Court Opinion

ID: 9600680
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 01:30:08.553041+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:09:57.370795
License: Public Domain

HENRIOD, Justice
(concurring).
I concur with the main opinion’s conclusion that 32 years’ lapse should in and of itself preclude recovery. However, I think this case can be decided on a more restrictive ground, based on the contractual terms of the policy itself.
The policy provides for immediate notice of death; proof of loss within 90 days; that if, because it is not reasonably possible to give the notice, the policy is not invalidated, but that notice must in such event, be given as soon as reasonably possible. The policy further provides for a *4122j4-year limitation for bringing an action thereon in any event, stating that “nor shall such action be brought at all unless brought within 2 years from the expiration of the time within which proof of loss is required by the policy (90 days).
It appears that under the wording of the policy, an action must be brought within 2 years after 90 days from date of death, i. e., within 2(4 years after death, else by the plain terms of the policy, no recovery can be had. The policy itself, by mutual agreement, for a consideration, puts the onus on the beneficiary to act, one way or another, within 2(4 years. This seems to be a reasonable requirement to which obligors and obligees might agree, a requirement that most certainly is a factor in actuarial calculations.
The provision relating to non-invalidation if notice cannot be given immediately, in the light of the other provisions, seems obviously designed to provide that if reasonably it cannot be given immediately, action must be taken within 2(4 years, after which such time, the parties considered notice not to be within a reasonable time.
Although I concur with the main opinion that, in any case, 32 years exceed the bounds of reason, resulting in non-liability, I think the Utah limitations statutes have nothing to do with this case, where the limitation is set by written agreement of the parties themselves.