Bench v. Equitable Life Assurance Society of United States
Bench v. Equitable Life Assurance Society of United States
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiff commenced this action seeking to recover upon certain policies of life, disability and hospital insurance. The District Court granted the defendant’s motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12, U.R.C.P., and from an order of dismissal with prejudice the plaintiff appeals to this court.
Prior to April 26, 1963, Leland E. Bench had been employed by Ajax Press Company. The Ajax Press Company had entered into an arrangement for group insurance for its employees with the defendant. Leland E. Bench as an employee of Ajax was covered by two group life insurance policies as well as policies insuring against disability and health and hospital insurance. Under the terms of the life insurance policies plaintiff was made beneficiary. The life insurance policies contained a provision which provided that the insurance would remain in force for a period of 31 days following the employee’s termination of employment.
We are of the opinion that the trial court was .correct in its order of dismissal except as to the second count of the plaintiff’s complaint which involved Policy No. 0486A. That policy contains what is denoted an extended death benefit clause which provides as follows:'
If .due proof of the. death of an employee shall be submitted in writing to the Society within one (1) year after the death of such employee whose insurance hereunder shall have terminated due to termination of employment in accordance with the provisions hereof entitled “Individual Terminations,” the Society will pay to the person or persons entitled thereto under the provisions of this policy the amount of the insurance for which such employee’s life was last insured under this policy, provided due proof shall be furnished to the Society that * * * At the date of such termination of employment, such employee was totally disabled by bodily injury or disease so as to be prevented from engaging in any occupation for compensation or profit and that such total disability continued from such termination of employment to such death. * * *
In view of this provision it would seem that there was an issue of fact before the court as to whether or not the insured was totally disabled at the time his employment was terminated.
. Bucher v. Equitable life Assur. Soc. of United States, 91 Utah 179, 185, 63 P.2d 604; Appleman, Insurance Law and Practice, Vol. 1, p. 187; Gibson v. Equitable Life Assur. Soc. of United States, 84 Utah 452, 36 P.2d 105.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Mabel A. BENCH, and v. The EQUITABLE LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY OF the UNITED STATES, a corporation, and
- Status
- Published