Matheson v. Iowa State Traveling Men's Ass'n

180 Iowa 1019
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedSeptember 22, 1917
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 180 Iowa 1019 (Matheson v. Iowa State Traveling Men's Ass'n) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Matheson v. Iowa State Traveling Men's Ass'n, 180 Iowa 1019 (iowa 1917).

Opinion

Preston, J.

ciaentANinsur-ac’ constitutes tac-. aence:' suffiCÍGBCV. Plaintiff alleges that he became a member of defendant association February 11, 1913, and a copy of his certificate of membership and a copy of the * articles of incorporation and by-laws referred to therein are made a part of the petition; that such exhibits and application constitute the contract between the plaintiff and defendant; that, on September 27, 1913, in the state of California, and while plaintiff was in good standing in defendant association, he sustained bodily in[1021]*1021juries through external, violent and accidental means, as follows: While plaintiff was riding in his buggy, the horse became suddenly frightened, and turned the buggy quickly, causing plaintiff to be thrown against the iron frame of the buggy, and to strike his left eye against the frame. He further alleges that he did not then know he had received any injury which would result in any impairment in the sight of his eye; that he immediately consulted a physician and was advised that no injury had been done to the eye, and that plaintiff would not be incapacitated as a result of the injury; that, on January 29, [12] 1914, the same physician advised-plaintiff that he Avould totally lose the sight of said eye, and as a result of said injury, plaintiff has totally lost the sight of his eye; that, within 15 days from the time plaintiff had knowledge that said accident Avould result in the impairment of his sight, he notified defendant in writing of said accident and the injury therefrom; that one of the by-laavu of defendant association provides, “or if such injuries shall result in the loss within 90 days from the date of said injury of the entire sight of one eye, the member shall receive as indemnity the sum of $1,250.” Plaintiff further alleged that at the date of his injury, and at the time of the discovery of the same, he had lost the sight of his eye, and was therefore entitled to $1,250; that plaintiff has demanded (the compensation provided in the contract, but that defendant has failed and refused, aiid uoav refuses, to pay any part thereof; that, by reason of the said acts of injury resulting therefrom, and by reason of his membership in said association, said sum is due plaintiff.

For answer, defendant denied all allegations of the petition; denied that plaintiff ever furnished any notice of injury or proof of loss or disabilty within the time and in the manner and form provided in the by-laws, and that by reason thereof, there is no liability on the part of de[1022]*1022fendant. For further answer, defendant alleged that, if plaintiff sustained bodily injuries as alleged, they were not sustained through external, violent and accidental means. Afterwards, and by way of amendment to answer, and over plaintiff’s objection, defendant stated that it was provided in the contract sued on that:

“No action of any kind or character shall be commenced in any court against the association to recover any benefit or indemnity provided for in this article unless the same shall be commenced within twelve months after the cause of action accrues, and after said period all liability of this association to such member, beneficiary or heirs for indemnity and benefits on account of such injuries shall cease and end.”

Defendant charged at the time of the commencement of this action that more than 12 months had elapsed after the cause of action therein had accrued, and that, by reason of all the foregoing, there was no liability. As to the nature of the injury and the effects of it, after stating how it occurred, plaintiff, as a witness, says: [1023]*1023or so after tlie accident first occurred. I am now convinced and state the fact to be, that the eyesight was totally, completely and absolutely destroyed when it disappeared within an hour or so of the accident. When the three months’ period treatment was up, I returned to Dr. Thomas and he then made an' examination, and informed me that the eyesight was totally, absolutely and forever destroyed, and that the eye was totally and absolutely blind.”

[1022]*1022“A swelling immediately arose. In a few moments I realized that I could not see out of that ej^e. I called upon Dr. Thomas. Within an hour or so after the accident occured, the sight returned to the left eye for a few seconds and then disappeared again, and has never returned since that time. I explained all these facts to Dr. Thomas, and he advised me to use hot and cold compress treatment, in the hope that the sight would be restored. Dr. Thomas explained to me, on my first visit, on September 29, 1913, that it would take three months’ treatment to accomplish the desired result. During all that time I applied the hot and cold compresses two or three times a day, and during all that time I was not able to see out of the eye. I had no sight in that eye from the time the injury was received, except a few moments that sight returned within an hour

[1023]*1023Plaintiff testifies that he followed the treatment which the doctor had prescribed with the hope that, as Dr. Thomas had advised him, the sight might be restored, and that the first time the doctor advised him that the sight was gone was on January 12, 1914. He says the reason he did not notify defendant of the injury until after January 12, 1914, was because he relied upon the statements of the doctor that the loss of his eyesight might be restored if he followed the treatment. Plaintiff further testifies:

“My understanding of the condition of my left eye after the injury and at the time of my consultation with Dr. Thomas was this: The sight of the eye was gone at that time, but there was a hope that this was only temporary, and that the hot and cold compress treatment might restore the sight. Having this hope, I consented to follow the prescribed treatment and did follow the same, but without successful result. The first time that I knew for certain that the eyesight was absolutely and forever gone,' was when I visited Dr. Thomas, January 12, 1914. Before that time I knew, of course, that I could not see out of the eye, but I was in hopes that this absence of sight was only temporary', and that the treatment would restore the sight. I discovered the loss of my eyesight immediately after the accident, but the sight returned in an hour or two after the accident, but only for a few moments, and then disappeared. I became totally blind .in the left eye within an hour or two after the accident. [1024]*1024which occurred September 27, 1913. I know now that I was totally blind in the left eye within an hour or so after 1he accident occurred, but I did not realize this until Dr. Thomas made his examination, January 12, 1914.”

Plaintiff further states that, after the doctor advised him that his eyesight was gone, he notified defendant, ana accordingly mailed a letter or notice to defendant February 18, 1914, as follows:

“Oakland, Cal., February 18, 1914.
“Towa State Traveling Men’s Association,
“Mr. A. W. Rader, Secretary,
“Des Moines, Iowa.
“Dear Sir: The undersigned, James Lowe Christie Matheson, notifies you as follows : That I am the holder of certificate of membership No. 84467, of your association.

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Bluebook (online)
180 Iowa 1019, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/matheson-v-iowa-state-traveling-mens-assn-iowa-1917.