CHIPMAN, Judge.
Grace Sheller, widow of Edward Shelter, sued her deceased husband’s employer, Sheller-Globe Corporation (Sheller-Globe), and Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States (Equitable) for the proceeds of a group life insurance policy issued by Equitable to Shelter-Globe’s employees. After a bench trial the court entered judgment against both Defendants, concluding:
“Under the group life insurance policy issued by Equitable Life Assurance Society, any insured who died [sic] within thirty-one days following the termination of his employment would be covered under said policy and his beneficiary would be entitled to the death benefits. Since the decedent [Edward Shelter] died on March 18th, 1974, within the thirty-one day period following termination of his employment, pursuant to the terms of said contract the Plaintiff as beneficiary is entitled to the $20,000.00 death benefits.
The court further concludes that due to the negligence of Sheller-Globe in failing to properly advise decedent of his conversion privilege, the decedent was thereby denied his right of converstion [sic] which he would have exercised as would any
reasonable man under similar circumstances. As a direct result of the negligence of Sheller-Globe, the Plaintiff was damaged in the amount of $20,000.00.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the Plaintiff recover from the Defendant, Sheller-Globe Corporation, and from the Defendant, Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, and each of them, the sum of $20,000.00 together with the costs of this action.”
Defendants appeal, raising the following issues for review:
I. Whether the trial court erred by admitting certain testimony over Defendants’ hearsay objection.
II. Whether there was sufficient evidence to support the trial court’s determination that Edward was not given notice of his right to convert his group policy to an individual policy.
III. Whether the trial court erred in its determination of Edward’s termination of employment date.
We affirm in part and reverse in part.
I. HEARSAY
The policy in question allowed an employee to convert his group policy to an individual policy within thirty-one days of termination of employment.
During the trial of this cause Grace Sheller offered testimony of a Mr. Hutchins that Edward had told him he would not have a life insurance policy after his retirement.
The testimony was admitted over Defendants’ hearsay objection.
As stated in McCormick, Evidence § 246, and quoted in
Hall v. State,
(1978) Ind.App., 374 N.E.2d 62, 64-5:
“Hearsay evidence is testimony in court or written evidence, of a statement made out of court, such statement being offered as an assertion to show the truth of matters asserted therein, and thus resting for its value upon the credibility of the out-of-court asserter.”
The testimony in question is hearsay if offered to prove Edward could not convert the policy or that Mrs. Robbins, an agent of Sheller-Globe, had so informed Edward. However, it is not hearsay if offered as a factual occurrence which is circumstantial evidence of Edward’s belief that he could not convert his policy and not for the truth of the assertion. Such statements are not hearsay.
Indianapolis Newspapers, Inc. v. Fields,
(1970) 254 Ind. 219, 259 N.E.2d 651, cert. denied, 400 U.S. 930, 91 S.Ct. 187, 27 L.Ed.2d 190,
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company v. Shuman,
(1977) Ind.App., 370 N.E.2d 941.
Since the testimony could properly be admitted as evidence of Edward’s state of mind, even though it could not be admitted for the truth of the assertion, there was no error in the court’s overruling Defendants’ hearsay objection. “If any item of evidence were relevant and admissible for one purpose and not for another, there was no error in their admission.”
Indianapolis Newspapers, Inc. v. Fields, supra
at 676.
II. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE AGAINST SHELLER-GLOBE
Defendants contend there is insufficient evidence to support the trial court’s determination that Sheller-Globe failed to properly inform Edward of his conversion right under the group life insurance policy. Their argument is premised on the assertion that Mr. Hutchins’ testimony should have been excluded as hearsay. We have, in issue I, concluded there was no error in its admission. Thus, it must also be considered when reviewing the evidence for sufficiency-
On review this Court considers only the evidence which supports the trial court’s judgment together with all reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom.
DeMayo v. State ex rel. Dept. of Natural Resources,
(1979) Ind.App., 394 N.E.2d 258. We cannot re weigh the evidence nor judge the credibility of the witnesses. It is only where the evidence and inferences so considered lead to a decision contrary to the trial court’s, that we will reverse.
Orange-Co., Inc. v. Brown,
(1979) Ind.App., 393 N.E.2d 192.
In October of 1973 Edward Sheller learned he had cancer and shortly thereafter he was unable to continue working. He entered the hospital January 15, 1974, and died March 18, 1974. The evidence portrayed Edward as a man concerned with the preparations necessary to make his future widow comfortable; before he entered the hospital he executed a will, installed a new furnace and sold the older of their two cars. He also had ample funds to pay the premium required to convert his group insurance coverage to an individual policy. However, Mr. Hutchins’ testimony indicates Edward believed he could not convert the group policy.
We grant that all of the above evidence is circumstantial in nature and is in conflict with direct evidence from Mrs. Robbins that she had given Edward a copy of the policy provision which informed him of his conversion right, but he declined it as too expensive. Nonetheless, as stated above, it is not our position to reweigh the evidence, only to determine if there is evidence to support the trial court’s decision. We believe from all the evidence the trial court could have reasonably concluded Sheller-Globe was negligent in discharging its responsibility to inform Edward of his conversion right under the group policy.
III. TERMINATION DATE OF EDWARD’S EMPLOYMENT
On January 31, 1974, Edward retired from Sheller-Globe pursuant to a policy of mandatory retirement on the last day of the month in which the employee reached sixty-five.
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CHIPMAN, Judge.
Grace Sheller, widow of Edward Shelter, sued her deceased husband’s employer, Sheller-Globe Corporation (Sheller-Globe), and Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States (Equitable) for the proceeds of a group life insurance policy issued by Equitable to Shelter-Globe’s employees. After a bench trial the court entered judgment against both Defendants, concluding:
“Under the group life insurance policy issued by Equitable Life Assurance Society, any insured who died [sic] within thirty-one days following the termination of his employment would be covered under said policy and his beneficiary would be entitled to the death benefits. Since the decedent [Edward Shelter] died on March 18th, 1974, within the thirty-one day period following termination of his employment, pursuant to the terms of said contract the Plaintiff as beneficiary is entitled to the $20,000.00 death benefits.
The court further concludes that due to the negligence of Sheller-Globe in failing to properly advise decedent of his conversion privilege, the decedent was thereby denied his right of converstion [sic] which he would have exercised as would any
reasonable man under similar circumstances. As a direct result of the negligence of Sheller-Globe, the Plaintiff was damaged in the amount of $20,000.00.
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED that the Plaintiff recover from the Defendant, Sheller-Globe Corporation, and from the Defendant, Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States, and each of them, the sum of $20,000.00 together with the costs of this action.”
Defendants appeal, raising the following issues for review:
I. Whether the trial court erred by admitting certain testimony over Defendants’ hearsay objection.
II. Whether there was sufficient evidence to support the trial court’s determination that Edward was not given notice of his right to convert his group policy to an individual policy.
III. Whether the trial court erred in its determination of Edward’s termination of employment date.
We affirm in part and reverse in part.
I. HEARSAY
The policy in question allowed an employee to convert his group policy to an individual policy within thirty-one days of termination of employment.
During the trial of this cause Grace Sheller offered testimony of a Mr. Hutchins that Edward had told him he would not have a life insurance policy after his retirement.
The testimony was admitted over Defendants’ hearsay objection.
As stated in McCormick, Evidence § 246, and quoted in
Hall v. State,
(1978) Ind.App., 374 N.E.2d 62, 64-5:
“Hearsay evidence is testimony in court or written evidence, of a statement made out of court, such statement being offered as an assertion to show the truth of matters asserted therein, and thus resting for its value upon the credibility of the out-of-court asserter.”
The testimony in question is hearsay if offered to prove Edward could not convert the policy or that Mrs. Robbins, an agent of Sheller-Globe, had so informed Edward. However, it is not hearsay if offered as a factual occurrence which is circumstantial evidence of Edward’s belief that he could not convert his policy and not for the truth of the assertion. Such statements are not hearsay.
Indianapolis Newspapers, Inc. v. Fields,
(1970) 254 Ind. 219, 259 N.E.2d 651, cert. denied, 400 U.S. 930, 91 S.Ct. 187, 27 L.Ed.2d 190,
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company v. Shuman,
(1977) Ind.App., 370 N.E.2d 941.
Since the testimony could properly be admitted as evidence of Edward’s state of mind, even though it could not be admitted for the truth of the assertion, there was no error in the court’s overruling Defendants’ hearsay objection. “If any item of evidence were relevant and admissible for one purpose and not for another, there was no error in their admission.”
Indianapolis Newspapers, Inc. v. Fields, supra
at 676.
II. SUFFICIENCY OF THE EVIDENCE AGAINST SHELLER-GLOBE
Defendants contend there is insufficient evidence to support the trial court’s determination that Sheller-Globe failed to properly inform Edward of his conversion right under the group life insurance policy. Their argument is premised on the assertion that Mr. Hutchins’ testimony should have been excluded as hearsay. We have, in issue I, concluded there was no error in its admission. Thus, it must also be considered when reviewing the evidence for sufficiency-
On review this Court considers only the evidence which supports the trial court’s judgment together with all reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom.
DeMayo v. State ex rel. Dept. of Natural Resources,
(1979) Ind.App., 394 N.E.2d 258. We cannot re weigh the evidence nor judge the credibility of the witnesses. It is only where the evidence and inferences so considered lead to a decision contrary to the trial court’s, that we will reverse.
Orange-Co., Inc. v. Brown,
(1979) Ind.App., 393 N.E.2d 192.
In October of 1973 Edward Sheller learned he had cancer and shortly thereafter he was unable to continue working. He entered the hospital January 15, 1974, and died March 18, 1974. The evidence portrayed Edward as a man concerned with the preparations necessary to make his future widow comfortable; before he entered the hospital he executed a will, installed a new furnace and sold the older of their two cars. He also had ample funds to pay the premium required to convert his group insurance coverage to an individual policy. However, Mr. Hutchins’ testimony indicates Edward believed he could not convert the group policy.
We grant that all of the above evidence is circumstantial in nature and is in conflict with direct evidence from Mrs. Robbins that she had given Edward a copy of the policy provision which informed him of his conversion right, but he declined it as too expensive. Nonetheless, as stated above, it is not our position to reweigh the evidence, only to determine if there is evidence to support the trial court’s decision. We believe from all the evidence the trial court could have reasonably concluded Sheller-Globe was negligent in discharging its responsibility to inform Edward of his conversion right under the group policy.
III. TERMINATION DATE OF EDWARD’S EMPLOYMENT
On January 31, 1974, Edward retired from Sheller-Globe pursuant to a policy of mandatory retirement on the last day of the month in which the employee reached sixty-five. On February 15, 1974, he received a final paycheck which indicated on its face it was for payment of the pay period ending January 31, 1974, plus twenty days vacation pay. Edward died on March 18, 1974. The trial court found Edward had retired on January 31, 1974, but extended the date of termination for the purposes of insurance coverage until February 15, 1974, because of the vacation pay. This placed the death within the thirty-one days after termination necessary for recovery under the policy.
Defendants contend this conclusion is erroneous. We agree.
The policy itself defines “termination of employment” as “cessation of active work” with an exception for those “absent from active work because of injury or sickness.” Terms in contracts should be given their usual and common meaning.
Haworth v. Hubbard, et al.,
(1942) 220 Ind. 611, 44 N.E.2d 967;
Fort Wayne Bank Bldg., Inc. v. Bank Bldg. and Equipment Corp. of America,
(1974) 160 Ind.App. 26, 309 N.E.2d 464. We cannot alter those meanings unless the terms are somehow ambiguous.
Fort Wayne Bank Bldg., supra.
Here we cannot say the addition of vacation pay extended Edward’s
active
work. “Vacation” denotes a scheduled period of
inactivity,
not an extension of one’s duties. Thus, we must conclude Edward’s termination of employment occurred on January 31, 1974.
Accord, Wyatt v. Security Benefit Life Insurance Co.,
(1955) 178 Kan. 91, 283 P.2d 243;
Perry v. Equitable Life Assurance Soc.,
(1954) Ohio, 139 N.E.2d 489. His death, therefore, occurred outside the thirty — one day conversion period. We conclude that appellant Equitable is not liable to Grace Sheller for the death benefits of the group policy life insurance and the trial court’s determination to the contrary is reversed.
We affirm the court’s judgment as to Sheller-Globe Corporation and reverse as to the judgment against Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States.
MILLER, J., and YOUNG, P. J., concur.