Ætna Life Insurance v. Rehlaender

94 N.W. 129, 68 Neb. 284, 1903 Neb. LEXIS 157
CourtNebraska Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 18, 1903
DocketNo. 12,691
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 94 N.W. 129 (Ætna Life Insurance v. Rehlaender) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ætna Life Insurance v. Rehlaender, 94 N.W. 129, 68 Neb. 284, 1903 Neb. LEXIS 157 (Neb. 1903).

Opinions

Barnes, C.

This action.was commenced in the district court for Lancaster county by Jennie M. Rehlaender to recover the sum of $1,000 and interest thereon from the 29th day of March, 1901, alleged to be due her from the ¿Etna Life Insurance Company, on a policy of insurance on the life [285]*285of her deceased husband, Rudolph L. Rehlaender. The petition was in the usual form in such cases. It set out the policy and all of its conditions, with sufficient other averments to constitute a cause of action thereon.' The defendant company filed its answer, in which the following allegations appear:

Further answering, the defendant alleges that the policy of insurance set forth in the plaintiff’s petition, being No. 283.484, upon the life of one Rudolph L. Rehlaender, was issued on or about the 21st day of February, 1900, and was issued and delivered subject to all the. conditions therein expressed, .and subject especially to the following conditions, which were attached to and made a part of said policy of insurance:

In consideration of the advanced payment of $4.96, under policy No. 283,484, on the life of Rudolph L. Rehlaender, temporary insurance subject to the conditions of said policy, shall commence when the same is delivered, and shall cover the term intervening between said delivery and 5 o’clock P. M. of the date of said policy, when if the regular premium required by said policy is not paid, the insurance will cease.

That the first or regular premium provided by said policy to be paid upon the 15th day of August, 1900, the date of said policy, was not paid, whereby said policy lapsed and became void, and the insurance thereunder ceased and determined.

That thereafter, on or about the 25th day of September, 1900, for the purpose of obtaining a revival of said policy, the said Rudolph L. Rehlaender executed the following warranty in writing and delivered the same to the defendant :

“Lincoln, Nebv Sept. 25th, 1900.
“For the purpose of obtaining the revival of policy No. 283.484, issued by the ¿Etna Life Insurance CM, on the life of Rudolph L. Rehlaender, which policy lapsed because of the nonpayment of the premium due on the 15th [286]*286day of August, 1900, I hereby certify that said Rudolph L. Rehlaender is now in good health, and that there is nothing in his habits or condition which is likely to impair his health or shorten his life, and if this representation shall prove in any respect untrue, said policy shall cease and be treated in the same manner as if it had not been revived. I also agree that by accepting this premium now, the said company incurs no obligation to accept any future premium after it becomes due.
“(Signed) Rudolph L. Rehlaender.
“Witness: Z. DwigginsA

That said Rudolph L. Rehlaender was not at the time of the signing and delivery of said warranty, and the payment of the said premium, in good health; but was then and there suffering from a dangerous and fatal disease and malady from which he afterwards died, which fact was well known to said Rudolph L. Rehlaender at and prior to the time of making said representations and warranty; and that same were made for the purpose and with the intent to mislead and deceive this defendant; and that said fact was not known to the defendant then and thereafter until on- or about the--day of April, 1901, and after the death of said Rudolph L. Rehlaender; that by reason of said false and fraudulent representation and warranty the defendant was misled and deceived, and induced to consent to a revival of said policy, to which it would not have consented except for said false and fraudulent representations and warranty; that by reason thereof said policy was, and continued to be, void; and was never revived, and was of no effect and no obligation exists or has existed thereby or -thereunder since the death of the said Rudolph L. Rehlaender, on the part of this defendant.

This defense having been thus tendered by the pleading, the plaintiff joined issue by a reply, which denied each and every allegation contained in the answer. The cause was tried on these issues to a jury, and a verdict was returned [287]*287in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendant for the full amount of the policy and interest. The company filed its motion for a new trial, which Avas overruled. Judgment Avas rendered against it on the verdict, and it thereupon prosecuted error to this court.

It appears that on the 21st day of February, 1900, the deceased, Rudolph L. Rehlaender, applied for, and, in the regular way, upon a proper and suitable medical examination, obtained a policy pf insurance in the defendant company for the sum of $1,000, payable to his wife, Jennie M. Rehlaender, in case of his death; that arrangements were. made by Avhich the policy was really to be issued on the 15th day of August, 1900, but temporary insurance was secured by payment of a part of the premium, Avliieh was to be credited at the time the first semiannual payment should be made. It Avas provided that if the premium due at that time was not paid, the policy should lapse and the insurance should terminate.

It further appears that the insured neglected to pay the balance of the premium Avlien it became due, and it may be conceded at the outset that the policy thereupon lapsed. It further appears that shortly thereafter the agent of thé company, Avho was the general state agent, notified Rehlaender of the fact that his policy had lapsed, and solicited him to pay the premium and have it revived. Rehlaender assented to this arrangement, and at the request of the agent signed the paper dated September 25, 1900, which is set forth in the petition, and in Avhich he stated that he was in good health, and that there Avas nothing in his habits or condition Avhich was likely to impair his health or shorten his life.. The beneficiary, Mrs. Rehlaender, thereupon paid the premium, Avhich was accepted, and the policy was thus reviA^ed.

It further appears that on the 15th day of February following, she paid the second premium due at that time, amounting to $37.30. It is claimed that at the time of this payment the agent aaJio received it was notified of the fact of the serious illness of the assured, and that he [288]*288took the money Avith full knoAvledge of liis condition. This fact is disputed, and there is a conflict of evidence in the record on this point. It further appears that about the 1.7th or 18th of September, Rehlaender consulted I)r. Reynolds, of the city of Lincoln, in regard to his health, stating to him that he Avas not feeling very Avell; that something Avas the matter Avith his stomach. The doctor at that time said to him, “You are a druggist,” and suggested some remedies AA'hich were good for stomach trouble.

It also appears in evidence, Avithout. dispute, that a feAV days thereafter assured again saw the doctor, and said to him that he thought his suggestions had hit the nail on the head, as he Avas feeling all right. About this time, or shortly afterwards, Rehlaender signed the statement or representation pleaded and relied on as a defense herein; and Mrs. Rehlaender paid the premium and procured the revival of the insurance policy, as above stated.

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Bluebook (online)
94 N.W. 129, 68 Neb. 284, 1903 Neb. LEXIS 157, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/tna-life-insurance-v-rehlaender-neb-1903.