Mallard v. Ætna Life Insurance, 205 N.C. 846 (1934)

Jan. 10, 1934 · Supreme Court of North Carolina
205 N.C. 846

J. C. MALLARD v. ÆTNA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.

(Filed 10 January, 1934.)

Civil actioN, before Harris, J., at March Term, 1933, of Duplin.

Tbe evidence tended to show that on 24 March, 1924, tbe defendant issued and delivered to tbe plaintiff a certain policy of insurance, providing that: “If tbe insured becomes totally and permanently disabled and is thereby prevented from performing any work or conducting- any business for compensation or profit, . . . tbe company will, if there has been no default in tbe payment of premiums, waive tbe payment of all premiums falling due during such disability after tbe receipt of such proof;

*847“If such disability existed before the insured attained the age of sixty years, the company will pay to the insured the sum of .ten dollars for each one thousand dollars of the amount of insurance and will pay the same sum on the same day of every month thereafter during' the lifetime and the continuance of such disability of the insured, the first payment to become due on evidence of such disability.”

The plaintiff offered evidence to the effect that he became disabled within the terms of the policy in August, 1925. There was also evidence to the contrary.

The following issue was submitted to the jury: “Did the plaintiff on 30 August, 1925, become totally and permanently disabled, and thereby prevented from performing any work or conducting any business for compensation or profit.” The jury answered the issue “No,” and from judgment upon the verdict denying recovery, the plaintiff appealed.

Oscar B. Turner for plaintiff.

Kenneth 0. Royall and Wm. F. Howland for defendant.

Pee OuRiAM.

An examination of the record discloses no reversible error either in the admission of evidence or in the charge of the trial judge. The merit of the controversy involved an issue of fact, and such issue has been determined by the jury adversely to the plaintiff.

Affirmed.