

YOUMANS, District Judge.

This is a suit by plaintiff upon a war risk insurance policy. He alleges that he enlisted in the United States Army on the 30th day of October, 1917, and that he was honorably discharged on the 14th of February, 1919. He also alleges that, while he was in the military service and while his insurance policy was in full force and effect, he became permanently and totally disabled.

On December 30, 1931, the United States attorney, for the defendant, filed a motion to require the plaintiff to make his complaint more definite and certain, with reference to the denial of his claim, and to require him to exhibit and file the letter evidencing such denial. On December 31, 1931, the plaintiff, without waiting for a decision upon that motion, filed an amendment to his complaint and set out therein the letters which he alleged constituted the denial. A letter dated October 21, 1931, reads as follows:

“Mr. Edward L. Harp, Van Burén, Arkansas.

“Dear Sir: This is with further reference to the above entitled claim. You are informed that a decision lias been rendered by the Insurance Claims Council to the effect that the evidence is not sufficient to establish as a fact that the former insured was totally and permanently disabled at a time when the contract of insurance was in force, and therefore the claim has been denied.

“The claimant may a.ppeal from the decision to the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs by giving notice in writing to this office within sixty days from date of this letter. If claim is not appealed within the time limit, the council’s decision will be referred for approval to the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs. By direction,

“[Signed] H. L. McCoy, “Director of Insurance.”

Another letter dated November 16, 1931, reads as follows:

“Dear Sir: This is with further refer-

ence to the above entitled claim. Yon have been informed that a decision was rendered on October 13,1931, by the Insurance Claims Council to the effect that the evidence is not sufficient to establish as a fact that the former insured was totally and permanently disabled at a time when the contract of insurance was in force and therefore the claim has been denied.

“You may consider such denial final for the purposes of instituting suit under section 19 of the World War Veterans Act, 1924, as amended.

“If you accept the denial of the claim by the Council a,s final, the suspension of the statute of limitations provided by section 19 shall cease from and after the date of this letter pins the number of days usually required by the Post Office Department for the transmission of regular mail from Washington, D. C. to your last address of record.

“Your ease folder is being forwarded to the Veterans Administration at Little Rock, Arkansas. Any further inquiries concerning your claim should be directed to that office. The letter forwarded to you under date of October 21, 1931, is amended accordingly.

“By direction,

“[Signed] II. L. McCoy, “Director of Insurance.”

In reply to the foregoing letter the plaintiff sent the following letter :

“Mr. H. L. McCoy, Director of Insurance, Veterans’ Administration, Washington, D. C.

“Dear Sir: You are hereby notified that pursuant to the notice under date of November 16, 1931, received from you, of the final denial of my claim for insurance benefits by the Insurance Claims Council on the ground that the evidence is not sufficient to establish as a fact that I was totally and permanently disabled at a lime when the contract of insurance was in force, I hereby accept in accordance with your suggestion such denial as final for the purpose of instituting [34]*34suit under section 19 of the World War Veterans Act, 1924, as amended.

“We are forwarding a copy of this letter to the Veterans Administration, Little Rock, Arkansas, in accordance with your suggestion that future communications concerning my claim be addressed to that office.

“Edward L. Harp, “By Theron Agee, His Attorney.”

On January 27, 1932, the United States attorney filed a special plea and motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction, which, omitting caption and signature, reads as follows:

“Comes the above named defendant, by its attorney, and for special plea and motion to dismiss the above action states:

“That the original complaint was filed herein December 24, 1931, and amendment to the complaint was filed December 31, 1931, in which it is alleged that claim for insurance benefits was made by plaintiff on the 14th of May, 1931. That said claim was refused and denied under date of October 21, 1931, by a letter addressed to plaintiff and purporting to have been signed b3r H. L. McCoy, Director of Insurance, Veterans Administration, Washington, D. C.

“That said denial is not sufficient to constitute a disagreement in this action, or to give the court jurisdiction to hear and determine said cause of action. That there has never been any denial of any claim by the plaintiff for insurance benefits by the Director of the Veterans Bureau or Administrator of Veterans. Affairs, or by any one acting in the name of said Director on an appeal to him. Therefore, there is no disagreement as provided by law.

s “Wherefore, defendant moves that plaintiff’s cause of action be dismissed for the want of jurisdiction in this court to hear and determine same.”

The Act of May 29, 1928 (45 Stat. 964), made no statement with reference to disagreement. Section 19 of the Act of June 7,1924 (U. S. Stat., vol. 43, p. 612), contains the following provision': “In the event of disagreement as to claim under a contract of insurance between the bureau and any beneficiary or beneficiaries thereunder an action on the claim may be brought against the United States either in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia or in the district court of the United States in and for the district in which such beneficiaries or any one of them resides.”

The foregoing section was amended by the Act of March 4,1925, § 2 (43 U. S. Stat. 1302) to read as follows: “In the event of disagreement as to claim under a contract of insurance between the Bureau and any person or persons claiming thereunder an action on the claim may be brought against the United States either in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia or in the District Court of the United States in and for the district in which such persons or any one of them resides, and jurisdiction is hereby conferred upon such courts to hear and determine all such controversies.” '

See, also, section 445, title 38, U. S. C. (38 USCA § 445).

That section was further amended by the Act of July 3, 1930 (U. S. Stat. 1929-1930, vol. 46, p. 992, § 4 [38 USCA § 445]) to read as follows: “In the event of disagreement as to claim, including claim for refund of premiums, under a contract of insurance between the bureau and any person or persons claiming thereunder an action on the claim may be brought against the United States either in the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia or in the district court of the United States in and for the district in which such persons or any one of them resides, and jurisdiction is hereby conferred upon such courts to hear and determine all such controversies.”

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Albek v. United States
4 F. Supp. 1020 (E.D. New York, 1933)

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Bluebook (online)
2 F. Supp. 32, 1932 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1578, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/harp-v-united-states-arwd-1932.