Costello v. Sovereign Camp, W. O. W.

• Decision Date: 04 May 1942
• Parties: PAULINE B. COSTELLO, RESPONDENT, v. SOVEREIGN CAMP OF THE WOODMEN OF THE WORLD, A CORPORATION, APPELLANT
• Court: Kansas Court of Appeals

162 S.W.2d 322

236 Mo.App. 1103

PAULINE B. COSTELLO, RESPONDENT, v. SOVEREIGN CAMP OF THE WOODMEN OF THE WORLD, A CORPORATION, APPELLANT

Court of Appeals of Missouri, Kansas City

May 4, 1942

Appeal from the Circuit Court of Jackson County.--Hon. Emory H Wright, Judge.

REVERSED.

Judgment reversed.

Rainey T. Wells and Harding, Murphy & Tucker for appellant.

(1) The court erred by refusing to give defendant's Instruction A in the nature of a demurrer at the close of plaintiff's case. (See authorities under Points (2) to (5).) (2) The court erred by refusing to give defendant's Instruction B in the nature of a demurrer offered at the close of the whole case. Long v. Ins. Co. (Mich.), 242 N.W. 889; Holmes v. Ins. Co. (Mich.), 260 N.W. 747; North American v. Montenie (Colo.), 189 P. 16; Zinke v Ins. Co., 275 Mo. 660; Sheppard v. Assn. (Mo App.), 124 S.W.2d 530; Basham v. Ins. Co. (Mo. App.), 113 S.W.2d 128; Griffith v. Continental, 229 Mo. 555; Wood v. Co, 223 Mo. 537; McCormick v. St. Louis, 166 Mo. 315, 335; Laxton v. Co. (Mo. App.), 48 S.W.2d 144, 146; Painter v. Ins. Co. (Mo. App.), 71 S.W.2d 483, 487; Sappington v. Ins. Co. (Mo. App.), 77 S.W.2d 140, 144; Chicago, M. & St. P. v. Clark, 178 U.S. 353, 367; (See cases cited under Points (3) to (5).) (3) The settlement was valid. One who accepts a condition of tender assents to such condition and must abide by the settlement. Perkins v. Headley, 49 Mo.App. 556; McCormick v. City of St. Louis, 166 Mo. 317; Zinke v. Ins. Co., 275 Mo. 660; Gulfport Lbr. Co. v. Boeckeler Lbr. Co. (Mo. App.), 287 S.W. 799; Andrews v. Co., 100 Mo.App. 59; Ogilvie v. Lee, 158 Mo.App. 497; Bartley v. Co., 188 Mo.App. 639, 644; Maach v. Schneider, 51 Mo.App. 92; (See, also, authorities under Point (2)). (4) The question of accord and satisfaction in the instant case is a question for the court. Gulfport Lbr. Co. v. Co. (Mo. App.), 287 S.W. 799; Zinke v. Ins. Co., 275 Mo. 660; Perkins v. Headley, 49 Mo.App. 556; Pollman v. St. Louis, 145 Mo. 651, 658. (5) The trial court erred by refusing to sustain the demurrer offered by defendant at the close of the whole case. Sheppard v. Assn. (Mo. App.), 124 S.W.2d 530; Basham v. Ins. Co. (Mo. App.), 113 S.W.2d 126, 128; Griffith v. Continental Ins. Co., 229 Mo. 555; Wood v. Co., 223 Mo. 537; Berne v. Prudential (Mo. App.), 129 S.W.2d 95; (See cases cited under Point (10).) (6) The death certificate and the autopsy report furnished by plaintiff as part of her proof of loss showed that there was no evidence of bodily injury or external violence or that death was caused by accident. Such recitals were prima facie true. Simpson v. Wells (Mo.), 237 S.W. 520; Sheppard v. Assn. (Mo. App.), 124 S.W.2d 528; Sheppard v. Assn. (Mo. App.), 104 S.W.2d 787; Mo. Stat. Ann. 9060, p. 4199. (7) The court erred by overruling defendant's motion to strike and also its objection to the evidence of Dr. Pallet. Hunt v. Armour & Co. (Mo.), 136 S.W.2d 316; Adelsberger v. Sheehy (Mo.), 59 S.W.2d 644; Kimmie v. Railroad (Mo.), 66 S.W.2d 561; Cox v. Railway (Mo.), 76 S.W.2d 411, 415; Berry v. Co. (Mo.), 108 S.W.2d 106-7; Sheppard v. Assn. (Mo. App.), 124 S.W.2d 528, 531; Basham v. Ins. Co. (Mo. App.), 113 S.W.2d 128; Berne v. Prudential (Mo. App.), 128 S.W.2d 95; Christianson v. Ins. Co. (Mo. App.), 102 S.W.2d 682. (8) The court erred by refusing to give defendant's Instruction D. Perkins v. Headley, 49 Mo.App. 556; McCormick v. St. Louis, 166 Mo. 317; Zinke v. Ins. Co., 275 Mo. 660; Gulfport Co. v. Co. (Mo. App.), 287 S.W. 799; Andrews v. Co., 100 Mo.App. 497, 599; Ogilvie v. Lee, 158 Mo.App. 497; Bartley v. Co., 188 Mo.App. 639, 644; Maach v. Schneider, 51 Mo.App. 92; Harms v. Ins. Co., 172 Mo.App. 242, 248; Booth v. Dougan (Mo. App.), 217 S.W. 326, 328; Chamberlain v. Smith, 110 Mo.App. 657, 660; Seeman v. Noble (Mo. App.), 294 S.W. 438; Ellis v. Mansfield, 215 Mo.App. 293; Sheppard v. Ins. Co. (Mo. App.), 124 S.W.2d 528. (9) The court erred by permitting plaintiff, over the objection of defendant, to testify that her husband told her he had sustained a fall. Plaintiff could not create a cause of action in her favor by the recital of such hearsay statement. Hatfield et al. v. Grocery Co. (Mo. App.), 104 S.W.2d 717; Brashear v. Co. (Mo. App.), 6 S.W.2d 650; Goucher v. Co. (Mo. App.), 104 S.W.2d 289; 130 A. L. R. 299, 306, 308; De Moss v. Co. (Mo. App.), 57 S.W.2d 720, 723; 23 W. U. L. 111; Buttinger v. Co. (Mo. App.), 42 S.W.2d 982; Freese v. Co. (Mo. App.), 58 S.W.2d 761. (10) The fact that plaintiff's counsel wrote defendant that in spite of defendant's refusal to waive the conditions, plaintiff was going to cash the check and sue for the balance, does not affect the validity of the settlement. Ellis v. Mansfield, 215 Mo.App. 298; Gulfport Lbr. Co. v. Co. (Mo. App.), 287 S.W. 800; Pollman Coal Co. v. St. Louis, 145 Mo.App. 651; Knapp v. Co., 137 Mo.App. 472; Cornelius v. Rosen, 111 Mo.App. 621; McCormick v. St. Louis, 166 Mo. 317; Bartley v. Co., 188 Mo. App., 644.

Joseph S. Levy and Trusty, Pugh, Green & Trusty, by S. L. Trusty for respondent.

(1) The court did not err in overruling the demurrer nor in submitting the issue to the jury. 7 Couch's 1937, Cumulative Supplement of Enc. of Ins. Law, p. 164, Art. 1867; also, Text VI, of Supplement; Brizendine v. Central Life Ins. Co. (Mo. App.), 131 S.W.2d 906, 910; Mills v. American Mutual Assn. (Mo. App.), 151 S.W.2d 459, 460-2; Watkins v. Prudential Ins. Co. of America (Mo. App.), 151 S.W.2d 462, 465; O'Ferrall v. Metro. Life Ins. Co. (Mo. App.), 121 S.W.2d 304, 306-7; Vilter Mfg. Co. v. Rolaff (C. C. A. 8), 110 F.2d 491, 492; Fire Ins. Ass'n v. Wickham, 141 U.S. 564, 12 S. C. R. 84, 88; Harrison v. Murray Iron Works Co. (Mo. App.), 70 S.W. 261, 263; Yancey v. Central, etc. (Mo. App.), 77 S.W.2d 149, 154; American Ntl. Ins. Co. v. Reed (Ala.), 160 So. 543; Abercrombie v. Goode, 187 Ala. 310, 65 So. 861; American Workmen v. James, 14 Ala.App. 477, 70 So. 979; Buel v. K. C. Life Ins. Co. (N. M.), 250 P. 635, 638; 5 Joyce on Insurance, art. 3465. (2) There was no error committed by the court in overruling objections made by defendant to the hypothetical question, or questions, asked Dr. Pallett. Wills v. Berberich's, etc., Co. (Mo.), 134 S.W.2d 125; Trusty's Constructing & Reviewing Instructions, sec. 19, pp. 78-81; Tate v. Tyzzer (Mo. App.), 234 S.W. 1038, 1040; Gardner v. Turk (Mo.), 123 S.W.2d 158, 163; Langeneckert v. St. L. S. & Ch. Co. (Mo. App.), 65 S.W.2d 648; Kimmie v. Ter. R. R. Assn. (Mo.), 66 S.W.2d 561; Schepman v. Mutual, etc. (Mo. App.), 104 S.W.2d 777, 782; Goucher v. Woodmen Acc. Co. (Mo. App.), 104 S.W.2d 289. (3) The court did not err in refusing defendant's Instruction D which offered to submit the issue as to whether a bona fide dispute existed as to death being from accidental means. See authorities under Point (1). (4) The court did not err in permitting the plaintiff, Mrs. Costello, to state that her husband said that he just had a hard fall. Goucher v. Woodmen Acc. Co. (Mo. App.), 104 S.W.2d 289, 293-4; Greenlee v. K. C. Cas. Co. (Mo. App.), 182 S.W. 138, 140; Pryor v. Payne (Mo. en banc), 263 S.W. 982, 985; Landau v. P. Mut. Life Ins. Co. (Mo. en banc), 267 S.W. 370, 375; Landau v. Travelers Ins. Co. (Mo. en banc), 267 S.W. 376, 379.

OPINION

SHAIN, P. J.

In this action the plaintiff seeks to recover from defendant for alleged accidental death of her husband to whom the defendant issued a policy of insurance.

The issues in this action will be clarified by a brief statement of facts gleaned from the record and briefs filed herein. The policy involved was issued to Ambrosia B. Costello, husband of plaintiff, dated as effective February 1, 1927. The plaintiff herein is designated as beneficiary. The contract of insurance provided payment of $ 1000 to beneficiary upon satisfactory proof of death of the insured.

There was a further provision as follows:

"The Association will pay Two Thousand Dollars, less any indebtedness to the Association hereon, in lieu of the face amount of said certificate, upon receipt of due proof that the death of the member resulted, directly and independently of all other causes, from bodily injury effected solely through external, violent and accidental means and within sixty days after sustaining such injury."

It appears that the insured died suddenly on January 19, 1936. The coroner was called and autopsy was had. The autopsy report is in words and figures as follows:

"Coroner's Case No. 3463

"Bruce A. Costello

"2036 Elmwood

"Kansas City, Mo.

"Age--40 White Male

"Height--5'7" Weight--165 Hair black, Eyes brown,

"Comp. medium.

"DATE OF DEATH

January 19, 1936.

2:45 P. M.

"Home. Post Mortem

January 19, 1936.

6:00 P. M.

"Tigerman's.

"MAIN GROSS FINDINGS--The body is that of a fairly well nourished, normally developed male, apparently 40 years of age. He shows on general inspection no external evidence of violence. The usual incision for examination of the abdomen and thorax reveals on opening the peritoneal cavity that the organ relationships are normal and the surfaces are smooth and thorax reveals on opening the peritoneal cavity that the organ relationships are normal and the surfaces are smooth, moist and glistening. On opening the chest cavity the pleural surfaces are smooth, moist and glistening, and either lung on removing weights approximately 500 grams. There is nothing worthy of special note seen in either lung. They crepitate throughout, and the bronchi are clear.

"On opening the pericardial sac, the pericardial surfaces are smooth, moist and glistening. The heart weighs approximately 335 grams, it shows the coronary vessels clear and the myocardium on cut section shows nothing worthy of special note. The chamber of the ventricle is normal in size,...