United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

New York Life Insurance Company v. Hendren, 92 U.S. 286 (1875)

New York Life Insurance Company v. Hendren

92 U.S. 286

Syllabus

This Court has no jurisdiction to reexamine the judgment of a state court in a case where the pleadings and the instructions asked for and refused present questions as to the effect, under the general public law, of a sectional civil war upon the contract which was the subject of the suit, and when it was not contended that that law, as applicable to the case, had been modified or suspended try the constitution, laws, treaties, or executive proclamations, of the United States.

The plaintiff in error, a company incorporated under the laws of the state of New York, having its home office in New York City, issued its policy of insurance, bearing date Aug. 25, 1856, to Mrs. Hendren, the defendant in error, on the life of her husband. The insurance was negotiated through an agent of the company at Norfolk, in Virginia, in which state Mrs. Hendren and her husband then, and until his death, resided. He died Aug. 15, 1862.

She brought this suit to recover the amount of the policy. Judgment was rendered in her favor in the Court of the Corporation of the City of Norfolk, which was affirmed by the Supreme Court of Appeals of the state. The company sued out this writ of error.