Hasson v. Mutual Benefit Health & Accident Ass'n
Hasson v. Mutual Benefit Health & Accident Ass'n
Opinion of the Court
Defendant issued a health and accident insurance policy to Ollie Hasson in 1928. On July 25, 1939, while the policy was still in force, plaintiff met with an accident, was totally incapacitated and unable to do any work until January 2,
Plaintiff is a Kurd, unable to read or write English. On January 6, 1940, he executed a full release of all claims. It appears that he had the assistance of a friend and the latter’s attorney in making out the necessary papers. Whether or not the plaintiff signed the release blindly or ignorantly is immaterial since our decision is based upon the construction of the policy, part of which under the heading “Accident Indemnities” provides:
“If such injuries as described in the insurance clause shall wholly and continuously disable the insured for one day or more.”
The court in directing a verdict stated that:
“I do not see how anyone can seriously contend that this plaintiff was continuously disabled within the meaning of this policy. It is just a plain matter of fact that he was not, under his own testimony. It has been testified to here by this plaintiff that hewent back to work about Christmas time of 1939, and it has been stipulated by counsel on the record, both of them, that he worked until September Í7, 1940, approximately nine months, he went back to work, and he did work, and he so testified himself, for nine months.
“Now this court is asked to do violence to the plain langu'age of this policy and say that, instead of that, he was continuously disabled.
The question was before us in Letherer v. United States Health & Accident Insurance Co., 145 Mich. 310, and Brod v. Detroit Life Insurance Co., 253 Mich. 545. In the latter case, the policy provided that there must be proof that the plaintiff had become totally and permanently disabled. We held that there was no ambiguity in the policy, that it was not a straight disability contract, and that the disability, to be compensable, must be total and permanent. In the instant case, the language is still stronger for it provides that the injuries shall wholly and continuously disable the injured. The element of time must be marked by continuity. The continuity ceased when the injured went back to work for nine months.
Defendant’s answer relied entirely on the release signed by plaintiff. The trial in the circuit court resolved itself largely upon the fact that plaintiff 'did not show that he was continuously disabled. No question was raised in regard to the pleadings and it may not be raised for the first time in an appellate court.
A similar situation arose in Dolsen v. Phoenix Preferred Accident Insurance Company, 151 Mich. 228. The suit involved a policy of life insurance which contained a time limit for bringing suit. Although the period of time in which to bring suit had expired, this defense had been waived. The waiver
Judgment affirmed1, with costs to defendant.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- HASSON v. MUTUAL BENEFIT HEALTH & ACCIDENT ASS'N, OMAHA
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- 5 cases
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- Published