Metts v. Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Co. of California, 198 N.C. 197 (1930)

Jan. 22, 1930 · Supreme Court of North Carolina

198 N.C. 197

EDWIN ANDERSON METTS v. PACIFIC MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA.

(Filed 22 January, 1930.)

1. Insurance R c — Ill this case held: policy was not income insurance and did not cover inability to obtain work after end of disability.

Under the provisions of the policy of health insurance indemnifying the insured from loss resulting from such disability as would result in continuous and total loss of business time during “the continuance of disability as defined above until such time as the insured engages in a gainful occupation” : Held,, the policy is not income insurance, and the loss insured against is that which the insured should sustain from the continuous loss of business time based upon the conditions thus expressed, and does not entitle the insured to recover thereon for his inability to obtain an employment such as he may desire after the termination of disability covered by the policy.

2. Trial D c — Where plaintiff’s testimony discloses facts entitling him to recovery and facts precluding recovery question is for jury.

Where the insured has testified as to the facts that would, if found in his favor by the jury, entitle him to recover certain damages as indemnity against loss from sickness under the terms of the policy, and also as to a basis of fact for damages excluded by the terms of the policy, it is for the jury to determine under proper instructions upon the weight of the evidence the essential facts at issue.

3. Trial E e — Refusal of court to give instructions requested correctly stating the law is reversible error.

The refusal of the trial judge to fully give instructions requested that contain the law arising from the evidence is reversible error, and the requirement is not met by his partially giving them when his omissions are of material matters.

Civil action-, before Harwood, Special Judge, at March Special Term, 1929, of Buncombe.

Tbe plaintiff alleged that on or about 2 May, 1921, tbe defendant issued to bim its policy No. 4610130, and tbat thereafter on or about 14 January, 1924, while tbe policy was in force, tbe “plaintiff was taken sick and became ill witb a bodily disease by reason of which he was totally disabled and incapacitated to do or carry on any work or occupation.”

It was further alleged “that as soon as plaintiff, acting upon the advice of his said physician, was able to engage in a gainful occupation, to wit, on or about 1 January, 1925, the plaintiff began and continued diligently to seek a gainful occupation until 15 June, 1925, when he secured employment and began to engage in what he believed to be a gainful occupation.”

The evidence discloses that the plaintiff was paid a benefit of $500 a month, as provided in the policy, up to 14 December, 1924, and he brings suit to recover $3,000 benefit in accordance with the terms of said policy, covering the period from 14 January, 1925, to 14 June, 1925, aggregating $3,000. Subsequently the plaintiff filed an amended complaint alleging that the policy was an income policy and not a disability policy, and that therefore he was entitled to receive $500 per month “until such time as the plaintiff engages in a, gainful occupation.”

The policy was offered in evidence and is denominated upon the face thereof “Non-Cancellable Income Policy.” The language of the policy out of which the controversy grows is substantially as follows: “This policy provides indemnity . . . for loss of time by sickness. . . . The Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company of California hereby insures Edwin Anderson Metts . . . against disability commencing while this policy is in force and resulting from sickness; such disability . . . to be such as will result in continuous total loss of business time. . . . The company will pay indemnity at the rate of $500 per month during the continuance of disability as defined above until such time as the insured engages in a gainful occupation.”

The plaintiff testified that he suffered a total loss of business time on account of sickness “from the first part of January, 1924, until June, 1925 — about the middle of June, 1925.” On cross-examination he testified that he had alleged in his original complaint that he was able to engage in a gainful occupation on 1 January, 1925, and that his physician told him he was able to resume work after 1 January, 1925, but with certain restrictions to the effect that he could not engage in any work, “where it was confining, and I could not take a position out of doors.” Plaintiff further testified: “After the first of January I began a search for a job, and if I had found a job that suited me on the first of January I would have taken it. If I had found a job that paid me what the company had me insured for, I would have taken it if it complied with the doctor’s instructions. I was acting under his instructions and restrictions, and if I had found a job that suited me on the first of January, of course I would have taken it, and that would have ended the matter. That is tbe way I understood tbe contract. I found a job in March, and tbe doctor turned it down. If tbe doctor would have approved it, I would bave taken it in March if it suited me and suited tbe doctor. I was honestly looking for a job.”

Tbe issue submitted to tbe jury was: In what amounts, if any, is tbe defendant indebted to tbe plaintiff? The jury answered tbe issue awarding $3,000 with interest at six per cent per annum.

From judgment upon tbe verdict tbe defendant appealed.

Rollins & Smoothers for plaintiff.

J. R. Swain for defendant.

BkogdeN, J.

From tbe language employed in tbe policy it seems apparent that disability from sickness resulting “in continuous total loss of business time” is tbe basis of awarding indemnity, such indemnity being payable during tbe “continuance of disability . . . until such time' as tbe insured engages in a gainful occupation.”

It is admitted that tbe defendant owes the plaintiff tbe sum of $266.65 for indemnity accruing prior to 1 January, 1925. Tbe question, then, is: Did tbe disability from sickness cause tbe plaintiff to suffer a “total loss of business time” from January, 1925, until June, 1925? Thus a clear cut issue of fact was presented. Tbe plaintiff testified that be suffered a total loss of business time, due to sickness, from January, 1924, until June, 1925. This unequivocal testimony was qualified on cross-examination, but it was tbe function of tbe jury to determine tbe weight of tbe evidence and to find tbe essential facts. Tbe case was tried upon tbe theory that tbe policy was a disability policy rather than an income policy.

Tbe defendant in apt time requested tbe court to give tbe following instructions to tbe jury:

1. “If tbe jury should find from tbe evidence that tbe defendant issued to tbe plaintiff tbe policy and contract of insurance which has been introduced in evidence, and should further find that plaintiff filed bis claim for benefits thereunder, and that tbe same were paid by tbe defendant at tbe rate of $500 a month from tbe time they became due until 14 December, 1924, and if tbe jury should further find that on 1 January, 1925, tbe plaintiff bad sufficiently recovered from bis illness so that be was able to engage in a gainful occupation as contemplated by tbe contract of insurance, then tbe plaintiff would be entitled to recover of tbe defendant benefits from 14 December, 1924, to 1 January, 1925, which amount may be calculated by you, tbe defendant claiming that it is tbe sum of $266.65, but would not be entitled to recover of tbe defendant anything after tbe said 1 January, 1925.”

2. “If you should find from the evidence that the plaintiff was able on and after 1 January, 1925, to engage in a gainful occupation from and after that time, but was unable to find suitable employment until 14 June, 1925, he would not be entitled to recover benefits for that period under the terms of this contract of insurance, and it will be your duty to so answer the issue.”

3. “Under this contract of insurance the defendant would not be due the plaintiff anything by reason of plaintiff’s inability to find a job or secure employment. This contract of insurance does not insure to the plaintiff a job, or a gainful occupation, but guarantees to him an income in the sum of $500 per month during the period which he is prevented from engaging in a gainful occupation solely on account of bodily injury received while the policy was in force, or disease contracted while the said policy was in force, which resulted in his continuous total loss of business time.”

■The evidence introduced warranted the special instructions requested, and the omission of the trial judge to give them, as requested, constituted error. The trial judge gave a portion of instruction number 3, but it would seem that the defendant was entitled to the instruction in its entirety. Horne v. Power Co., 141 N. C., 50, 53 S. E., 658; Marcom v. R. R., 165 N. C., 259, 81 S. E., 290; Parks v. Trust Co., 195 N. C., 453, 142 S. E., 473; S. v. Lee, 196 N. C., 714, 146 S. E., 858.

New trial.