Folger v. United States
Folger v. United States
Opinion of the Court
Libelant in this suit seeks to recover against the United States as beneficiary of a war risk insurance policy on the life 0<f Ellenwood Folger. The libel alleges that Ellenwood Folger died at sea on September 29, 1943 while in the employment of re^spondent as master of the S. S. Suffolk, a vessel operated by respondent by or through the War Shipping Administration and that his death was due to heart disease caused or aggravated by war experiences during such service. Respondent excepts to the libel on the ground that suit was not brought within the time required by statute.
The libel was filed on September 26, 1949, almost six years after the alleged date of death. Title 46 U.S.C.A. § 745, made applicable to suits on war risk insurance by 46 U.S.C.A. § 1128d, requires that suit be brought within two years after the cause of action arises, and thus appears to bar the present suit.
Libelant, however, argues that under certain circumstances § 1128e authorized the Maritime Commission to enter into agreements suspending the statute of limitations and that such an agreement, applicable to the present action, can be found in Article 22 of the official War Risk Insurance Policy, 8 F.R. 3460, which provides: “No action or suit upon this policy shall be valid unless commenced within two years from the time the insurance, benefits, or allowances conferred by this policy are payable, 'except that (a) an action or suit by the insured may be commenced at any time within two years after he returns to the United States or the termination of the present war shall have been proclaimed by the President, whichever first occurs, and (b), the time during which a person, other than the insured, is in enemy-occupied territory, shall be excluded from the two-year period as aforesaid.”
This section of the policy cannot be applied to the instant suit. Article 22(a) is not applicable since it refers only to suits brought by the insured, while this suit is brought by the beneficiary. Article 22(b) is the only part applicable to suits by persons other than the insured, such as the
Exceptions sustained and the libel is dismissed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- FOLGER v. UNITED STATES
- Status
- Published