Schoen v. American Nat. Ins. Co.

• Citation: 180 S.W.2d 57,352 Mo. 935
• Decision Date: 03 April 1944
• Docket Number: 38488
• Parties: Frieda A. Schoen, Guardian of the Person and Curator of the Estate of Theodore A. G. Schoen, Appellant, v. American National Insurance Company
• Court: Missouri Supreme Court

180 S.W.2d 57

352 Mo. 935

Frieda A. Schoen, Guardian of the Person and Curator of the Estate of Theodore A. G. Schoen, Appellant, v. American National Insurance Company

No 38488

Supreme Court of Missouri

April 3, 1944

Rehearing Denied May 2, 1944.

Appeal from Cape Girardeau Court of Common Pleas; Hon. J. Henry Caruthers, Judge.

Reversed and remanded (with directions).

J Grant Frye and J. L. London for appellant.

The Missouri courts and the overwhelming weight of authority hold that insanity excuses notice and proof of total and permanent disability where such are required by policies of insurance whether as conditions precedent or subsequent, and, under such circumstances, disability payments are due from the time of disability. Hablutzel v. Home Life Ins. Co., 332 Mo. 920, 59 S.W.2d 639, affirmed 52 S.W.2d 480; Magill Conservator, etc., v. Travelers Ins. Co., 133 F.2d 709; Hayes v. Equitable Life Assur. Society, 235 Mo.App. 1261, 150 S.W.2d 1113; Roseberry v. Amer. Benevolent Assn., 142 Mo.App. 552, 121 S.W. 785; Hayes v. Continental Cas. Co., 98 Mo.App. 410, 72 S.W. 135; Randolph v. City of Springfield, 257 S.W. 449, 302 Mo. 33; Johnson v. Mutual Life Ins. Co., 70 F.2d 41, and 293 U.S. 335, expressly recognizing such to be the law and citing Roseberry v. Amer. Benev. Assn., 142 Mo.App. 552; Swan v. Atlantic Life Ins. Co., 159 S.E. 192, 156 Va. 852; McCoy v. New York Life Ins. Co., 258 N.W. 320; John Hancock v. DeCosta, 88 F.2d 479; Mutual Life Ins. Co. v. Heilbronner, 116 F.2d 855; Pfeiffer v. Mo. State Life Ins. Co., 174 Ark. 783, 297 S.W. 847; Rhyne v. Jefferson Standard Life Ins. Co., 196 N.C. 717, 147 S.E. 6, 199 N.C. 419, 154 S.E. 749; Levan v. Met. Life Ins. Co., 138 S.C. 253, 136 S.E. 304; Reed v. Legal Protective Assn., 154 Mich. 161, 117 N.W. 600; Marti v. Midwest Life Ins. Co., 108 Neb. 845, 189 N.W. 388; Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Carroll, 209 Ky. 522, 273 S.W. 54; Comstock v. Fraternal Acc. Assn., 116 Wis. 382, 93 N.W. 22; Mo. State Life Ins. Co. v. LeFevre, 10 S.W.2d 267; Trippe v. Provident Fund Society, 140 N.Y. 23, 35 N.E. 315; Ins. Companies v. Boykin, 12 Wall. 433; Restatement of the Law of Contracts, American Law Institute, sec. 301; Northwestern Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Carneal, 90 S.W.2d 1010, 262 Ky. 665; Mid-Continent Life Ins. Co. v. Harrison, 53 P.2d 266, 175 Okla. 543; Equitable Life Assur. Soc. of U.S. v. Felton, 71 S.W.2d 1049, 59 A.L.R. 611; Levitt v. New York, 297 N.W. 888; Guy v. U.S. Casualty Co., 151 N.C. 465, 66 S.E. 437; Schlintz v. Equitable Life Assur. Soc. of U.S., 226 Wis. 255, 276 N.W. 336; Bean v. Ins. Co., 190 A. 131, 88 N.H. 416; American United Life Ins. Co. v. Goodman, 146 S.W.2d 907, 201 Ark. 634; Pan American Life Ins. Co. v. Welch, 74 S.W.2d 408; Mo. State Life Ins. Co. v. Case, 71 S.W.2d 199; Hickman v. Ins. Co., 173 So. 742, 186 La. 997; Mo. State Life Ins. Co. v. Holt, 55 S.W.2d 788, 186 Ark. 672; Nelson v. Jefferson, etc., Ins Co., 154 S.E. 752, 199 N.C. 443; Ray v. N.Y. Life Ins. Co., 28 F.Supp. 988; Halliday v. United States, 315 U.S. 94, 62 S.Ct. 438, 86 L.Ed. 393, reversing 116 F.2d 812; Whetstone v. N.Y. Life Ins. Co., 182 S.C. 150, 188 S.E. 793; Mid. Cont. L. Ins. Co. v. Hubbard, 32 S.W.2d 701; State Ins. Co. v. Barnes, 58 S.W.2d 189; Porto v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 120 Conn. 196, 180 A. 289; Old Colony, etc., Ins. Co. v. Julian, 175 Ark. 359, 299 S.W. 366; Neill v. Fidelity Mut. Life Ins. Co., 119 W.Va. 694, 195 S.E. 860; Guardian Life Ins Co. v. Brackett, 108 Ind.App. 442, 27 N.W.2d 103; Hallowes v. N.Y. Life Ins. Co., 133 Fla. 872, 184 So. 7; Baylor v. Assur. Co., 113 N.J.L. 398, 174 A. 526; State Life Ins. Co. v. Fann, 269 S.W. 1111; Columbia Natl. Life Ins. Co. v. Zammar, 178 Okla. 207, 62 P.2d 63; Franklin Life Ins. Co. v Tharpe, 130 Fla. 546, 178 So. 300; Reliance L. Ins. Co. v. Lynch, 144 Fla. 50, 197 So. 723; Berry v. Acacia Mut. Life Assn., 49 Ariz. 413, 67 P.2d 478; Rand v. Home Life Ins. Co., 206 N.C. 760, 174 S.E. 749; Woodell v. Ins. Co., 214 N.C. 496, 199 S.E. 719; Minnesota Life Ins. Co. v. Marshall, 29 F.2d 977.

Fordyce, White, Mayne, Williams & Hartman, Walter R. Mayne and Rush H. Limbaugh for respondent.

(1) By the provisions of the policy the furnishing of proof of disability of the insured was a condition precedent to liability of the insurer to waive premium payments and pay disability benefits. Adams v. Met. Life Ins. Co., 74 S.W.2d 899, 228 Mo.App. 915; Moss v. Met. Life Ins Co., 84 S.W.2d 395, 230 Mo.App. 70; Grafe v. Fid. Mut. L. Ins. Co., 84 S.W.2d 400; Farmers v. Met. Life Ins. Co., 85 S.W.2d 235; Martin v. Ill. Bankers L. Ins. Co., 91 S.W.2d 646; Clinton v. Met. Life Ins. Co., 94 S.W.2d 1080; Sapaw v. Met. Life Ins. Co., 94 S.W.2d 1082; Anderson v. Met. Life Ins. Co., 96 S.W.2d 631; Sutherland v. Met. Life Ins. Co., 99 S.W.2d 111; State ex rel. Met. Life Ins. Co. v. Allen, 100 S.W.2d 487; Winkleman v. Central States Life Ins. Co., 101 S.W.2d 736; Rowan v. N.Y. Life Ins. Co., 124 S.W.2d 577; Feinberg v. N.Y. Life Ins. Co., 127 S.W.2d 82; Brown v. Mut. Life Ins. Co., 140 S.W.2d 91; Bergholm v. Peoria Life Ins. Co., 284 U.S. 489; Columbian National v. Goldberg, 138 F.2d 192; Lincoln Natl. Life Ins. Co. v. Ghio, 111 F.2d 307; Reingold v. N.Y. Life Ins. Co., 85 F.2d 776; Saul v. N.Y. Life Ins. Co., 92 F.2d 665; Orr v. Mutual Life Ins. Co. of N.Y., 64 F.2d 561; Avery v. N.Y. Life Ins. Co., 67 F.2d 442; New England Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Cohen, 83 F.2d 163; Lando v. Equitable L. Assur. Soc., 11 F.Supp. 729; Armstrong v. K.C. Life Ins. Co., 12 F.Supp. 817; All States Life v. Steward, 5 So.2d 784; New England Mut. L. Ins. Co. v. Reynolds, 116 So. 151, 217 Ala. 307; New York Life Ins. Co. v. Sinquefield, 163 So. 812, 231 Ala. 185; Home Life v. Couch, 141 S.W.2d 20; New York Life Ins. Co. v. Farrell, 63 S.W.2d 520, 187 Ark. 984; New York Life Ins. Co. v. Jackson, 65 S.W.2d 904, 188 Ark. 292; Cochens v. Prudential Ins. Co., 40 P.2d 902, 4 Cal.App. (2d) 172; Morris v. N.Y. Life Ins. Co., 43 P.2d 572, 6 Cal.App. (2d) 30; Clark v. Equitable Life, 68 P.2d 541; Mass. Mutual v. Montague, 10 S.E.2d 279; McLendon v. Jefferson Standard, 1 S.E.2d 75; N.W. Mut. L. Ins. Co. v. Dean, 157 S.E. 878; Penn Mut. v. Milton, 127 S.E. 80; Bennett v. N.Y. Life Ins. Co., 121 P.2d 551; Moscov v. Mutual Life, 50 N.E.2d 970; Ferguson v. Penn Mutual, 305 Ill.App. 537, 27 N.E.2d 548; Hanson v. Northwestern Mutual, 229 Ill.App. 15; Jabara v. Equitable Life, 280 Ill.App. 147; Bozich v. Metropolitan, 155 Kan. 573; Smith v. Mo. State Life Ins. Co., 7 P.2d 65, 134 Kan. 426; Bott v. Eq. Life Assur. Soc., 78 P.2d 860, 147 Kan. 671; Compton v. Amicable Life Ins. Co., 162 So. 751, 182 La. 991; McKenna v. N.Y. Life, 23 N.E.2d 88; Sherman v. Met., 297 Mass. 330, 8 N.E.2d 892; Burke v. N.Y. Life, 293 N.W. 248; Andrews v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., 268 N.W. 415; New York Life Ins. Co. v. Quinn, 157 So. 902, 171 Miss. 396; Berry v. Lamar Life Ins. Co., 142 So. 445, 165 Miss. 405; McAndrews v. Prudential, 132 Neb. 332, 271 N.W. 857; Goldman v. New York Life Ins. Co., 171 A. 541, 545, 115 N.J.Eq. 535; Epstein v. Mutual Life Ins. Co., 257 N.Y.S. 772; Levitt v Prudential Ins Co. , 270 N.Y.S. 39; Yohalem v. Columbian Natl. Life, 240 N.Y.S. 666; Mullaney v. Eq. Life Assur. Soc., 264 N.W. 663; Western & Southern Life v. Smith, 41 Ohio App. 197, 180 N.E. 749; Gunter v. Prudential, 100 P.2d 851; Mid-Cont. Life v. Walker, 260 P. 1109; Mid-Cont. Life v. Skye, 240 P. 631; Farmers' Trust Co. v. Reliance Life, 140 Pa.Super. 115, 13 A.2d 111; Perlman v. N.Y. Life Ins. Co., 161 A. 752, 105 Pa.Super. Ct. 413; Lucas v. John Hancock Mut. L. Ins. Co., 176 A. 514, 116 Pa.Super. Ct. 298; Courson v. New York Life Ins. Co., 145 A. 530, 295 Pa. 518; Lyford v. New England Mut. L. Ins. Co., 184 A. 469; Jenkins v. Mut. L. Ins. Co., 198 A. 486; Equitable Life Assur. Soc. v. McCausland, 200 A. 85; Parker v. Jefferson Standard Life Ins. Co., 155 S.E. 617, 158 S.C. 394; Binder v. General American Life, 282 N.W. 521; Gordinier v. Cont. Assur. Co., 7 N.W.2d 298; Hall v. Acacia Mut. Life Assn., 46 S.W.2d 56, 164 Tenn. 93; Walters v. Jefferson St. Life, 20 S.W.2d 1038; Bank Sav. Life Ins. Co. v. Milan, 70 S.W.2d 294; Steele v. New York Life Ins. Co., 48 P.2d 436, 87 Utah 63; Reynolds v. Travelers, 176 Wash. 36, 28 P.2d 310; Kearns v. Penn Mutual, 178 Wash. 235, 34 P.2d 888; Bloss v. Equitable Life Assur. Soc., 28 P.2d 303, 176 Wash. 1; Jones v. New York Life Ins. Co., 290 P. 333, 158 Wash. 12; Hayes v. Prudential Ins. Co., 171 S.E. 824, 114 W.Va. 323; Iannarelli v. Kansas City Life Ins. Co., 171 S.E. 748, 114 W.Va. 88; Jenkins v. New York Life Ins. Co., 7 S.E.2d 343, 122 W.Va. 73. (2) The law of Missouri does not prohibit insurance companies from issuing policies containing provisions to the effect that furnishing proof of disability is a condition precedent to the accrual of liability for disability benefits or premium waiver, and where policies contain such provisions the courts enforce them. New England Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Reynolds, 217 Ala. 307, 116 So. 151; New York Life Ins. Co. v. Farrell, 63 S.W.2d 520; New York Life Ins. Co. v. Jackson, 65 S.W.2d l.c. 905; Aetna Casualty & Surety Co. v. Etoch, 174 Ark. 409, 295 S.W. 376; Cochens v. Prudential Ins. Co. of America, 40 P.2d 902; Dean v. Northwestern Mut. Life Ins. Co., 165 S.E. 235; Bennett v. New York Life Ins. Co., 121 P.2d 551; Jabara v. Equitable Life, 280 Ill.App. 147; Fairgrave v. Illinois Bankers Life Assn., 233 N.W. 714; Smith v. Mo. State Life Ins. Co., 134 Kan. 426, 7 P.2d 65; Muse v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 192 So. 72; Sherman v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 297 Mass. 330, 8 N.E.2d 892; Andrews v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., 268 N.W. 415; Maryland Cas. Co. v. American Lbr. & Wrecking Co., 282 N.W. 806, 119 A.L.R. 1269; Berry v. Lamar Life Ins. Co., 165 Miss. 405, 142 So....