Adamos v. New York Life Ins. Co., 7424.

Decision Date02 February 1934
Docket NumberNo. 7424.,7424.
Citation5 F. Supp. 1019
PartiesADAMOS v. NEW YORK LIFE INS. CO.
CourtU.S. District Court — Western District of Pennsylvania

John D. Meyer and Alan S. Christner, both of Pittsburgh, Pa., for plaintiff.

William H. Eckert and Smith, Buchanan, Scott & Gordon, all of Pittsburgh, Pa., for defendant.

SCHOONMAKER, District Judge.

An equitable issue was raised in this case as to whether the life insurance policies sued upon were void for fraud on part of the insured. We heard this issue and found in favor of the defendant, by decree entered November 4, 1933. A new term has intervened since that decree.

The plaintiff, on January 30, 1934, asked a rehearing in this case, because the court failed to pass upon and decide whether the application of the insured attached to the policies sued upon became a part of the insurance contract, within the purview of the Pennsylvania Statute of May 17, 1921, P. L. 682, § 410 (d), 40 PS Pa. § 510 (d), formerly the Act of May 11, 1881, P. L. 20, by reason of the alleged illegibility of the copy of the application attached to the policies.

In the first place, a term has intervened since our decree of November 4, 1933, and we are of the opinion we have no power to modify or change that decree. Equity Rule 69 (28 USCA § 723) provides: "No rehearing shall be granted after the term at which the final decree of the court shall have been entered and recorded, if an appeal lies to the Circuit Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court." We regard our decree of November 4, 1933, as a final decree from which an appeal would lie. Therefore a rehearing would be of no avail.

In the second place, we cannot find that the copy of the application is so illegible as to fail of compliance with the Pennsylvania statute. We have had no trouble in reading it, and do not think the applicant would. The application and the insurance policies, with the copy of the application, were offered in evidence on the trial of the equitable issue, without objection on the part of the plaintiff.

Counsel for plaintiff rely on the case of New York Life Insurance Co. v. Halpern (D. C.) 57 F.(2d) 200, 203, affirmed by Per Curiam Opinion of the Circuit Court of Appeals, 61 F.(2d) 1037, as sustaining their position. We cannot so read that case. Judge Gibson, the trial judge, merely held that the insurance company could not urge that the insured was estopped from asserting any error in the answers recorded in the application, because the copy attached to the policy was in such...

To continue reading

Request your trial
4 cases
  • Ostrov v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Pennsylvania
    • September 30, 1966
    ...York Life Insurance Co. v. Halpern, 57 F.2d 200 (W.D.Pa.1931), aff'd. per curiam, 61 F.2d 1037 (3 Cir. 1932); Adamos v. New York Life Insurance Co., 5 F.Supp. 1019 (W.D.Pa.1934), aff'd. 71 F.2d 997 (3 Cir. 1934), reversed on other grounds, 293 U.S. 386, 55 S. Ct. 315, 79 L.Ed. 444 (1935); E......
  • New York Life Ins. Co. v. Wolf
    • United States
    • U.S. Court of Appeals — Eighth Circuit
    • July 30, 1936
    ...circumstances there was nothing to be left to the jury." And in Adamos v. New York Life Ins. Co. (D.C.) 5 F.Supp. 278; Id. (D.C.) 5 F.Supp. 1019, 1020, the court "had no trouble in reading it, and do not think the applicant would." In First Trust Co. of St. Paul v. Kansas City Life Ins. Co.......
  • Gozan v. Mutual Life Ins. Co. of New York
    • United States
    • New York Supreme Court
    • February 27, 1974
    ...Co. v. Halpern, D.C., 57 F.2d 200, affd. 3 Cir., 61 F.2d 1037; Adamos v. New York Life Insurance Co., D.C., 5 F.Supp. 278, rehearing den. 5 F.Supp. 1019, affd. 3 Cir., 71 F.2d 997, revd. other grounds 293 U.S. 386, 55 S.Ct. 315, 79 L.Ed. 444; Enelow v. New York Life Insurance Co., 3 Cir., 8......
  • Adamos v. New York Life Ins Co
    • United States
    • U.S. Supreme Court
    • January 7, 1935
    ...questions as to his medical history,' and that these questions were all as to 'matters of fact within his knowledge.' 5 F.Supp. 278, 280; 5 F.Supp. 1019. Decree was entered canceling the policies and providing for the repayment of the premiums tendered. The decree was affirmed by the Circui......

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT