Stone v. Prudential Insurance Co. of America

Majority

p. 91

Grace E. Stone, as Administratrix of the Estate of Bernice B. Stone, Deceased, Respondent, v. The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Appellant.

(Argued April 30, 1935;

decided May 28, 1935.)

p. 92

Nicholas J. Weldgen for appellant.

Headnote

The statements in the applications, being warranties, and having been shown on plaintiff’s proof to be false, the plaintiff cannot recover. (King v. Tioga County, 35 App. Div. 58 ; Satz v. Massachusetts Bonding & Ins. Co., 243 N. Y. 385 ; Foot v. Mtna Life Ins. Co., 61 N. Y. 571 ; Barteau v. Phoenix Mut. Life Ins. Co., 67 N. Y. 595 ; Kenyon v. K. T. & M. M. A. Assn., 122 N. Y. 247 ; Clemans v. Supreme Assembly, 131 N. Y. 485 ; Enthoven v. American Fidelity Co., 128 N. Y. Supp. 805 ; 150 App. Div. 928 ; 211 N. Y. 561 ; Keck v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 238 App. Div. 538 ; 264 N. Y. 422 ; Travelers Ins. Co. v. Pomerantz, 246 N. Y. 63 ; Anderson v. Mtna Life Ins. Co., 265 N. Y. 376 ; Saad v. N. Y. Ufe Ins. Co., 201 App. Div. 544 ; 235 N. Y. 550 ; Minsker v. John Hancock Mut. Ufe Ins. Co., 254 N. Y. 333 .)

Seymour Bernstein and Charles B. Bechtold for respondent.

The statements in the applications are immaterial except as they affect the provisions of sound health at the date of the applications. (Silverstein v. Metropolitan Ufe Ins. Co., 254 N. Y. 81 .)

Some of the answers in the applications for insurance being palpably false, and such answers being a part of the applications which would have been incorporated in due course in the policies, it follows that the judgments in favor of the plaintiff should be reversed and the complaint dismissed, with costs in all courts. (See Axelroad v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., 267 N. Y. 437 , decided May 21, 1935.)

Crane, Ch. J., Lehman, O’Brien and Loughran, JJ., concur; Hubbs, Crouch and Finch, JJ., dissent.

Judgments reversed, etc. (See 268 N. Y. 630 .)

Cases cited

Satz v. Massachusetts Bonding & Insurance 243 N. Y. 385 N.Y. 1926-10-19 p. 92
Foot v. Ætna Life Insurance Co. of Hartford 61 N. Y. 571 N.Y. Comm'n App. p. 92
Barteau v. Phœnix Mutual Life Insurance 67 N. Y. 595 N.Y. 1876-11-28 p. 92
Kenyon v. Knights Templar & Masonic Mutual Aid Ass'n 122 N. Y. 247 N.Y. 1890-10-07 p. 92
Clemans v. Supreme Assembly Royal Society of Good Fellows 131 N. Y. 485 N.Y. 1892-03-15 p. 92
Travelers Insurance v. Pomerantz 246 N. Y. 63 N.Y. 1927-07-20 p. 92
Anderson v. Ætna Life Insurance 265 N. Y. 376 N.Y. 1934-11-20 p. 92
People v. Martin 235 N. Y. 550 N.Y. 1923-02-27 p. 92
Minsker v. John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance 254 N. Y. 333 N.Y. 1930-09-30 p. 92
Silverstein v. Metropolitan Life Insurance 254 N. Y. 81 N.Y. 1930-06-03 p. 92
Axelroad v. Metropolitan Life Insurance 267 N. Y. 437 N.Y. 1935-05-21 p. 92