Smith v. Bankers Life Ass'n of Des Moines

Mr. Justice Freeman delivered the opinion of the court. It is contended by appellant that the vital question to be decided in this case was whether or not the answers to the questions above referred to were true, and it is insisted that such of them as were alleged by defendant to have been answered falsely by the deceased were ambiguous in their meaning and were answered by him truthfully as be understood the questions. It is claimed that instructions given at the-instance of appellee were erroneous and that their effect was to-preclude the jury from finding a verdict in favor of appellant. By the first of these instructions the jury were told: “If you find that James Grant Black consulted a physician -after May, 1899, and before September 26, 1899, the date of the application, plaintiff cannot recover.” It is said that the question 16 in the application: “How long since you consulted a physician?” to which the deceased answered “May, 1899,” is ambiguous and capable of more than one correct answer; that it might mean, how long since jovl first consulted a* physician, or how long since you last did so. That the interrogatory is capable of both these constructions is evident. There is no apparent doubt under the evidence that Black had consulted physicians after May, 1899, and before the date of the application. If the court’s instruction was correct there would be at once an end of the plaintiff’s case. Clearly, however, it was not correct. It is said in May on Insurance (3rd Ed., sec. 175) that if the words employed in a contract of insurance are susceptible of the interpretation given them by the insured, although they may be in fact intended by the insurer to have a different meaning, the policy will be construed in favor of the insured. This is in accord with the general rule that any ambiguity is to be resolved against the insurer. The same is true of a warranty in such a contract. It will not be extended to include anything not necessarily implied in its terms. The language of insurance policies is that of the insurer and is construed most favorably for the insured to prevent a forfeiture. Ins. Co. v. Scammon, 100 Ill. 644-649; Union Mut. Ac. Assn. v. Frohard, 134 Ill. 228-236; Manufacturers Ins. Co. v. Zeitenger, 168 Ill. 286-292. In the case at bar it is evident that “first” or “last” or similar words must be inserted or implied in the question under consideration to make it susceptible of a strictly accurate answer. The court’s instruction in effect arbitrarily inserted the word “last.” In Stewart v. Eq. Mut. Life Ins. Co., 110 Iowa, 528-531, it is said that while ordinarily the intention of the insured is not involved where answers are warranted to be true, yet when their truthfulness depends on the construction of a'question which is subject to two different interpretations, the material inquiry is whether the assured truthfully responded to the question as he understood it. This was in the case at bar a question for the jury under proper instructions, and by the instruction complained of the court removed it from their consideration. The second instruction is to the same effect, viz.: that if within a week prior to the application the deceased was in a hospital for the purpose of having some disease diagnosed and treated there could be no recovery, and is likewise erroneous. The third instruction told the jury that if the deceased knew at the time he made the application that he had had sickness within five years. other than a slight indigestion he could not recover, unless he believed in good faith he had entirely recovered therefrom. This is based upon the answer of the deceased to the question, “ Have you had any sickness in last five years ? ” The answer was “ Yes,” followed by the interrogatory: “ If so, state what and when and give name and residence of the attending physician,” to which the answer was, “ Slight indigestion, JMtey 1899, fully recovered.” It is only statements made strictly in answer to the inquiries contained in the application which can be regarded as warranties. Commercial Accident Co. v. Bates, 176 Ill. 194-199. In the case before us, it appears that the answers to the questions were written down by the agent of appellee in part at least, in his own language, and condensed, and the application containing them afterward signed by the insured. The words “ fully recovered ” were not responsive to the question, were not an answer thereto and hence not covered by the warranties of the application and certificates of membership sued upon. Heneé there was no necessity for the plaintiff to show that the deceased believed he had entirely recovered. Complaint is made of five other instructions, some of which we regard as equally erroneous. One of these told the jury that the answers to the interrogatories numbered 16 in the application amounted “ to a warranty that the said Black had not consulted a physician for any disease since Hay, 1899”; and that if he had done so, the plaintiff could not recover. What has been said sufficiently indicates why such an instruction must be regarded as erroneous. The subsequent interrogatory called for “ name and residence of such physician ” and may have been readily understood by the deceased as calling for the name of only one. Under the rule of strict construction the answer giving the name of one only may be regarded as strictly true, even though others were consulted whose names were not given. See Dilleber v. Home Life Ins. Co., 69 N. Y. 256-263; Blumenthal v. Berkshire L. Ins. Co., 96 N. W. Rep. (Mich.) 17-18; Franklin Life Ins. Co. v. Galligan, 73 S.W. Rep. 102-103; Conn. Ins. Co. v. Trust Co., 112 U. S. 250-258. We deem it unnecessary to specify what we regard as errors in other instructions in view of what has been said and the likelihood that they will not be repeated upon another trial. It is argued by appellee’s attorneys that if under the facts appellant is not entitled to recover, errors in the instructions were not prejudicial and do not warrant a reversal. Whether he is so entitled to recover is the question-to be determined upon correct principles of law applied to the facts in evidence. As the case must be retried we refrain from discussion of the evidence. The judgment of the Circuit Court will be reversed and the cause remanded. Reversed and remanded.