Court Opinion

ID: 6745129
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 23:47:31.590576+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:02:03.360582
License: Public Domain

OPINION
By ROSS, PJ.
The question presented involves the construction of a clause in a policy of insurance, . insuring the son of the plaintiff in error against loss from accident and also carrying provision for the payment of a sum for. the death of the .insured. The hill of particular’s alleges, that “the .insured .met-his accidental death by being assaulted,. beaten and stabbed in the. chest and ab.do-. men at the hands' of one Oscar Fair, and as a direct result thereof died on the 2nd., day of August, .1.933.”. ' ......
The answer alleges, .that the .policy prp,-.. *363vided among other things that: — “In all cases where death or disability results from stab wounds, gunshot wounds, or from any violation - of law, the liability of- the Company shall be limited to only one-fourth-(14) of the amount otherwise payable under t-hiqvpolicyv Defendant- further says that said- Henry Whatley died by reason of stab wounds and/or from violation of .law.” The amount due -under-this clause was alleged to-, have been tendered.- -
.Tlie.reply admitted that the insured died by reason of stab wounds, and denied that the insured died of stab wounds while in violation of law:
Under the pleadings, the plaintiff in error was entitled only to judgment for the amount -of the tender and proper interest, which not having been paid into court threw the costs against t-he^ defendant in error. See'the decision 'in Hays v Briiggenr-n, No 43.17, of even date herewith.
The language of the policy is clear and unambiguous,- limiting to one-fourth the normal insurance in any case in which death results from a stab wound. . The language ifeed does not make it necessary for the company to prove .also that the insured was violating the law when wounded. The language used employs the disjunctive.
Tire judgment will be-modified as to costs and juterest, and as so modified will be affirmed, . .....
MATTHEWS and HAMILTON, JJ, concur..