Tuttle v. Pacific Mutual Life Insurance

MR. JUSTICE MATTHEWS

delivered the opinion of the court.

This action was brought by plaintiff on an accident policy carried by her son, Ora Tuttle. The ease was' tried to the court sitting without a jury, and resulted in a judgment in favor of the plaintiff for the amount of the policy.

The undisputed facts are as follows: 'In 1908 Ora Tuttle was insured by defendant company “against the effects of bodily injuries sustained during the term of this policy and caused solely by external, violent and accidental means. «= * * And if death shall result from such injuries within ninety days, independent of all other causes, the company will pay the principal sum of fifteen hundred dollars.” The policy was in full force and effect throughout the year 1910. In November of that year, Ora Tuttle, his brother R. S. Tuttle, and three other young men went into the park district in Gallatin county on a hunting trip, and established a camp at Grayling. On the morning of the 21st Ora Tuttle left camp alone on the trail of an elk; it was then snowing hard, and a man could not be distinguished at a hundred yards. The storm continued throughout the day and night, the temperature remaining slightly below the freezing point, not cold enough to freeze a person out in the storm. The next day was fairly pleasant, but squally, and ten to twelve inches of snow had then fallen. The second day a heavy storm broke, and continued for eight or ten days, and the snow then appeared to be several feet deep. On leaving camp, Tuttle took with him a rifle, an automatic pistol, and provisions sufficient for the day. As night approached and he did not return, his companions instituted a search for him, building signal fires and discharging their rifles, but without receiving any response. The search was continued until the following February, but no trace of the missing man was found. On. October 2 or 3, 1913, his remains were found in a small park about two miles from the location of the camp. A small.canyon intervened, necessitating a detour, requiring one to travel approximately five miles from the camp to the place where the remains were found. R. S. Tuttle identified the clothing and shoes as those of Ora Tuttle. His watch ivas still in the vest pocket and his automatic in the trousers pocket; the rifle was nowhere in the vicinity. Only the larger bones of the body remained; most of these were with the clothing. The skull, however, was found in the shallow gulch some 30 feet distant and the shoes Tuttle had worn were found near the skull. There was no cliff or other point from which deceased could have fallen to his death. The remains were taken to Whitehall, and on the ninth day of October, 1913, were buried.

The plaintiff testified that shortly after the disappearance of Ora Tuttle she had a conversation with the local agent of the company and that ‘ ‘ I asked him if the boy was dead if I would have to write the company for proofs—for blanks anyway. He said no, he would attend to that himself. And then I asked him if I would have to keep his payments up. He said no, I would not have to do that. He assured me that he did not think the boy was dead; that he thought he would come home after a little.”

On June 19, 1911, Ike E. O. Pace, Esq., an attorney at Whitehall, notified the company by letter of the disappearance of Tuttle and of the search made for his remains, and closed with the statement: “There is no doubt, however, that the young man is dead, and probably was either accidentally shot or received some serious fall, or was attacked by some wild animal which accident resulted in his death.”

On October 20, 1913, plaintiff notified the local agent in writing of the finding of the body, and requested instruction as to what was required of her as to “proof and statement.” The letter was forwarded to and answered by the head office, to the effect that the last policy carried by Ora Tuttle was in 1910, and that “the conditions of it are such that it would appear that no claim exists thereunder.” The plaintiff replied, reciting her conversation in 1910 with the local agent, and stating that she would be glad to hear further from the company. Thereafter, on January 30, 1914, J. L. Wines, Esq., an attorney, took the matter up with the company, and was advised in writing that “It appears impossible to show the manner of such death. Such being the fact, it is impossible to determine whether the case falls within the terms of the policy, said policy being one of limited liability. Furthermore, it appears from an examination of the files that the provisions of the contract in regard to giving notice and submitting proofs have not been complied with. You will, of course; understand that the action of the company in writing you as above is not to be construed as a waiver or impairment of any defense which it may have to any action upon the policy.”

The amended complaint alleges that “Ora Tuttle came to his death by bodily injuries sustained, caused by external, violent, and accidental means, and resulting in his death and disability, independent of all other causes.” It then recites the facts, substantially as hereinbefore stated. It then alleges the conversation with the local agent and the subsequent writing of the letter referred to above, with the contents, but continuing, “and asking him if he would look after the matter as he said he would.” This latter request does not, however, appear in the letter which was introduced in evidence. The complaint then alleges the notice of June 19, 1911, and, after stating the contents, avers that plaintiff “At the same time requested that proper blanks be forwarded to her to make the necessary written affirmative proof of death.” The letter, also introduced in evidence, does not contain the request quoted above from the complaint.

The complaint further alleges that notice of death was given and liability denied within the 120 days as required by the policy, “after ascertaining the fact of death”; that defendant failed, neglected and refused to furnish the blanks, and plaintiff was unable, therefore, to furnish the proof required, and was thereby excused from furnishing other proof than that submitted, and that defendant waived any advantage that it might have claimed by reason of the failure of plaintiff.

The defendant demurred to the amended complaint on the ground that it did not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action, pointing out the failure to state in what manner the injuries were sustained, or that they were caused by external, violent and accidental means; that the complaint shows a failure to give the required notices, and does not state facts sufficient to constitute a waiver. The demurrer was overruled, and defendant answered, and thereafter the cause was tried to the court sitting without a jury. The plaintiff having rested, defendant moved the court to find the issues in its favor, which motion was denied. The defendant introduced no evidence, and the court made its findings, to the effect that Ora Tuttle came to his death by external, violent, and accidental means on or about the twenty-second day of November, 1910, at which time he was insured in defendant company, and that plaintiff was his beneficiary; that the facts did not come to the knowledge of plaintiff until October, 1913, and in the interim plaintiff did not know the actual fate of Ora Tuttle, or that he was in fact dead; that after the discovery of his death, and within the time provided in the policy, plaintiff duly notified defendant of the death; that the amount of the policy was due and payable January 30, 1914, at which time defendant refused payment. The court thereupon recited its conclusions of law that the plaintiff was entitled to a judgment, and entered judgment accordingly. The appeal is from the judgment.

The specifications of error herein are that the court erred in (1) overruling the demurrer to the amended complaint; (2) refusing to grant the motion to find the issues for defend-' ant; (3) finding that Ora Tuttle came to his death by external, violent and accidental means on or about November 22, 1910; and (4) finding as a conclusion of law that plaintiff was entitled to judgment.

1. In overruling the demurrer the court evidently considered the general allegations of the . complaint sufficient, to be thereafter aided by proof of specific facts, and disregarded, the recitation of evidence as surplusage. The case was thereafter tried, and all the facts, concerning the death of Tuttle, that could possibly be developed were brought, out. No good purpose could now be served by a new trial, and we are of the opinion that the matter should be disposed ■ of on its merits. We will therefore pass, without deciding, the question of the correctness of the court’s ruling on the demurrer.

2. The motion to find the issues in favor of the defendant is based on the ground of alleged insufficiency of the evidence to establish (a) that death resulted from injuries sustained, caused solely by external, violent and accidental means; (b) that immediate written notice of the accident was given in accordance with the terms of the contract; or (c) that written affirmative proof of death by such means was made within the time required by the terms of the contract; or (d) that there was a waiver of such conditions by the company. The grounds designated (a), (b) and (e), are so closely allied that they will be considered together.

The policy here under consideration contains the following provisions:

“6. The claimant must deliver to the company at its home office in Los Angeles, California, immediáte written notice of any accident, with full particulars and name and address of insured, and deliver to the company at its said home office written affirmative proof of such injuries or death and whether said injuries or death were caused by external, violent and accidental means within the terms of this policy; and so furnish such proof as to death # * * within one hundred and twenty days from time of accident; or no claim shall arise or be valid.”

“9. No alteration or waiver of the conditions or provisions of this policy or said application shall be valid unless in writing at the company’s home office and signed by the president or vice president and also the secretary or assistant secretary; nor shall notice to or (knowledge of any person of anything not written in said application be held to effect a waiver or estoppel upon the company, or affect the provisions of this contract. ’ ’

While, in this state, “time is never considered as of the [1] essence of a contract, unless by its terms expressly so provided” (Rev. Codes, see. 5047), and “any succinct and intelligent statement, giving the information called for by the stipulation in the policy, whether verified or not, or whether by eyewitness or not, is sufficient to put the insurer upon inquiry to determine whether he is liable” (Da Rin v. Casualty Co., 41 Mont. 175, 137 Am. St. Rep. 709, 27 L. R. A. (n. s.) 1164, 108 Pac. 649), under the above-quoted provision 6 some notice, “with full particulars and the name and address of insured,” should have been given to the company at its “home office.” And while the beneficiary did not know, immediately after the accident, the exact facts concerning the manner in which insured had met his death, she was, within a reasonable time after his disappearance, fully convinced of his death, and, under the terms of the contract, either she, or someone acting in her behalf, should have given the required notice to the company at its home office.

In the absence of proof that the facts related were [2] communicated to the home office, notice to the local agent during the informal conversation held shortly after the disappearance of Ora Tuttle, could not, under any circumstances, be held to meet the requirement of the contract that immediate notice be given to the “com,pany at its home office.” As was said in Hatch v. United States Casualty Co., 197 Mass. 101, 125 Am. St. Rep. 332, 14 Ann. Cas. 290, 14 L. R. A. (n. s.) 503, 83 N. E. 398: “The promise to insure is not absolute but conditional. The condition is that the notice, whatever it may be and by whomsoever or whenever given shall be given. It is a condition precedent to the creation of liability or the life of the promise; or, to put it perhaps in a better way, the giving of the notice is one of the essentials of the cause of action. * * * If it be said, as it sometimes is, that such a defense is purely technical, the answer (if one is needed) is that the provision for notice is of the essence of the contract, that it is manifestly an important provision for the protection of the insurer against fraudulent claims, and also against those- which, although made in good faith, are not valid. It is a provision which tends to the elucidation of the truth when the claim for indemnity is made. It was one to which the insured agreed, and it is not unreasonable.”

The giving of the notice of the .accident, and the forwarding of affirmative proof of death, are two separate and distinct obligations. Under the circumstances of this .case, the latter obligation could not be met until after tbe discovery of tbe body and a determination of the cause of death, if it was then possible; but the fact of the accident, if any, with its attendant circumstances, was known to plaintiff within a few days after the disappearance, but no notice thereof was given until June 19, 1911, nearly seven months thereafter.

In the ease of Foster v. Fidelity & Casualty Co., reported in 99 Wis. 447, 40 L. R. A. 833, 75 N. W. 69, it was held that where the beneficiary satisfied herself after investigation that her son’s death was accidental, but did not give notiee until twenty-nine days thereafter, she did not bring herself within the requirement of “immediate notice.”

There is a class of cases which holds that the time within which notiee must be given does not begin to run until the discovery of the facts upon which the claim is based. (Trippe v. Provident Fund Society, 140 N. Y. 23, 37 Am. St. Rep. 529, 22 L. R. A. 432, 35 N. E. 316; Munz v. Standard L. A. Ins. Co., 26 Utah, 69, 99 Am. St. Rep. 830, 62 L. R. A. 485, 72 Pac. 182; Jennings v. Brotherhood Acc. Co., 44 Colo. 68, 13 Am. St. Rep. 109, 18 L. R. A. (n. s.) 109, 96 Pac. 982. But these cases are of little assistance here; for leaving out the question of death, with which this preliminary notice is not concerned, the facts relating to the accident, if any, were known to plaintiff at the time she was notified of the loss of her son in a storm.

The plaintiff contends that she was not required to give notiee until after the establishment of the fact that the assured was dead. If this were true, no such notice as is required by the terms of the contract was ever given, as it would exclude the letter of June 19, 1911, which contained the only written notice furnished the company at any time, attempting a recital of the facts. There is no evidence of a compliance with the requirement of written affirmative proof of death; the letter of October 20, 1913, written to the local agent, but forwarded to the home office, goes no further than 1;o state that the “remains of my son Ora Tuttle have been found.” What communication was made by Attorney Wines is not disclosed, and appears to have been made orally, while the stipulation in the contract is that it be made in writing, and was made more than three months after the discovery of the body.

As to waiver, the insurer and the insured mutually agreed [3] that “no waiver. * # # shall be valid unless in writing at the home office and signed by the president or vice president and also the secretary or assistant secretary.” Where the policy contains a provision against waiver by an agent, it is both notice to and agreement' by the policy-holder that no agent 'of the company has authority to waive the condition. (Collins v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 32 Mont. 329, 108 Am. St. Rep. 578, 80 Pac. 609, 1092; Travelers’ Ins. Co. v. Meyers, 62 Ohio St. 529, 49 L. R. A. 760, 57 N. E. 458.)

Three letters, admittedly coming from the home office, were [4, 5] introduced, and the material parts of their contents have been heretofore quoted. No one of these letters is signed as provided for in the policy; but we shall not pass upon the question as to whether such requirement is reasonable or not, as, in our opinion, nothing contained in the letters could constitute a waiver, even though signed.

3. The first ground mentioned in the motion for findings in favor of the defendant, and the third and fourth assignments of error, are based on the lack of evidence to establish death by external, violent and accidental means.

The evidence, heretofore quoted, establishes' the fact of death, but the manner in which the insured met his death is [6] left entirely to conjecture. The policy on which the action was brought is not an ordinary life insurance policy, but an accident policy, in which the liability of the company is specifically limited to insurance “against the effect of bodily injuries sustained during the term of the policy, and caused solely by external, violent and accidental means,” and, under the terms of which, “if death shall result from such injuries within ninety days, independent of all other causes, the company will pay the principal sum of fifteen hundred dollars.” The burden of proof was upon the plaintiff to show, not only the death of the insured, but also that the death was caused by injuries sustained by the insured by external, violent, and accidental means, and resulted within ninety days after the injury. In other words, the plaintiff must not only show death, but death resulting from accident within the meaning of the policy. (Price v. Occidental Life Ins. Co., 169 Cal. 800, 147 Pac. 1175; Rock v. Travelers’ Ins. Co., 172 Cal. 463, L. R. A. 1916E, 1196, 156 Pac. 1029; Vernon v. Iowa State T. Assn., 158 Iowa, 597, 138 N. W. 696; Wilkinson v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., 240 Ill. 205, 130 Am. St. Rep. 269, 25 L. R. A. (n. s.) 1256, 88 N. E. 550; Wright v. Order of United Commercial Travelers’ etc., 188 Mo. App. 457, 174 S. W. 833; Laessig v. Travelers’ Prot. Assn., 169 Mo. 272, 69 S. W. 469; Hatch v. United States Casualty Co., 197 Mass. 101, 104, 125 Am. St. Rep. 332, 14 Ann. Cas. 290, 14 L. R. A. (n. s.) 503, 83 N. E. 398; Smith v. Travelers’ Ins. Co., 219 Mass. 147, L. R. A. 1915B, 872, 106 N. E. 607.)

In the case of Laessig v. Travelers’ Prot. Assn., supra, the court said: “The proof of accidental death is the essential prerequisite and condition precedent to the right to recover on an accident insurance policy. This is the distinguishing feature between accident policies and ordinary life policies. In the latter, to make out a prima facie case it is only necessary for the plaintiff to show the contract after the death, * * * whereas, in the former, the condition precedent to a recovery is not simply the natural death, but the death from accident. Hence in suits upon accident policies the burden of proof is upon the plaintiff (subject to the limitation that it is not presumed as a matter of law that the deceased took his own life or was murdered) to show that the death was caused by external violence and by accidental means. This is exactly what the policy or contract itself provides. And this is the rule laid down by Mr. Justice Harlan, in the supreme court of the United States, in Travelers’ Ins. Co. v. McConkey, 127 U. S. 661, 32 L. Ed. 308, 8 Sup. Ct. Rep. 1360 [see, also, Rose’s U. S. Notes]. * * * As mere proof of injury in a damage ease will not entitle plaintiff to recover, but negligence of the defendant must be shown, so in a suit upon an accident policy mere proof of injury or death will not entitle the plaintiff to recover, but the injury or death must be shown to be due to an accidental cause.”

There is a clear distinction between accidental death and death by accidental means; the latter only is covered by the policy. Thus in Smith v. Travelers’ Ins. Co., supra, we find the rule stated as follows: “It is not sufficient that the death or the illness that caused the death may have been an accidental result of the external cause, but that cause itself must have been, not only external, and violent, but also accidental [citing a long list of authorities]. The word ‘accident,’ in accident policies, means an event which takes place without one’s foresight or expectation. A result, though unexpected, is not an accident; the means or cause must be accidental. Death [7] resulting from voluntary physical exertion or from intentional acts of the insured is not accidental, nor is disease or death caused by the vicissitudes of climate or atmosphere the result of an accident; but where, in the act which precedes an injury, something unforeseen or unusual occurs which produces the injury, the injury results through accident.”

In Sinclair v. Maritime Passengers’ Assur. Co., 3 El. & El. 478, 121 Eng. Reprint, 521, the court says: “We cannot think that disease produced by the action of a known cause can be considered as accidental. Thus disease or death, engendered by exposure to heat, cold, damp, the vicissitudes of climatic or atmospheric influences, cannot, we think, properly be said to be accidental unless brought about by circumstances which may give it the character of accident.”

Respondent cites a number of cases in support of the contention that the circumstances in this case supply this element. But in each of these cases there is shown the element of accident. For example, in Travelers’ Assn. v. Insurance Co., 10 Manitoba, 537, the death of the insured by freezing was found to have been caused by prolonged exposure due to the breaking down of the conveyance in which he was riding.

In Manufacturers’ Acc. Indemnity Co. v. Dorgan, 58 Fed. 945, 22 L. R. A. 620, 7 C. C. A. 581, it was held that a drowning, caused by a temporary trouble to which the insured was not subject, but which was entirely unusual and uncommon, whereby he fell into the water, was “accidental.”

In United States Mut. Acc. Assn. v. Hubbell, 56 Ohio St. 516, 40 L. R. A. 453, 47 N. E. 544, drowning while crossing a ford, which insured had safely crossed on previous occasions, and which was entered only with the apprehension of getting wet, was held to be “accidental.”

It will be noted, however, that in each of the cases the [8] “accidental means” which brought about the death was shown. Here the only evidence is that the insured left camp in a heavy snowstorm, following the trail of an elk; he had been reared in the mountains; the weather was not cold enough to freeze a man, and the storm did not increase in violence. The body was found but two miles from camp, though insured would have had to walk five miles in order to reach the spot, a distance which could not have exhausted a strong young man; there was no place from which insured could have fallen to his death. The rifle he carried on leaving camp was not with the remains, and the automatic was still in his pocket. At the time the body was found it could not, of course, be ascertained whether there had been any marks on it. While there is no presumption that a man found dead has been murdered or has committed suicide, as was stated in Laessig v. Travelers’ Prot. Assn., supra, it is equally true that no presumption can be indulged in that insured met death by external, violent and accidental means.

The insured, having contracted that the company should be liable only in ease of death from injuries caused solely' by external, violent and accidental means, the burden of proving that the case is within the terms of the policy rested upon plaintiff, and this burden, in our opinion, was not sustained. Conjectural causes of death, which do not fall within the terms of the policy, as that insured died of heart failure or apoplexy, are as reasonable, under the evidence adduced, as those which fall within those terms.

While we are mindful of the rule that this court will not [9] disturb the findings of the trial court where there is substantial evidence to support them, in this ease there is no evidence to support the finding “that Ora Tuttle came to his death by external, violent and accidental means on or about the twenty-second day of November, 1910.”

The judgment of the district court of Jefferson county is therefore reversed, and the cause remanded to the trial court, with the direction to enter judgment in favor of the defendant.

Reversed and remanded.

Mr. Chief Justice Brantly and Associate Justices Holloway, Hurly and Cooper concur.