New York Life Insurance v. Block

12 Ohio C.C. 224
CourtOhio Circuit Courts
DecidedJanuary 15, 1898
StatusPublished

This text of 12 Ohio C.C. 224 (New York Life Insurance v. Block) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Circuit Courts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
New York Life Insurance v. Block, 12 Ohio C.C. 224 (Ohio Super. Ct. 1898).

Opinion

Caldwell, J.

There are two cases here upon different policies of insurance. Samuel Block, who lived in this state and county, made two applications to this life insurance company for policies, one of which was issued some three years ■ before his death, and the other a few months before. These policies were in full force unless defeated by the matter set up in the answers of the insurance company. After the death of Block separate suits were brought in the common pleas court of this county for the collection of the amount due on the policies. In each case there was a judgment for the plaLitiff below, and the insurance company has brought the case to this court, alleging error.

In one of the cases it is contended that there is no error that this court can review, in the first place, under the decision of this court, it being claimed the court erred in the law in its charge and also in the rulings during the trial, because a bill of exceptions was not taken until more than fifty days after the time of such error, which was at the time of the trial.

As to whether the judgment in the case would be justified under the testimony received in the-case, it is claimed, upon final hearing, that we cannot examine into this question, because, although the bill of exceptions says that it contains all the testimony, yet it is the law of this state that if the court, upon looking into the bill, finds, as a matter of fact, that it does not contain all the testimony in the case, that the question cannot be considered by the court. It is insisted that, notwithstanding the assertion at the close of the bill of exceptions that it contains all the testimony,, it shows upon the face of it that it does not,as a matter of fact,contain all the testimony that was offered. Various depositions were offered and read upon the hearing, and among others was the deposition of Dr. Meyers Lee King, and all there is in regard to that deposition appears on page 62 of the bill of ex[226]*226ceptions. Question 1 is objected to by the plaintiff and overruled, and the plaintiff excepts, and there is the same objection, ruling and exceptions to Nos. 2, 3, á, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and some other of the questions asked of the witness in that deposition; and there are rulin6s where the plaintiff objects and the objection is sustained and the defendant excepts; and at the close of these rulings and exceptions the counsel offering the deposition says: “We offer to prove that each of the answers to the questions excluded are as written in the deposition.”

This is substantially all there is in this bill of exceptions as to this deposition. It is not attached, and there is nothing here showing that it is made a part of the bill of exceptions. Nothing here showing, in so many words, that any part of this deposition was read to the jury. It is left, then, for us to determine whether, when a deposition is spoken of in the testimony as though it was offered, and it appears that some parts are offered and objections made to those parts and the objections are overruled, and the party objecting takes exception, it is fair and right to hold that that is sufficient to show that the deposition was presented to the jury. While the question may be a little close, and a little uncertain, we hold in this case that that testimony, where the objections were made and overruled, was read to the jury; that being the case, that evidence is not here; and that being true, the only question to be considered by this court in case No. 1157 is entirely removed form the consideration of the court, and that being true it entirely disposes of that case. . . ■

In the other case, No. 1159, the answer of the insurance company sets up that in the application there was an agreement, which was carried also into the policy, between the insured and the insurer that all statements in the application were to be regarded as warranties, and being so regarded, if any of them were untrue, it should entirely nullify the policy.

[227]*227The answer then goes on to state that under the law of New York, warranties in regard to answers in an application are to be given full force and effect, and if any of them are false, the effect is the same as in the case of misrepresentations in making any other kind of a contract.

It further states that it was agreed by the parties making the contract in the application and in the policy, that the contract should be construed as to its validity and effect, as to all questions between them, under the law of New York, the law of any other state to the contrary notwithstanding.

It is claimed in the answer that Mr. Block, in making this contract, whatever advantage he had or might have under the laws of Ohio, had completely waived all such rights, and the beneficiaries under this contract have such rights only as are afforded by the laws of New York, when applied to construction and determination of the rights of the parties under this contract.

The answer then sets up as a first defense, in addition to the facts already stated, a number of matters, wherein Block had made misrepresentations in regard to whether he had disease, whether he ever had a physcian, and various other matters; also that the agent had no knowledge that he had other insurance. Then, for a second defense, it sets up tnis matter of warranty, that the assured had made these representations which were false; that [they were fraudulently false, the assured knowing at the time he made them that they were untrue.

This case went to trial upon the issues made, and the defendant offered to prove everything alleged in its first defense. The court excluded all the testimony offered under that defense. Thereupon the insurance company stated to the court that it had no evidence to offer upon its second defense, and the court then ordered the jury to bring in a verdict for the amount of the policy and interest on it, which was done. Exception was taken, and the case brought here.

[228]*228The precise question in this case is simply this: Here is an insurance company which has its residence in the state of New York. Under the laws of Ohio it is permitted to do business in Ohio. This contract was made by Mr. Block, being solicited by the agent of this company here in Ohio. The application was made here. The money that was required to be paid was sent on to New York. After the company had concluded in New York to issue the policy, it was sent here by mail to the agent for delivery to Mr. Block. The policy and the application both provided that this contract should be regarded as a New York contract, and not an Ohio contract. The question which arises is, when this contract issued upon in an Ohio court,as to whether this question of warranty is to be construed under the law of New York, or whether the provisions of the statutes of Ohio have the controlling influence in the case. The court below held that this contract is controlled, as between these parties, by the Ohio statutes, and therefore excluded all the testimony as to the truth of the answers contained in the applications.

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Related

Hayes v. Missouri
120 U.S. 68 (Supreme Court, 1887)
Equitable Life Assurance Society v. Clements
140 U.S. 226 (Supreme Court, 1891)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
12 Ohio C.C. 224, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/new-york-life-insurance-v-block-ohiocirct-1898.