Case Name: ETTA EVANS v. IMPERIAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1938-05-04
Citations: 213 N.C. 539
Docket Number: 
Parties: ETTA EVANS v. IMPERIAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.
Judges: Seawell, J., took no part in tbe consideration or decision of tbis case.
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 213
Pages: 539–540

Head Matter:
ETTA EVANS v. IMPERIAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.
(Filed 4 May, 1938.)
1. Trial § 49: Appeal and Error § 37b—
A motion to set aside a verdict as being against tbe weight of tbe evidence is addressed to tbe discretion of tbe trial court and is not reviewable, and an exception on the ground that the refusal of tbe motion was error as a matter of law is untenable.
2. Same—
A motion for a new trial on the ground that tbe verdict is contrary to the evidence is in tbe discretion of the trial court.
3. Appeal and Error § 40a—
An assignment of error to the signing of the judgment cannot be sustained when the judgment is supported by the verdict.
Sea well, J., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.
Appeal by defendant from Sinclair, J., at January Term, 1938, of Wake. No error.
Pou & Emanuel for plaintiff, appellee.
Thomas W. Ruffin for defendant, appellant.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
This is an action instituted by tbe beneficiary upon a policy of insurance, issued by tbe defendant upon tbe life of Lina Evans (Hamm), wherein was provided that "should death of the insured be caused by . . . disease of heart within one year from date of this policy . . . the liability of the company is limited to the amount of premium paid to and received by the company, and no more." The insured died within one year from the issuance of the policy.
The sole question for determination by the jury was whether the death of the insured was caused by a disease of the heart, which was submitted under an appropriate issue and was answered in the negative. From a judgment predicated upon the verdict the defendant appealed.
Evidence was introduced by both plaintiff and defendant in which there was little conflict of facts, but some conflict in expert opinions based upon the facts.
The assignments of error are (1) that the court erred in denying motion to set the verdict aside as a matter of law, upon the ground that all the evidence, taken in its most favorable light to the plaintiff, fails to substantiate the verdict of the jury, (2) that the court erred in overruling motion for new trial, and (3) the court erred in signing the judgment.
". . . a familiar principle of practice forbids a directed instruction in favor of tbe party upon wbom rests tbe burden of proof. Cox v. R. R., 123 N. C., 604; House v. R. R., 131 N. C., 103, 105." Yarn Mills v. Armstrong, 191 N. C., 125. A motion to set aside a verdict as being against tbe weight of tbe evidence is addressed to tbe discretion of tbe court and is not reviewable. Hardison v. Jones, 196 N. C., 712. Tbe granting of a new trial because tbe verdict is contrary to tbe evidence is in tbe discretion of tbe trial court. Redmond v. Stepp, 100 N. C., 212 (220). Tbe judgment is supported by tbe verdict.
In tbe record we find
No error.
Seawell, J., took no part in tbe consideration or decision of tbis case.