Opinion ID: 1763630
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Triable Issues of Fact

Text: ¶ 7. The documentary evidence in the record shows as follows: (1) In her application for Life's CL & D insurance dated June 25, 1998, Bullock stated that she was not currently disabled and was actively engaged in full-time employment. (2) After applying for the CL & D insurance, Bullock submitted a claim for disability benefits, alleging that she had fallen, breaking her left foot and spraining her right hand. She ceased working on July 24, 1998. (3) Bullock submitted additional claims on November 2, 1998, and December 3, 1998, and January 15, March 2, April 29, July 12, and September 9, 1999. All of these claims stated that she was disabled from and after July 24, 1998, due to the fall. (4) The claim forms submitted on July 12 and September 16, 1999, showed that she was disabled due to depression and anxiety. (5) Bullock submitted a claim form to Life Investors Insurance Company on July 6, 1998, in which she stated that she was disabled due to chest pain and shortness of breath, that her first symptom occurred on May 7, 1998, and that she was not working as of June 21, 1998. She submitted subsequent claims to Life Investors on August 14, September 8, November 2 and November 3, 1998. (6) Bullock submitted a claim form to Cherokee National Life on August 17, 1998, in which she stated that she was disabled due to shortness of breath, that her first symptom occurred on May 7, 1998, and that she was totally disabled as of June 21, 1998. (7) Bullock's physician, Charles Pruitt, M. D., III, stated that Bullock visited him for chest pain and shortness of breath on May 7, 1998, and that Bullock became disabled due to these conditions as of June 21, 1998, and/or June 22, 1998. ¶ 8. When questioned about the accuracy of these representations at her deposition, Bullock averred that they were true. ¶ 9. We find that the documentary evidence, when coupled with Bullock's averments at her deposition, overwhelmingly proves that Bullock made material misrepresentations to Life and that Life is entitled to rescission of the contract. The documents she filed with the three insurance companies completely contradict themselves. There are three dates on which she claims to have become totally disabled. The cause for her total disability (shortness of breath or chest pain or broken foot and sprained hand or anxiety and depression) differs among the applications. ¶ 10. To rescind an application for insurance, an insurer must show that the application contains answers which are false, incomplete, or misleading and that such answers are material to the acceptance of the risk or to the hazard to be assumed. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am. v. Estate of Russell, 274 So.2d 113, 116 (Miss. 1973). The application Bullock submitted to Life is, at the least, incomplete because she failed to mention her disability due to shortness of breath and/or chest pain. She also stated that she was working full time as of the date of the application, July 24, 1998, but on the other applications, she stated that she no longer worked as of June 21, 1998 and/or June 22, 1998, both dates being prior to July 24, 1998.