Court Opinion

ID: 9661711
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 22:47:13.70485+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:32.682307
License: Public Domain

John I. Purtle, Justice, dissenting. I cannot agree with the majority in this case. The case turns on one answer. The question is: To the best of your knowledge and belief have you . . . had a female disorder or any menstrual irregularity? The answer was in the negative. The appellant testified she thought she was going through menopause, and in such cases she thought it was normal for the menstrual period to be irregular. I cannot say as a matter of law it was not her belief that this was a normal or natural occurrence. After all, she had not seen a doctor in more than 11 years prior to the time she applied for this insurance policy. She continued to work full time for several months after the policy was issued before she consulted a doctor. There is nothing in this case to persuade me that the appellant did not actually believe her health was normal at the time she answered the critical question. Her confusing response to the questions came many months later when she was ill and was on her death bed. She weighed approximately 57 pounds and was taking medication at the time her deposition was taken. Certainly, there was reason for her to be confused about questions propounded to her by experienced counsel. Another reason I dissent is because the trial court allowed the jury to decide the question. After the jury found in favor of the appellant, the court set the verdict aside. If there was enough evidence to go to the jury, there was enough evidence to support the verdict. Nothing changed the evidence between the submission of the case to the jury and the setting aside of the verdict. Had the jury decided the other way, I would have been agreeable to affirming the verdict. I am authorized to state that Stroud, J., joins me in this dissent.