Query v. Gate City Life Ins. Co, 385.

Decision Date30 October 1940
Docket NumberNo. 385.,385.
Citation218 N.C. 386,11 S.E.2d 139
PartiesQUERY. v. GATE CITY LIFE INS. CO.
CourtNorth Carolina Supreme Court

Appeal from Superior Court, Cabarrus County; S. J. Ervin, Jr., Special Judge.

Action by Lula Query against the Gate City Life Insurance Company, to recover on life policy. From a judgment for plaintiff, defendant appeals.

No error.

Civil action to recover on contract of insurance.

It is admitted that on 28 February, 1938, the defendant duly issued a $500 policy of insurance on the life of Mary Dorton, payable to the plaintiff as beneficiary, and that it was in force at the date of the death of the insured, 19 February, 1939.

The defendant denied liability under the following provision in the policy: "No benefits will be paid for death resulting within two years from * * * intemperance".

The medical certificate of death gives "Alcoholic intoxication" as the cause of death, while the coroner's certificate recites "Acute alcoholism" as one of the "Contributory causes of importance not related to principal cause". C.S. § 7111; Rees v. Ins. Co., 216 N.C. 428, 5 S.E.2d 154.

The jury answered the issue in favor of the plaintiff, and from judgment thereon, the defendant appeals, assigning errors.

R. Furman James, of Concord, for plaintiff, appellee.

Hartsell & Hartsell, of Concord, for defendant, appellant.

STACY, Chief Justice.

It is asserted that the court erred in two respects, (1) in refusing to set aside the verdict as against the weight of the evidence, and (2) in signing the judgment.

First. Speaking to the action of the trial court in refusing to enter judgment on a verdict which the court had theretofore set aside, in its discretion, as contrary to the weight of the evidence, it was said in Goodman v. Goodman, 201 N. C. 808, 161 S.E. 686, 687: "Rulings of the superior court on matters addressed to the court's discretion, e.g., * * * determination of motion at trial term to set aside verdict as contrary to the weight of the evidence * * *, which involve no question of law or legal inference, are not subject to review on appeal". In addition to the authorities there cited and as further illustrative of the rule, see Evans v. Ins. Co., 213 N.C. 539, 196 S.E. 814; North Carolina Bank v. Shu ford, 204 N.C. 796, 169 S.E. 226; Hardison v. Jones, 196 N.C. 712, 146 S.E. 804. Cf. Likas v. Lackey, 186 N.C. 398, 119 S.E. 763.

Second. The imputed error "in signing the judgment" presents only the question whether error appears on the face of the record....

To continue reading

Request your trial
36 cases
  • King v. Rudd
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • March 6, 1946
    ...472, 35 S.E.2d 422; Smith v. Smith, 223 N.C. 433, 27 S.E.2d 137; Cooper v. Cooper, 21 N.C. 124, 19 S.E.2d 237; Query v. Gate City Life Ins. Co., 218 N.C. 386, 11 S.E.2d 139. Obviously, the judgment is supported by the record. Hence, the exception must fail. Ingram v. Home Mtg. Co., 208 N.C.......
  • Rader v. Queen City Coach Co
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • October 31, 1945
    ...presents the single question, whether the facts found and admitted are sufficient to support the judgment. Query v. Gate City Insurance Co., 218 N.C. 386, 11 S.E.2d 139; Wilson v. City of Charlotte, 206 N.C. 856, 175 S.E. 306; McCoy v. Wachovia Bank & Trust Co., 204 N.C. 721, 169 S.E. 644; ......
  • Simmons v. Lee
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • April 13, 1949
    ... ... 221] appears upon the face of record. Query v ... Gate City Life Ins. Co., 218 N.C. 386, 11 ... ...
  • Roberts v. Hill, 756
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • June 4, 1954
    ...no question of law, and his ruling thereon is irreviewable. Anderson v. Morris, 203 N.C. 577, 166 S.E. 527; Query v. Gate City Life Insurance Co., 218 N.C. 386, 11 S.E.2d 139; King v. Byrd, 229 N.C. 177, 47 S.E.2d 856; Fidelity Trust Co. v. Ellen, 163 N.C. 45, 79 S.E. 263; Riley v. Stone, 1......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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