Stewart v. Mutual of Omaha Insurance

817 P.2d 44, 169 Ariz. 99, 93 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 44, 1991 Ariz. App. LEXIS 198
CourtCourt of Appeals of Arizona
DecidedAugust 22, 1991
Docket1 CA-CV 89-048
StatusPublished
Cited by28 cases

This text of 817 P.2d 44 (Stewart v. Mutual of Omaha Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Arizona primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Stewart v. Mutual of Omaha Insurance, 817 P.2d 44, 169 Ariz. 99, 93 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 44, 1991 Ariz. App. LEXIS 198 (Ark. Ct. App. 1991).

Opinion

OPINION

TAYLOR, Judge.

Wayne H. and Betty L. Stewart appeal from summary judgment permitting Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company (Mutual) to rescind three insurance policies because of alleged misrepresentations in policy applications. The primary issues on appeal are whether the applications were fraudulent within the meaning of A.R.S. § 20-1109 and whether factual disputes concerning alleged misrepresentations by the Stew-arts to Mutual’s agents preclude summary judgment. Mutual argued that the Stew-arts failed to disclose Wayne Stewart’s “mental health history”, contending that such failure to disclose constitutes a material misrepresentation entitling Mutual to rescind the policies pursuant to A.R.S. § 20-1109.

We find that there are disputed facts which are material to Mutual’s statutory right to rescind. Therefore, we reverse the judgment and remand for further proceedings.

FACTS

We state the facts in a light most favorable to appellant. Griffith v. Faltz, 162 Ariz. 599, 785 P.2d 119 (App.1990).

On May 21, 1985, Wayne Stewart saw a neurologist, Dr. David Súber. Stewart complained of stress, a shaking right hand when anxious, and general depression. He questioned whether his symptoms were associated with a 1967 water skiing accident which had resulted in a concussion with a prolonged period of coma. Dr. Suber’s examination indicated generally normal physical and neurological results other than a mild right-side intention tremor and slow reading. To assure a more complete evaluation of Stewart’s health, Dr. Súber ordered a battery of tests. The test results were normal. Dr. Súber prescribed Elavil for post-concussion symptoms and referred Stewart to Dr. Joseph Tursini, a clinical psychologist, for evaluation and counseling.

Stewart initially saw Dr. Tursini on June 17, 1985. He visited Dr. Tursini four more times over the next six weeks, but stopped going because he felt that he did not need professional help. Dr. Tursini diagnosed Stewart as having a cyclothymic disorder and mixed personality disorder but he did not notify Stewart of his diagnosis. Stewart was unaware of this diagnosis at the time of his statements to Mutual’s agents.

During approximately the same time that Wayne Stewart was seeing Dr. Súber and Dr. Tursini, the Stewarts contacted an acquaintance, Peter Johnson (Johnson), for advice concerning a claim dispute that Mrs. Stewart was having with an insurance company. Johnson was a Mutual agent. On May 22, 1985, Wayne Stewart applied for life insurance through Johnson with United of Omaha, Mutual’s life insurance affiliate. On June 20, 1985, he applied for income protection (disability) insurance from Mutual, also through Johnson.

Johnson filled out the application for disability insurance in Stewart’s presence. The application contained the following questions:

13. Have you ... ever: (a) had, (b) been advised by a physician that you had or (c) received advice or treatment for: (Circle conditions answered “Yes” and give full details in 17 below.)
YES NO
(3) [M]ental or nervous disorder____ □ □
14. Other than above, have you ... within the past five years: (If “Yes,” give details in 17 below.)
(1) Had any mental or physical disorder or bodily injury not listed above? □ □
*101 (2) Had, or been told you had, or received advice or treatment for any symptoms of ill health? □ □
16. Are you or any named dependent: (1) under observation or taking treatment or medication? (if “Yes,” give details in 17 below.) □ □

Stewart answered each of these questions “no.”

Next to question 14(3), “Had any physical examinations?”, Stewart checked “Yes.” In explanation of this response, information was written into the spaces provided that Stewart had consulted Dr. Súber. Under “date and reason for the last consultation”, the reason given was “physical-work related.”

Stewart had an opportunity to review the application and make any changes that he felt were appropriate at the time it was completed by Johnson.

An employee from Mutual’s special services department later telephoned Stewart to verify independently that the application was complete and accurate. During that telephone conversation, the employee asked questions from a work sheet that were different from the application. She asked Wayne Stewart to identify (1) the last doctor he saw, (2) his regular physician and (3) whether he was on any medication. Stewart responded that he had no regular physician, was not on any medication and last saw a physician in March, 1980 for pain in his stomach.

Mutual sent Stewart a “reverification” letter on August 27, 1985, along with a copy of the application giving Stewart an opportunity to again review and correct any misinformation. The letter stated:

[We] ask that you carefully read your policy.
Your policy has been issued relying upon the information contained in your application. Your eligibility for benefits and the amount of benefits may well depend on it.
If it is incomplete or inaccurate in any respect, please provide us with full additional information in the space provided below____

Stewart signed and returned the letter under a form provision which states, “I received the application and find the answers to be correct and complete.”

Stewart received the insurance policy with a copy of the application attached to the policy and incorporated as part of the insurance contract. The policy stated:

PLEASE READ
Please read the copy of your application. If anything in it is not correct or if any past medical history has been left out, you should tell us. Your policy was issued on the basis that all information in the application is correct and complete. If not, your policy may not be valid.

In September, 1985, Wayne and Betty Stewart applied for a major medical policy and hospitalization policy from Mutual. This time they met with a different agent, Robert Gordon (Gordon). The applications for the policies were identical to the application for the disability insurance policy and Stewart’s answers were similar to his prior application.'

Stewart received a written notice along with the applications which warned:

[B]e certain to truthfully and completely answer all questions on the application including your medical/health history. FAILURE TO INCLUDE ALL MATERIAL MEDICAL INFORMATION ON AN APPLICATION MAY PROVIDE A BASIS FOR THE COMPANY TO DENY CLAIMS AND TO REFUND YOUR PREMIUM AS THOUGH YOUR POLICY HAS NEVER BEEN IN FORCE.

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Bluebook (online)
817 P.2d 44, 169 Ariz. 99, 93 Ariz. Adv. Rep. 44, 1991 Ariz. App. LEXIS 198, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/stewart-v-mutual-of-omaha-insurance-arizctapp-1991.