Court Opinion

ID: 9607016
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 02:54:52.004173+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:31:14.504261
License: Public Domain

Eberhardt, Presiding Judge,
dissenting.
The death certificate here showed that the cause of decedent’s death was an "infarction small bowel, due to marked arteriosclerosis.” In addition, there was an autopsy in which the findings were essentially the same, including: "The abdominal aorta is quite atherosclerotic, but it, itself, is not occluded. However, the superior mesenteric artery appears totally occluded, as if possibly by an atheromatous embolus. The inferior mesenteric artery also appears at least partially occluded,” and, "small bowel—one section. Total simple necrosis of the entire thickness of the bowel. Colon. One section . . . reveals simple necrosis of the mucosa and portions of the wall on one side; a line of neutrophilic infiltration is present at the junction . . . Clinical Pathological Summary. Autopsy revealed arteriosclerotic occlusion of the superior mesentery artery with infarction of virtually the entire small bowel and most of the large bowel. Arteriosclerosis of the superior mesenteric artery in other areas was evidenced. The aortic graft was noted. Other findings were essentially consistent with age and mode of death.”
The attending physician’s testimony makes it clear *117that the cause of death was not solely and exclusively by an accidental means, though the probability was equal that the accident may have had some part in causing death. He testified that arteriosclerosis was a secondary cause and if there were two causes the accident could not have caused it directly and independently of all other causes as the policy requires to afford coverage.
The death certificate alone makes a prima facie case for movant.
Plaintiff, husband of the decedent, testified that he had not seen the accident and that his wife "didn’t know what happened.” She had experienced a long history of arteriosclerosis and treatment for it, including an operation by Dr. DeBakey. Dr. Trotter had attended her for the condition since 1954 and testified that her condition was an advanced one.
To avoid liability under the provisions of this accident policy it is not necessary that the insurer show that the accident had nothing to do with the insured’s death, or that her prior health impairment was the sole cause of her death. If it appears that the impairment contributed to her death no liability arises under the policy.
A similar situation appeared in Prudential Ins. Co. of America v. Kellar, 213 Ga. 453, 457 (99 SE2d 823), reversing 95 Ga. App. 332 (98 SE2d 90), where the Supreme Court held: "The death certificate constituted prima facie evidence that myocardial infarction was the direct cause of the insured’s death. See Ga. L. 1945, pp. 236-242 (Code Ann. § 88-1118). This proof as to the cause of the insured’s death was not rebutted, the undisputed testimony of the physician who signed the certificate being that the disease or condition of the insured directly leading to his death was a myocardial infarction, or heart attack, with antecedent causes due to hypertensive cardiovascular disease, or high blood pressure, of several years’ duration. The injuries sustained in the accident contributed to his death, but they were not related to the disease or condition causing his death . . . Under the terms of the policy, the insurer in the instant case was not liable to pay double the amount of the policy if the death of the insured resulted directly or indirectly from *118bodily infirmity. The undisputed evidence disclosing that the primary cause of the insured’s death was heart failure brought on by previous high blood pressure, and that the injuries he sustained to his hip and wrist in the accident, 68 days before his death, merely aggravated or accelerated his existing bodily infirmity, the insured’s beneficiary was not entitled to a recovery and a verdict in favor of the insurer was demanded.” Cf. Continental Assurance Co. v. Rothell, 227 Ga. 258 (181 SE2d 283), reversing 121 Ga. App. 868 (176 SE2d 259). (Emphasis supplied.)
The evidence submitted in favor of the motion for summary judgment made out a prima facie case, and more, for the movant, and it became "the duty of each party at the hearing on the motion for summary judgment to present his case in full.” Summer-Minter v. Giordano, 231 Ga. 601, 604, supra. The pleadings were pierced and the plaintiff utterly failed to come forward with evidence rebutting the prima facie case made. There was no material issue of fact left. "In this case the petitioner had his choice of producing counter-proof and thus make an issue of fact, or do nothing, that is, create no issue of fact and suffer judgment.” Crutcher v. Crawford Land Co., 220 Ga. 298, 304 (138 SE2d 580).
I would reverse.
I am authorized to state that Judge Webb joins in this dissent.