Robertson v. Mutual Life Insurance

6 N.W.2d 153, 232 Iowa 743
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedNovember 17, 1942
DocketNo. 45942.
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 6 N.W.2d 153 (Robertson v. Mutual Life Insurance) 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
Robertson v. Mutual Life Insurance, 6 N.W.2d 153, 232 Iowa 743 (iowa 1942).

Opinion

Mitchell, J.

Kathryn B. Bobertson, as beneficiary under a policy of life insurance in the amount of $2,500, issued by the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York to her husband, Henry D. Bobertson, commenced this action to recover from the insurance company an additional $2;500 under the double-indemnity provision of the contract, alleging that Henry D. Bobertson died as a direct result of bodily injuries effected solely through external, violent, and accidental means, independently and exclusively of all other causes. The defendant admitted that it was a corporation, that it issued the policy of insurance, that the premiums had been paid up to the time of the death of Henry D. Bobertson; and admitted that upon the furnishing of due proof in accordance with section I of the policy the beneficiary would be entitled to double indemnity. The insurance company" in its answer alleged affirmatively that the proof of death furnished did not contain due proof of accidental death as provided by the policy; and further alleged that under the terms of the policy it had a right to examine the body and to have an autopsy performed; that it had demanded the opportunity to perform' an autopsy upon the body of the insured, which was refused. A reply was filed by the appellee. There was a trial, and at the close of the evidence the insurance *745 company made a motion for a directed verdict, wbicb was overruled, and the case was submitted to the jury, which returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, as prayed. The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, being dissatisfied, has appealed to this court.

Appellant argues that the court erred in overruling its motion for a new trial on the ground that the verdict was contrary to the evidence. So we turn to the record to ascertain the facts.

Mr. Robertson, on November 5, 1938, had suffered a cerebral hemorrhage resulting in paralysis of his left side. As a result of this he was in the Yeterans’ Hospital at Des Moines for several weeks. He was suffering from what is known as hardening of the arteries and he had very high blood pressure. In January 1939 he returned home from the hospital. He was up and around the house on crutches, visited with his friends and relatives, showed slow but steady recovery. He could use his left hand and arm. He had varied systems of exercises. He was able to comb his hair, brush his teeth, dress himself, shave himself, and was walking with the aid of one crutch used under his left arm. While going through the kitchen .to the back porch to an improvised toilet on the afternoon of March 21, 1939, the insured fell and fractured his hip. He was removed to the hospital at Iowa City. The doctor who attended him stated that he talked rationally and coherently after the accident. An X-ray picture was taken, which revealed fracture of ■ the neck of the left femur right up close to the head. He was placed in bed and what medical men call a Buck’s extension and a Boehler frame were used in order to reduce the fracture. From the time he went to the hospital on the evening of March 21, 1939, up to the time of his death, he was kept in bed on his back, it being impossible to turn him very much either way. During the first two weeks there was an improvement in his general condition, but after the third week he began to have increased lung signs, which progressed each day until there was evidence of hypostatic pneumonia. It was the judgment of the medical men that Henry D. Robertson died of hypostatic pneumonia, which was caused by the fact that he was forced to *746 remain in a set position for a long time in treatment of the fracture of his hip. He died on April 20, 1939.

In the appellant’s argument it is stated:

“It is undisputed that the man suffered an attack of some sort on March 21, 1939.”

With this statement we cannot agree. There is a dispute in the evidence in regard to whether he suffered an attack on March 21, 1939. Several witnesses testified that after he had fallen on the floor he could carry on a conversation in a coherent, intelligent manner, and the doctors who were the attending physicians denied that he had an attack. As we read this record, there is evidence from which a jury could find that it was not a cerebral hemorrhage on March 21, 1939, that caused the injury, to wit, the broken leg, but instead it was a fall, an accident; that he slipped on the floor of the kitchen and fell in such a way as to break his leg. True, there is contrary evidence. It was a disputed fact question for the jury to decide and the lower court was right in submitting same.

Appellant argues that the court erred in not sustaining its motion for a directed verdict, one of the grounds of •which was that under the terms of the policy it was a condition precedent to the right to recover that the beneficiary furnish due proof that the death of Mr. Robertson occurred as a result of bodily injury effected solely through external, violent, and accidental means and not directly or indirectly from disease or bodily or mental infirmity, and that a compliance therewith must be shown by the appellee before there can be any liability on the part of appellant. Such due proof was not furnished as required.

The provision of the contract is without dispute that the double-indemnity benefit was payable only upon receipt of due proof that the death resulted from bodily injury effected solely through external, violent, and accidental means and exclusive of all other causes, and that the indemnity would not be payable if the death resulted directly or indirectly from disease or bodily infirmity. The only proof of death furnished by the appellee was the proof identified as Exhibit 2, consisting of two parts, one the part to be signed by the beneficiary, and the *747 other to be signed by tbe attending physician. The first part was signed by Kathryn B. Robertson, the claimant, and is dated April 24,' 1939. It sets out the number of the policy, and that Henry D. Robertson, the insured, died on April 20, 1939, and certain other information required. Under heading 13 of the proof is the following:

‘ ‘ (a) When did the health of the deceased first begin to be affected? November 5, 1938'.

(b) Duration of last illness resulting in death? Thirty days.

(c) Principal cause of death? Fracture neck left femur 3/21/39. Hypostatic pneumonia one week.”

If that was the entire proof that was furnished, it is hard to believe that anyone would argue that it did not in itself show that the death was caused by an accident. However, on the forms used, which were forms furnished by the insurance company, just before the signature of the claimant there was printed this statement:

“I refer you to each attending physician’s certificate furnished by me herewith which I have read, and ask that it be received as a part of the proof of death. ’ ’

There was only one attending physician’s certificate which was attached. It was signed by Dr. Matt Ware, the attending physician, of West Branch, Iowa. Many questions are asked, which were answered, and No. 8 of the statement signed by the doctor is as follows:

‘‘(a) State the principal cause of death. Fracture neck left femur 3/21/39. Hypostatic pneumonia one week.

(b) Contributory causes of importance (With date of onset of each).

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Bluebook (online)
6 N.W.2d 153, 232 Iowa 743, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/robertson-v-mutual-life-insurance-iowa-1942.