Opinion ID: 865311
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: whether there was fraud as a matter of law

Text: BECAUSE THE SAME POLICY LANGUAGE AS THAT FOUND IN NUNALEY’S POLICY HAS BEEN HELD TO BE CLEAR AND UNAMBIGUOUS ¶17. Horace Mann argues that the policy language has been found to be clear and unambiguous by the Mississippi Court of Appeals. In Watts v. Horace Mann Life Ins. Co., 949 So. 2d 833 (Miss. Ct. App. 2006),10 a case strikingly similar to the case sub judice, the Court of Appeals stated: The language of the policies was clear and unambiguous, despite Watts's arguments to the contrary. The policies clearly stated: The simultaneous death benefit If the Insureds die within 31 days of each other and this policy is in force on the date of the first death with all premiums paid, we will provide a simultaneous death benefit. Proof of each Insured's death must be received at the Home Office. The simultaneous death benefit will be determined as of the date the Insureds died. The surviving Insured may purchase a new policy Within 31 days after the date of an Insured's death, the surviving Insured may request a new policy. We will not require proof that the Insured is insurable. The new policy may be of the same coverage as this policy or any permanent plan of insurance currently being issued by us. 10 The motion for rehearing was denied on October 17, 2006, and the mandate issued on November 7, 2006. 9 (emphasis in original). There is no interpretation of these sections other than that the insurance would pay benefits for the death of both insureds only if they died within thirty-one days of each other. Otherwise, the second insured could automatically request a new policy, without showing proof of insurability, when the first insured died, provided that the request was made within thirty-one days of the death of the first insured. The copy provided to Watts stated in bold on the first page: Right to examine policy for 15 days. It is important to us that you are satisfied with this policy. We hope that it meets the insurance goals for which you planned. If you are not satisfied, you may return the policy to us or the agent from whom you purchased it, within 15 days after it is delivered to you, and receive a full refund of any premiums that you have paid. Therefore, not only were the policies clear and unambiguous, but they also encouraged Watts to carefully review her copy to ensure that she was satisfied. Id. at 836. See also Parker v. Horace Mann Life Ins. Co., 949 So. 2d 57 (Miss. Ct. App. 2006); Warren v. Horace Mann Life Ins. Co., 949 So. 2d 770 (Miss. Ct. App. 2006); Evans v. Horace Mann Life Ins. Co., 946 So. 2d 910 (Miss. Ct. App. 2006); Wheeler v. Horace Mann Life Ins. Co., 2007 Miss. App. LEXIS 146 (per curiam affirmed). ¶18. Similarly, Nunaley’s policy states: Your Plan of Insurance Your plan of insurance provides level term insurance on the lives of two insureds for 20 years. While this insurance is in force, we will pay the insurance benefits when the first of the joint insureds dies. ... The insurance benefits we pay We will pay the insurance benefits in accordance with this policy’s provisions upon receipt of due proof of the first death of one of the joint insureds. These insurance benefits, determined as of the date of the Insured’s death, will be the total of: 10 ! the Insurance Amount[11 ] currently in force; ... The simultaneous death benefit If the Insureds die within 31 days of each other and this policy is in force on the date of the first death, we will pay the survivor benefit to the beneficiary of each insured. Proof of each insured’s death must be received in the home office. The survivor benefit will be determined as of the date the surviving Insured dies. The survivor benefit will be equal to: ! the Insurance Amount currently in force; ... The surviving Insured may purchase a new policy Within 31 days of an Insured’s death, the surviving Insured may request a new policy. We will not require proof that the Insured is insurable. The new policy may be the same coverage as this policy or any permanent plan of insurance currently being issued by us. ... You may change to single life plans While this policy is in force and both Insureds are living, you may exchange this policy for an individual level term insurance policy on each Insured. You will not need to provide proof that the insureds are insurable. ... Right to examine policy for 20 days–It is important for you to be satisfied with this policy. We hope that it meets your insurance goals. If you are not satisfied, you may return the policy to us or the agent from whom you purchased it within 20 days after it is delivered to you, and we will refund any premiums you have paid. Return of the policy shall void it as if it had never been issued. (Emphasis in original). Thus, as the Court of Appeals has held in similar cases, we hold that the language of Nunaley’s policy was clear and unambiguous. Since the language of the policy does not support a claim for fraud, this issue, as asserted by Horace Mann, has merit. 11 “Insurance Amount” is defined by the Policy as “the amount of level term life insurance issued under the policy as stated on the Policy data page,” which was $110,295.00. 11