This is a rule for leave to amend the statement of claim in an action brought by a beneficiary under a group life insurance policy. Plaintiff first sought a recovery of death benefits, but now seeks disability benefits.
Plaintiff also requests that defendant produce a copy of the group policy sued upon, as plaintiff has no copy and requires the same to prove her case. As no answer was filed to the petition, denying possession of the policy, and it appears from the petition that a copy of the policy is necessary for the proper proof of plaintiff’s case, there is no reason why the court should not exercise its discretion to compel production of a copy thereof to plaintiff.
Defendant objects to the amendments on the grounds that they introduce a new cause of action and that the claim for disability, owing before the death of the assured, is recoverable, if at all, by the personal representative of the insured and not by the beneficiary. The policy specifically states that, in the event of death of the employe during the period of total and permanent disability, any instalments “remaining unpaid” shall be paid to the designated beneficiary.
It is quite certain that plaintiff had no claim, under the policy, prior to the death of the assured on August 16, 1932, and, accordingly, the statute of limitations did not begin to run against any claim which she had, under the policy, prior to the date when such claim accrued. The amendments requested cannot prejudice defendant for the reason that the statute of limitations has not yet expired. The doctrine that a new cause of action cannot be introduced is without exception only in cases where the statute of limitations has become a bar. In other cases the court exercises its sound discretion.
Accordingly, defendant is hereby ordered to produce to plaintiff a true copy of the group policy within 10 days from the date of this order, and plaintiff is given leave to amend her statement of claim as set forth in her petition, said amended statement of claim to be filed within 15 days from the date on which defendant produces to plaintiff a copy of said policy.
