| N.D. | Nov 17, 1919
Lead Opinion
This is an appeal from a judgment in favor of the plaintiff and from an order denying a motion to vacate and to order judgment in favor of the plaintiff for a lesser amount. The action is one to recover the face of a life insurance policy. The defense is that by reason of a provision in the policy the liability of the defendant was limited to $68.30, the amount of premiums previously paid by the insured.
On October 30, 1917, a policy of insurance in the sum of $2,000 was issued by the defendant company to Hiram I. O. Myli, in which Lena Myli, his mother, the plaintiff in this action, was sole beneficiary. On or about June 19, 1918, the insured enlisted in the United States Navy and was required to attend Dunwoody Institute, in Minneapolis, for training. The institute was at the time under the control of the United States Naval Department, and it furnished technical and other instruction to enlisted men after the fashion of ordinary colleges. There were also some requirements as to drill and physical culture. After a brief illness of influenza, the insured died on October 7, 1918, in the city hospit'al at Minneapolis. At the trial of the action the court directed a verdict for the plaintiff, and the defendant appeals.
The argument is that the above provision reduces liability to a return of the premium in this case, by reason of the fact that the insured was at the time of his death an enlisted man in the naval service. It is contended that the effect of the provision is to automatically cancel the life insurance stipulated in the policy the moment the policy holder becomes enlisted or inducted into the military or naval service without having previously obtained a permit therefor, and without complying with whatever provisions (not named in the policy) the company might wish to require concerning additional premiums, as against this contention the respondent asserts that it is the evident purpose of the stipulation to provide only against the consequences of extra hazard incident to actual service in connection with hostilities.
Before the harsh construction in the direction of forfeiture can be supported, it must be found to result necessarily from the provisions of the policy. The policy must be read in the light of the obvious purpose of the particular provision, and it must be found that the exemption falls clearly and directly within its terms. It seems clear to us, upon a view of the whole policy and the evident purpose underlying the particular stipulation, that the circumstances of this case do not bring the defendant witliin the exemption contracted for.
This policy is more than the usual life insurance policy. It provides for the payment of $2,000 upon the death of the insured “or $4,000 in the event of the death of the insured . . . while this policy is in full force, by bodily injury effected exclusively by external, violent, and accidental means, not including death by self-destruction, sane or
The policy also provides, under the head of “Risks Not Assumed,” that it is issued without restrictions as to residence, travel, or occupation, “except military or naval service in time of war as provided herein,” and that, subject to the restriction for military or naval service in time of war, the face value shall be incontestable after two years; also that “the double indemnity benefit contained in this policy shall be contestable after two years from the date of issuance only for military or naval service in time of war,” etc.
Besides the double indemnity feature, the policy also contains a disability feature; and in the paragraph defining the disability protection it is stated that after the payment of one annual premium, and while the policy is in full force, the company, upon receipt of proofs of disability, will pay certain stipulated benefits. The injuries excepted, for which benefits will not be paid, are stated as follows: “Excluding intentional, self-inflicted injuries, or injuries resulting from military or naval service in time of ivarThere are further stipulations for a reduction of the annual premiums to the extent of $1.40 per thousand dollars if the insured shall elect to cancel the disability protection, and $2 on each thousand if the insured shall elect to cancel the double indemnity protection.
Erom the foregoing provisions it is apparent that the insurance company did not stipulate for nonliability, under either the double indemnity or disability clauses of the policy, for injuries to the insured or for accidental death while his status was that of an enlisted man. Eor these clauses specifically provide for nonliability for the double indemnity, and the disability benefit only in case the injury or death results from military or naval service in time of war. If the appellant’s contentions are correct with respect to the meaning of the clause particularly relied upon, the situation would be this: If an enlisted man should die from some cause not attributable to war, the insurance would not be collectable. But if, while walking down the street, he should meet with an accident not attributable to the extra hazard of war, he would be entitled to his disability benefits, or if he should meet accidental death the beneficiary would be entitled to double indemnity.
It will be seen that if the construction of the appellant be followed
The other provisions of the policy respecting the extra hazard of war service appear to be based upon the same foundation as the total indemnity provision. They except from liability for injury or accident only where occasioned by the extra hazard. The whole policy should be read together so that its provisions may be reconciled to a consistent purpose. Especially should this be done where the main purpose is evident and is one which accords with reason. It would indeed be a peculiar situation under which a person who has life insurance has double indemnity in case of death by accident and no indemnity in case of death from natural causes. This situation is rendered none the less peculiar by reason of the fact that, upon obtaining the permit, the exception provided in the double indemnity and disability clauses would still obtain, because a repugnancy arises and does exist, as explained above^ upon the failure to obtain a permit.
Heading the whole policy, we deem the intention of its various provisions with regard to the restrictions concerning military or naval service to be clear. The express intention does, in reality, conform to the purpose of the provision as stated in the deposition of an officer of the company, namely, to except the policy from applying where the insured has come to his death from a hazard connected with military or naval service. In short, the status of the insured is not made the test, but the character, of the service. . The important words in the clause relied upon, and these which signify its correlation with the other provisions here
It would be highly unreasonable to assume that it was intended to exempt from liability on the mere ground of status. In the first place, if status were to be made the test, language should have been employed to make it apparent that it was to be the test. For instance, it might well have been stated: “If within five years from date the insured shall enlist or become inducted into the military or naval service without having obtained a permit therefor,” etc., then status would clearly have been the test. In the late war we know that many men were inducted into the service and assigned to special duties for which they were fitted by training, and which involved no hazard peculiar to military or naval service. Also that many who were capable of receiving special technical training were assigned to institutions capable of giving that training, so that they might later on be better equipped for more highly specialized service in conducting actual hostile operations; and that, while receiving that training, they were not subjected to the hazards of war. There would be no reason for such persons to assume that by so enlisting they rendered themselves liable to pay extra premiums on life insurance policies of this sort, or, failing to do so, to lose the benefit of their insurance.
On the question of the proof that the insured came to his death while subjected to the hazard of naval service, it is clear that such is not the case. He was in an inland city, and not subject to any risks not common to civilians with whom he was constantly associated. Neither do we deem the exclusion of the testimony of defendant’s agents, with reference to the construction of the contract at the time the application was made, to be erroneous. By express stipulation the company refused to be bound by any construction placed upon the policy by its agent or agents, and from this it results that the conversations taking place between the insured and the agents of the defendant could not, as a matter of law, amount to a mutual construction of the contract by the parties,
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment and order appealed from are affirmed.
Rehearing
On Petition for Rehearing.
Appellant has filed a petition for rehearing in which emphasis is laid upon a portion of those provisions of the policy relating to double indemnity and disability. It is stated that these provisions are expressly made applicable only “while the policy is in full force and effect,” and that in the instant case, if appellant’s contention as'to the meaning of the principal clause in controversy is correct, the policy would not be in full force and effect while a man was in military or naval service without a permit. Ergo, says the petitioner, the discussion in which the repugnancy is pointed out begs the question; for it.first assumes that the policy “is in full force and effect.” The learned counsel for the petitioner are apparently unmindful of the argument advanced by them in the brief in answer to the respondent’s contention that the company had waived the benefit of the clause in question. The respondent argued that by the acceptance of the premium from the insured after his enlistment in the naval service, the company had waived the provision respecting limited liability during such service. ■ Appellant’s counsel asserted in the brief and strenuously argued (and we think correctly) that this did not constitute a waiver, for the insured had the right to pay the premiums “and continue the policy in force while he was in the naval service of the United States, notwithstanding the exemption of the company from liability,” etc. It is our view that the policy was in force as the counsel for appellant originally argued, and that the repugnancy does exist as pointed out in the original opinion. It may be added that the petitioner’s argument is clearly founded upon a misconception of the stipulation relied upon. The stipulation does not cancel the policy. It only provides what the liability shall be in case of the death of the insured while engaged in military or naval service without a permit. It does not purport to limit or create any exemption from liability for disability following accidents sustained by one in the military or naval service not resulting from such service. Then, to ac
If the disability and double indemnity provisions were not intended to be operative while the insured was in the military or naval service without a permit, it would seem that the policy, which expressly stipulates for stated reductions in the premium where the insured elects to cancel these benefits, would also .be extended to cancelations automatically effected through entry into the military or naval service without a permit. The insurance company itself has apportioned the premiums to these risks, and why would it collect those portions of the premiums applicable to such risks from a man in military or naval service without a permit if it was not assuming the risks exactly as stated in the policy ? And, as stated, the exemptions under these clauses are based upon death or injuries resulting from military or naval service in time of war.
The petition is denied.