§ 14 §51 — Actions on insurance policies

In all actions on insurance policies, a complaint on an account annexed, with an allegation that the plaintiff has complied with all conditions of the policy of insurance mentioned in the account annexed, shall be deemed sufficient. The account annexed shall state the number of the policy and the amount claimed as due, both as principal sum and interest, if any. The fact that the amount claimed in the account annexed varies from the amount found to be due the plaintiff shall not defeat the action unless there be a fraudulent claim of an excessive amount. If the defendant relies upon the breach of any condition of the policy by the plaintiff as a defense, it shall set the same up by answer, and all conditions, the breach of which is known to the defendant and not so pleaded, shall be deemed to have been complied with by the plaintiff. The plaintiff by a reply to the answer may set up any matter waiving or legally excusing his noncompliance with conditions as alleged by the defendant. Nothing in this section shall be construed as changing in any way the common law burden of proof as to such matters as are so put in issue under the pleadings.

Legislative History

PL 1979, c. 541, §A137 (AMD).