Scranton Lackawanna Trust Co. v. United States
Scranton Lackawanna Trust Co. v. United States
Opinion of the Court
This is a suit to recover on a war risk insurance policy.
To the plaintiff’s statement, the defendant has filed- an Affidavit of Defense raising questions of law.
In the statement, plaintiff attempts to allege that a disagreement as to the claim under the contract of insurance existed by the
The plaintiff alleges in the statement that it was appointed guardian of the estate of Oranzio Police, the insured, a feeble-minded person, on or about October 15, 1915. The statement was verified July 2, 1931, and, in the tenth paragraph above quoted, the plaintiff alleges that the Veterans’ Bureau and Directors and the defendant “have disagreed with him (Oranzio Police, a feeble minded person), concerning his rights to said benefits, but have failed to furnish said insured with a letter of disagreement, although for a long period of time they have refused to recognize his claim.”
It is nowhere alleged in the statement of claim that either the insured or the plaintiff presented a claim to the bureau for adjustment or adjudication, and that a rejection of the claim was made by the bureau. “A necessary prerequisite to the maintenance of an action upon such a claim is the presentation of that claim to the Bureau for adjustment and adjudication and a rejection by the Bureau of the claim so made. It is the issue thus raised between the claimant and the Bureau which Congress has authorized to he presented to a court for adjudication. Where no claim is made, there can be no issue, and hence no disagreement.” Berntsen v. United States (C. C. A.) 41 F.(2d) 663, 665.
I am of opinion that, under section 19 of the World War Veterans’ Act of 1924, as amended (38 USCA § 445), the disagreement must be a positive disagreement between the Bureau and the person or persons claiming under the contract of insurance, and that the plaintiff’s statement and petition in this ease is insufficient.
The affidavit of defense raising questions of law is sustained, and plaintiff is allowed fifteen days within which to file an amended statement and petition, and, upon failure so to do, judgment will be entered for the defendant.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- SCRANTON LACKAWANNA TRUST CO. v. UNITED STATES
- Status
- Published