Stroehmann v. Mutual Life Ins. Co., 300 U.S. 435 (1937)

U.S. Supreme Court

Stroehmann v. Mutual Life Ins. Co., 300 U.S. 435 (1937) Stroehmann v. Mutual Life Ins. Co. of New York

No. 599

Argued March 11, 1937

Decided March 29, 1937

300 U.S. 435

CERTIORARI TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT

Syllabus

Where, from the language of a policy of life insurance, it is doubtful whether provisions for disability benefits were excepted from the "incontestable" clause, the doubt will be resolved in favor of the insured. Pp. 300 U. S. 439-440.

6 F.2d 47 reversed.

District Court affirmed.

Certiorari, post, p. 646, to review a decree reversing a decree dismissing the bill. The suit was by the insurance company to cancel the disability benefits provisions of a policy upon the ground of fraud, alleged to have been practiced by the insured in obtaining the insurance. The District Court at first refused to dismiss the bill, 6 F. Supp. 953, but later ruled the other way when the motion was renewed after the bill had been amended.

MR. JUSTICE McREYNOLDS delivered the opinion of the Court.

By a policy dated June 30, 1930, respondent insurance company, a New York corporation, agreed to pay the

Page 300 U. S. 436

named beneficiary $40,000 upon death of Carl F. Stroehmann, the insured. Or to pay $80,000 if his death results from accidental bodily injury,

"all upon the conditions set forth in Section 1. . . . And if the Insured is totally and presumably permanently disabled before age 60, will pay to the Insured $400.00 monthly during such disability, increasing after five and ten years continuous disability, besides waiving premium payments, all upon the conditions set forth in Section 3."

The policy is a long and complicated document. It incorporates the application and the medical examiner's report.

Section 1 (two printed pages) relates to the "Double Indemnity" obligation. It defines the injury to which the insurance applies, specifies the necessary proof, optional modes of settlement, etc.

Section 3 -- "Benefits in Event of Total and Permanent Disability before Age 60," is in the margin. * It defines

Page 300 U. S. 437

total and permanent disability; states when benefits will become effective; what they shall be; when premiums will be waived. Also specifies what will be considered permanent disability, when proofs may be demanded, etc.

Page 300 U. S. 438

And provides:

"Disability Benefits shall not be granted if disability is the result of self-inflicted injury. The provision for Disability Benefits shall automatically terminate if the Insured shall at any time, voluntarily or involuntarily, engage in military or naval service in time of war outside of the continental limits of the United States of America and the Dominion of Canada."

Other provisions relate to termination of such benefits, reduction of premiums thereafter, etc.

Neither § 1 nor § 3 contains anything relative to fraud in obtaining the policy or the effect of false statements in the application.

Section 14 -- "Miscellaneous Provisions" (two pages) contains the following paragraph:

"Incontestability. -- Except for nonpayment of premiums and except for the restrictions and provisions applying to the Double Indemnity and Disability Benefits as provided in Sections 1 and 3, respectively, this Policy shall be incontestable after one year from its date of issue unless the Insured dies in such year, in which event it shall be incontestable after two years from its date of issue."

In October, 1932, respondent filed a bill (afterwards amended) against Stroehmann, the insured, and the beneficiary in the United States District Court, Middle District, Pennsylvania. It alleged that the policy had been obtained upon false and fraudulent misrepresentations and concealments material to the risk. It asked

Page 300 U. S. 439

that the disability benefits provisions be cancelled, also for an injunction against suit at law upon them.

Relying upon the incontestability clause, the petitioner moved that the bill be dismissed. The trial court sustained the motion, holding that, as more than a year had elapsed since the policy took effect, the limitation was applicable and controlling. The Circuit Court of Appeals thought otherwise, and reversed the challenged decree.

The matter is here by certiorari limited to the question of the application and effect of the incontestability clause.

No reason appears to doubt the power of the insurer to except from the ordinary incontestability clause all policy provisions relating to disability benefits. Ch. 28, Laws N.Y. (1923); Steinberg v. N.Y. Life Ins. Co., 263 N.Y. 45, 188 N.E. 152. But the petitioner maintains that the words used in the policy before us are inadequate definitely to disclose a purpose so to do. And we think the point is well taken.

In Mutual Life Insurance Co. of New York v. Hurni Packing Co., 263 U. S. 167, 263 U. S. 174, this Court said:

"The rule is settled that, in case of ambiguity, that construction of the policy will be adopted which is most favorable to the insured. The language employed is that of the company, and it is consistent with both reason and justice that any fair doubt as to the meaning of its own words should be resolved against it."

See Royal Insurance Co. v. Martin, 192 U. S. 149, 192 U. S. 162, 192 U. S. 165; Bergholm v. Peoria Life Ins. Co., 284 U. S. 489, 284 U. S. 492.

Examination of the words relied upon to show an exception to the incontestability clause of the policy discloses ample cause for doubt concerning their meaning. The arguments of counsel have emphasized the uncertainty. The District Court and the Circuit Court of Appeals reached different conclusions, and elsewhere there is diversity of opinion.

Page 300 U. S. 440

The District Court accepted the view approved in Ness v. Mutual Life Ins. Co., 70 F.2d 59, and Mutual Life Ins. Co. of New York v. Markowitz, 78 F.2d 396, which presented for interpretation language identical with that now before us. The Circuit Court of Appeals followed its earlier opinion in N.Y. Life Ins. Co. v. Gatti, (Oct. 6, 1936), where the company employed different language. Certain life companies undertake to make exceptions to the incontestability clause by words more precise than those now under consideration, and opinions in cases arising upon their policies must be appraised accordingly.

Without difficulty, respondent could have expressed in plain words the exception for which it now contends. It has failed, we think, so to do. And, applying the settled rule, the insured is entitled to the benefit of the resulting doubt.

The decree of the Circuit Court of Appeals must be reversed. The decree of the District Court is affirmed.

Reversed.

*

"Section 3. -- Benefits in Event of Total and Permanent Disability before Age 60."

"Total Disability. -- Disability shall be considered total when there is any impairment of mind or body which continuously renders it impossible for the Insured to follow a gainful occupation."

"Permanent Disability. -- Total disability shall, during its continuance, be presumed to be permanent;"

"(a) If such disability is the result of conditions which render it reasonably certain that such disability will continue during the remaining lifetime of the Insured; or,"

"(b) If such disability has existed continuously for ninety days."

"When Benefits become Effective. -- If, before attaining the age of sixty years and while no premium on this Policy is in default, the Insured shall furnish to the Company due proof that he is totally and permanently disabled, as defined above, the Company will grant the following benefits during the remaining lifetime of the Insured so long as such disability continues."

"Benefits. (a) Increasing Income. -- The Company will pay a monthly income to the Insured of the amount stated on the first page hereof ($10 per $1,000 face amount of Policy), beginning upon receipt of due proof of such disability and increasing after sixty consecutive monthly payments have been made to one and one-half times such amount and after sixty further consecutive monthly payments have been made to twice such amount, at which it shall remain while total and permanent disability continues."

"(b) Waiver of Premium. -- The Company will also, after receipt of such due proof, waive payment of each premium as it thereafter becomes due during such disability."

"Specified Disabilities. -- The entire and irrecoverable loss of the sight of both eyes, or of the use of both hands or both feet or one hand and one foot, will be considered total and permanent disability."

"General Provisions. -- The Company may, before making any income payment or waiving any premium, require due proof of the continuance of total and permanent disability, but such proof shall not be required oftener than once a year after such disability has continued for two years. If such proof is not furnished on demand, or if it shall appear to the Company that the Insured is no longer totally and permanently disabled, no further income payments will be made or premiums waived."

"Neither the dividends nor the amount payable in any settlement hereof shall be decreased because of Disability Benefits granted."

"If the Insured shall at any time so recover that the payment of Disability Benefits terminates and later shall furnish due proof that he has again become totally and permanently disabled, Disability Benefits shall be the same in amount and subject to the same conditions as if no prior disability had existed."

"If the disability of the Insured shall be the result of insanity, income payments shall be payable to the beneficiary, if any, instead of to the Insured."

"Any disability income payment which may become payable and which is unpaid at the death of the Insured shall be paid to the beneficiary."

"Disability Benefits shall not be granted if disability is the result of self-inflicted injury."

"The provision for Disability Benefits shall automatically terminate if the Insured shall at any time, voluntarily or involuntarily, engage in military or naval service in time of war outside of the continental limits of the United States of America and the Dominion of Canada."

"If requested in writing by the Insured, the Company will terminate the provision for Disability Benefits by endorsement on this Policy."

"If the Insured attains the age of sixty years or if the provision for Disability Benefits terminates, the premiums payable after such age or such termination shall be reduced by the premium for such benefits."