Washington National Insurance Co. v. Clement

Decision Date02 March 1936
Docket Number4-4201
Citation91 S.W.2d 265,192 Ark. 371
PartiesWASHINGTON NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY v. CLEMENT
CourtArkansas Supreme Court

Appeal from Pulaski Circuit Court, Second Division; Richard M. Mann Judge; affirmed.

Action by Arthur L. Clement against the Washington National Insurance Company. Defendant appeals from an adverse judgment.

Judgment affirmed.

Malcolm W. Gannaway, and William D. Hopson, for appellant.

John R. Thompson and Robert L. Rogers, II, for appellee.

OPINION

HUMPHREYS, J.

This suit was brought by appellee against appellant to recover $ 165 for injuries he sustained while in an automobile on an insurance policy issued by appellant to him providing payment to him of $ 30 a week during total disability resulting from an accident while in an automobile. Appellant admitted the issuance of the policy, that same was in force and effect at the time of the accident, and total and partial disability as a result thereof, which damaged appellee in the sum of $ 165 but denied liability on the ground that appellee was injured while driving his car in an intoxicated condition contrary to law, specifically setting out a clause in the policy which provided that the policy did not cover any injuries sustained by appellee while violating the law.

In the course of the trial, appellant proved that appellee was convicted in a court of competent jurisdiction for a violation of the criminal law by driving his car while intoxicated at the time he received the injuries made the basis of his suit on the insurance policy. It also proved by other witnesses that the appellee was intoxicated at the time he received his injuries.

Appellee introduced witnesses who testified that he was not intoxicated at the time of the accident.

Upon the conclusion of the testimony, appellant requested a peremptory instruction on the ground that appellee's conviction in a court of competent jurisdiction was conclusive of the issue of fact as to whether appellee was intoxicated at the time of the accident, and was res judicata as to the fact in a subsequent civil proceeding. The trial court refused to peremptorily instruct a verdict for appellant, and over the objection and exception of appellant sent the case to the jury to determine whether appellee was intoxicated at the time he received his injuries, instructing them that if he was intoxicated at the time to return a verdict against him in favor of appellant.

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9 cases
  • Zinger v. Terrell
    • United States
    • Arkansas Supreme Court
    • February 18, 1999
    ...e.g., Smith v. Dean, 226 Ark. 438, 290 S.W.2d 439 (1956); Horn v. Cole, 203 Ark. 361, 156 S.W.2d 787 (1941); Washington Nat'l Ins. Co. v. Clement, 192 Ark. 371, 91 S.W.2d 265 (1936). The issue then is whether our common law is outmoded and should be We turn first to Washington Nat'l Ins. Co......
  • Travelers Indemnity Company v. Walburn, Civ. A. No. 74-41.
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — District of Columbia
    • June 27, 1974
    ...Civil Action No. 1843-72, at 1. 8 Travelers Indemnity Homeowners Policy No. THO 7446662. 9 See, e. g., Washington National Insurance Co. v. Clement, 192 Ark. 371, 91 S.W.2d 265 (1936); Cope v. Goble, 39 Cal.App.2d 448, 103 P.2d 598 (1940); Nowak v. Orange, 349 Pa. 217, 36 A.2d 781 (1944); s......
  • Gould v. Country Mut. Cas. Co.
    • United States
    • United States Appellate Court of Illinois
    • March 27, 1962
    ...civil action. In a majority of the other jurisdictions the authorities are to the same effect. In Washington National Insurance Company v. Clement, 192 Ark. 371, 91 S.W.2d 265, 130 A.L.R. 694, it was held that the conviction of one for driving his car while intoxicated, at the time of recei......
  • Bradley Ventures v. Farm Bureau Mut. Ins.
    • United States
    • Arkansas Supreme Court
    • October 4, 2007
    ... ... 229 ... BRADLEY VENTURES, INC., d/b/a AQ Chicken; Cypress Insurance Co., Appellants, ... FARM BUREAU MUTUAL INSURANCE CO. OF ARKANSAS, ... Furthermore, Zinger did not overrule Washington National Ins. Co. v. Clement, 192 Ark. 371, 91 S.W.2d 265 (1936), in which ... ...
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