Fanello v. United States
Fanello v. United States
Opinion of the Court
This is a suit under a war risk insurance policy which was issued to the plaintiff in the sum of $10,000 on June 5, 1918. The policy had lapsed for non-payment of premium due September 1, 1919, and with the grace period was in force and effect until October 1, 1919. Claim for permanent and total disability benefits under said policy was made ón June 29, 1931, and received by the United States Veterans’ Bureau on July 1, 1931. On January 27, 1936, the Insurance Claims Council of the United States Veterans’ Bureau denied the claim and on the same day notified counsel for the insured of its decision, and also on this date notified the plaintiff of its action by registered mail. On July 6, 1936, the plaintiff commenced suit against the United States under the provisions of the World War Veterans’ Act, as amended by the Act of July 3, 1930, 38 U.S.C.A. § 445, and as later amended by the Act approved June 29, 1936, 38 U.S.C.A. § 445d.
The defendant filed a motion to dismiss alleging the petition was not filed within the time limit as provided in the above stated provisions of the statute and consequently the court had no jurisdiction of the action. Neither the plaintiff nor his counsel appeared at the hearing on this motion.
This suit involves a question of this court’s jurisdiction which must be found within the letter of the consent granted by Congress to veterans of the World War to bring suit on war risk insurance policies of the type here in question. Unless the veteran has brought suit within the time limitation expressed therein, it follows that 'this court is without jurisdiction and the motion to dismiss must be allowed. Reid v. United States, 211 U.S. 529, 29 S.Ct. 171, 53 L.Ed. 313; Schillinger et al. v. United States, 155 U.S. 163, 15 S.Ct. 85, 39 L. Ed. 108; United States v. Pastell, 4 Cir., 91 F.2d 575, 578, 112 A.L.R. 1125; Munro v. United States, 2 Cir., 89 F.2d 614.
The language in 38 U.S.C.A. § 445, as amended, applicable to the present suit, is as follows: “No suit on yearly renewable term insurance shall be allowed under this section unless the same shall have been brought * * * within one year after July 3, 1930 * * * Provided further, That this limitation is suspended for the period elapsing between the filing in the Veterans’ Administration of the claim sued upon and the denial of said claim by the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs.” And in Section 445d: “In addition * * * the claimant shall have ninety days from the date of the mailing of notice of such denial within which to file suit. This section is made effective as of July 3, 1930, * % ‡ »
It is plain from reading the above that before the passage of the amendment of
Motion to dismiss is allowed without costs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- FANELLO v. UNITED STATES
- Status
- Published