Court Opinion

ID: 9847645
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 04:03:59.916841+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:17:25.108390
License: Public Domain

Justice Meyer
concurring in part and dissenting in part.
I concur in that portion of the majority opinion affirming the trial judge’s entry of judgment notwithstanding the verdict for the defendant carrier on the contract claim and the directed verdict on the fraud claim. I dissent from that portion of the majority opinion which holds that the Court of Appeals erred in affirming the trial judge’s entry of a directed verdict in favor of the defendant carrier on plaintiffs claim for unfair or deceptive trade practices. The evidence was, as a matter of law, insufficient to justify a verdict for the plaintiff on this claim.
The majority hardly mentions the unique nature of the policy in question. Unlike standard policies, the “college defender policy” here has no exclusion for death occurring as a result of war or as a result of flight while a crew member as far as the $20,000 basic coverage is concerned.
The $40,000 accidental death benefit rider did, however, specifically contain exclusions for death caused by:
a. travel or flight in any aircraft if
i. the insured is a pilot or crew member, receiving instructions, or any duty whatsoever, or
ii. the aircraft is used for military purposes, or
b. military service during war.
In his application for this policy in 1968, Mr. Pearce answered the following questions as indicated:
10. a. Have you ever taken flights in private aircraft?
If so, when?............................... No
b. Military aircraft? When?.................... No
c. Total hours flown .......................... None
d. Do you have or have you ever had a pilot’s license? .................................... No
*474(Complete aviation questionnaire if answered Yes and attach to application.)
Date of last flight.......................... None
e. Do you contemplate future aviation training? . No
11. a. Were you in Military Service?............... No
b. Are you in the active reserve now?.......... No Inactive? .................................. No
When Mr. Dickerson, who was a “Specialist in Military Financial Planning,” reviewed the policy (with the application attached) in 1971 and wrote to the defendant carrier, the exclusion for flight as a crew member or trainee on the $40,000 accidental death benefit was obvious, and he apparently had no concern or question about the accidental death benefit coverage. He specifically asked only about the “application in 1968 for $20,000” and whether Lt. Pearce was fully covered for that amount now that he was an Air Force officer flying as a crew member or trainee on jet aircraft while in training and after graduation — particularly in view of the answers on the original application to which he referred. The letter made no reference to the $40,000 accidental death rider, but only to the $20,000 basic coverage. The only possible indication to the contrary would be a strained interpretation of the word “fully” in the first sentence of the letter: “Lt. Pearce signed an application in 1968 for $20,000 and he is concerned as to whether or not he is fully covered now that he is in the USAF.” Because it was in the same sentence referring to the “$20,000” and to the “application” which contained the answers regarding this connection with flying on aircraft, it is obvious that the word “fully” refers to the $20,000 basic policy. I find untenable the majority’s suggestion that this inquiry letter referred to the $40,000 accidental death benefit which was the subject of a specific exclusion.
It should also be noted that Mr. Dickerson’s letter evidences his awareness that only specifically designated executives of the company could waive provisions of the policy. His letter closes with the admonition that Lt. Pearce “would like to have it spelled out over the signature of one of your executives.”
It is likewise clear from the policyowners’ service worker who responded to the inquiry that she was answering the precise question asked. In pertinent part, her reply was:
*475Your program [already referring to the basic program] does not contain a war clause. In other words, the basic program, is in full force and effect regardless of your occupation. The Accidental Death Rider portion of the policy would not be payable should your death occur as the result of a direct act of war. However, in addition to the basic policy, this Accidental Death Rider would also be payable should his [sic] death occur while in the Armed Forces but not as the result of an act of war.
(Emphasis added.)
The carrier responded directly to the precise inquiry concerning the $20,000 basic program and explained that it would be payable “regardless of your occupation” and even as a result of war. The reply was truthful in every respect and cannot, in my opinion, be said to be false or recklessly made or have any tendency to deceive. In fact, the response closed with this entreaty:
Should this letter not fully answer your questions or if you would like additional information, please write directly to us or call us collect. •
I find insufficient evidence in this record to support a verdict based upon any unfair or deceptive trade practices.
I vote to affirm the unanimous decision of the Court of Appeals.