Ammons v. North American Accident Insurance

HiggiNS, J. After deliberating for some time the jury returned to the courtroom and the following took place: Court: “Have you arrived at a verdict?” Juror: “No, your Honor, we have not. We have returned to ask for further clarification of point one.” Court: “What point is that?” Juror: “If I may read it (here juror read the first issue).” Court: “Gentlemen, I have tried to instruct you very fully on what ‘accidental’ means. I will be glad to read that to you again if you again would like to hear it. Our Supreme Court has held as follows: ‘We regard it as established by the numerous decisions on the subject that in case of accident insurance as expressed in the general terms of this policy,’ (that is, the policy in that particular case, and in that case the word ‘accident,’ these words were used: ‘external, violent and accidental means’), ‘that the word “accident” should receive its ordinary and popular definition as an unusual and unexpected occurrence, one that takes place without the foresight or expectation of the person affected and that in a given case the question is to be determined by reference to the facts as they may affect the holder of the policy, or, rather, the person injured, an event which under the circumstances is unusual and unexpected by the person to whom it happens.’ That is the definition of ‘accident’ the Supreme Court gave in that case, where the policy was to the effect that where the death had been caused by external, violent and accidental means.” It is obvious from the foregoing that- the jurors were uncertain about the law involved and its application to the /acts in the case. In answer to their request for clarification, the learn >d trial judge quoted from a former opinion of this Court defining th< ¡ word “accidental” and the term “accidental means.” The court did not apply the law to the facts, thus leaving the jury to make its own application. “The courts have been rather meticulous ... in requiring that the law be explained in its connection with the facts in evidence. We feel that the court was inadvertent to this necessity and the fact that perhaps the jury, being laymen, would not be so apt to see the connection between the principles of law laid down and the facts in the case, which so clearly appears to an experienced lawyer or judge.” Smith v. Bus Co., 216 N.C. 22, 3 S.E. 2d 362. “It is the duty of the court to instruct the jury on all substantial features of the case arising on the evidence, . . . and the court’s failure to do so will be held for error.” (citing cases) “The statute, G.S. 1-180, makes it incumbent on the trial judge to declare and explain the law arising on the evidence given in the case.” Finch v. Ward, 238 N.C. 290, 77 S.E. 2d 661. “Implicit in the meaning of this statute (G.S. 1-180) as interpreted by numerous decisions of this Court is the requirement that the judge [658] must declare and explain the law as it relates to the various aspects of the evidence ... in the case.” Bank v. Phillips, 236 N.C. 470, 73 S.E. 2d 323. “It is the duty of the court to state the evidence to the extent necessary and to declare and explain the law as it relates to the pertinent aspects of the testimony offered (citing cases) and the duty of the court to declare and explain the law arising on such evidence remains unchanged by the present provisions of G.S. 1-180.” Chambers v. Allen, 233 N.C. 195, 63 S.E. 2d 212; Finch v. Ward, supra. The confusion in the minds of the jurors probably arose with respect to the application of the law to the facts. The evidence was all offered by the plaintiff and was not in dispute. When the court, therefore, charged again as to the law it was its duty to do more than read from the book. It was its duty to apply the law, as given, to the evidence in the case. This the court failed to do. The plaintiffs’ assignment of error No. 1, based on exception No. 1, must be sustained. “It is not our purpose now to suggest what instructions might be given to the jury on the evidence as it may be presented on a new trial, since we are not considering the subject of erroneous instructions, but the absence of sufficient instructions.” Bradshaw v. Warren, 215 N.C. 442, 2 S.E. 2d 375. We deem it not inappropriate, however, to call attention to the distinction this Court has heretofore drawn between insurance policies indemnifying against “accidental bodily injury” as provided by the policy in suit, and bodily injury by “accidental means” as provided in the policy involved in the case from which the court quoted. For the distinction, we refer to Scott v. Insurance Co., 208 N.C. 160, 179 S.E. 434; and Fletcher v. Trust Co., 220 N.C. 148, 16 S.E. 2d 687. For the error indicated, it is ordered that the cause be sent back to the Superior Court of Buncombe County for a New trial.