Court Opinion

ID: 9693429
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 16:41:07.248069+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:19:46.365155
License: Public Domain

M. F. Cavanagh, P.J.
(dissenting). I must respectfully dissent. The insurance policy involved here is a group policy in widespread use in this state, having been negotiated as an employee benefit after extensive negotiations between the insurer, the labor union representing the employees, and the management of the company. Under this policy, plaintiff had the right to elect to receive disability benefits. Until such an election was made, plaintiff had no claim to the benefits. I am *195persuaded that the statute of limitations should start to run from the time that plaintiff had a legally enforceable claim to the benefits, not when she had a right to elect to claim the benefits.
One can search the terms of this contract in vain seeking language that indicates plaintiff must seek disability benefits within six years or any other period of time. I agree with the statement of the majority that, "[t]he statute of limitations begins to run from the date the insured has an enforceable claim against the insurer”. However, plaintiff’s claim was not enforceable at the time of her injury unless she elected to enforce it. The six-year statute of limitations would apply but not until there has been a breach of contract. Under the contract’s very terms, there is no breach until the employee elects to discontinue his or her life insurance and the insurance company refuses to pay. The parties to this contract apparently saw no need to insert a time limit and; accordingly, this Court should not insert one for them. I would reverse.