JOHNNIE MAE HARVEY A/K/A JOHNNIE MAY FOSTER, APPELLANT,
v.
THE ST. PAUL WESTERN INSURANCE COMPANIES, INC., APPELLEE
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Beneficiary of a group life insurance policy sought double indemnity benefits after the insured died from a gunshot wound sustained during a fight where he was the aggressor. The court reversed the summary judgment denying double indemnity benefits, holding that the insured's death was by accidental means under Florida law regardless of the foreseeability of the accident.
The death was by accidental means triggering the double indemnity benefits. The 'reasonably foreseeable' rule is not the proper standard for construing accident insurance policies under Florida law, and the insured's status as the aggressor in the altercation does not preclude recovery.
“It seems to me that such doctrine of foreseeability is a doctrine totally unsuited and unadaptable in construing accident policies.”
Establishes that the foreseeability rule is improper for interpreting accident insurance policies.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceCalvin Foster, the insured, was shot and killed on October 7, 1961, during a physical altercation with Robert Little. Foster was the aggressor, knocke…
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The appellant was the plaintiff below and is the beneficiary under a group life insurance policy in which one Calvin Foster, *823now deceased, was the insured and appel-lee the insurer. The policy was in the amount of $2,000 ordinary life benefits with double indemnity, or an additional $2,000, payable should the insured die by accidental means. Calvin Foster died on October 7, 1961, as the result of a gun shot wound sustained in a fight with one Robert Little. The deceased was the aggressor in the fight and while he was attempting to take a pistol from the possession of Little, the gun went off injuring Foster and resulting in his death. When the appellee refused to pay the double indemnity benefits as a result of Foster’s death, the appellant filed this action. The appellee by answer admitted liability under the policy for the ordinary life benefits but denied liability for the double indemnity benefits, contending that the insured did not die by accidental means. Both parties filed motions for summary judgment based upon the deposition of Robert Little and the pleadings. The trial judge granted summary judgment in favor of the appellant for the $2,000 ordinary life benefits but denied recovery to appellant for the double indemnity benefits. This appeal is from that portion of the summary judgment denying the double indemnity benefits.
The appellant relies for reversal upon the case of Gulf Life Insurance Company v. Nash, Fla.1957, 97 So.2d 4. We conclude that the appellant’s reliance is well placed and reverse.
The appellee contends that we should apply the “reasonably forseeable” rule to the particular facts in the case at bar. As we previously stated, the deceased, Foster, was the aggressor in an altercation with Robert Little. Little possessed a firearm. Foster accosted Little and knocked him to the ground. While Little was lying on the ground, he brandished the pistol which he possessed and warned Foster to leave him alone. A scuffle ensued between the two men for possession of the firearm and it went off fatally wounding Foster.
Without going into a discussion of the reasonably foreseeable rule, suffice it to say that the Supreme Court of this state in Gulf Life Insurance Company v. Nash, supra, has rejected that rule and in so doing, said:
“It seems to me that such doctrine of foreseeability is a doctrine totally unsuited and unadaptable in construing accident policies. Moreover, the rationale of these cases seems to be founded not only in the doctrine of foreseeability but intrinsically in negligence on the part of the insured. Were we to make this principle a part of the law of this State, it would not only do violence to the reason for buying accident insurance but if it did not preclude recovery in a great majority of deaths arising from accidents, it would place an almost insurmountable burden on the insured to enforce liability.”
The Gulf Life case involved a death resulting from a gun shot wound sustained by Nash who was attempting to play “Russian Roulette” in the presence of a number of persons at a gathering. We fail to see wherein the facts in this case would create such a difference as to require the application of a different rule of law.
Upon the authority of Gulf Life Insurance Company v. Nash, supra, that portion of the summary judgment denying double indemnity benefits to appellant is reversed, and the cause is remanded for the entry of a judgment in favor of the appellant for such benefits, together with reasonable attorney’s fees to be determined by the court
Reversed and remanded with directions.
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Grissom v. Commercial Union Ins. Co., 610 So. 2d 1299 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992)…e playing “Russian Roulette,” Gulf Life Insurance Co. v. Nash, 97 So. 2d 4 (Fla.1957); or unintentionally shoots himself while attempting to disarm a person in a fight in which the insured is the aggressor, Harvey v. St. Paul Western Insurance Cos., 166 So. 2d 822 (Fla. 3d D.C.A.1964); or unintentionally shoots a bystander during a family quarrel, Grange Mutual Casualty Co. v. Thomas, 301 So. 2d 158 (Fla. 2d D.C.A.1974); or unintentionally hits a person in a crowd of people with a car while slowly driving int…
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Hartford Fire Ins. Co. & St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Spreen, 343 So. 2d 649 (Fla. 3d DCA 1977)…e playing “Russian Roulette”, Gulf Life Insurance Co. v. Nash, 97 So. 2d 4 (Fla.1957); or unintentionally shoots himself while attempting to disarm a person in a fight in which the insured is the aggressor, Harvey v. St. Paul Western Insurance Cos., 166 So. 2d 822 (Fla.3d D.C.A.1964); or unintentionally shoots a bystander during a family quarrel, Grange Mutual Casualty Co. v. Thomas, 301 So. 2d 158 (Fla.2d D.C.A.1974); or unintentionally hits a person in a crowd of people with a car while slowly driving into…1 / 2
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Cloud v. Shelby Mut. Ins. Co. of Shelby, 248 So. 2d 217 (Fla. 3d DCA 1971)…uences of his act” in construing the instant exclusionary provision. This court denied that “reasonably foreseeable consequences” rule has any application to accident insurance policies. Harvey v. St. Paul Western Insurance Companies, Fla.App. 1964, 166 So. 2d 822; see also Gulf Life Insurance Company v. Nash, Fla.1957, 97 So. 2d 4. [*219] Therefore, for the reasons stated, we hold that a genuine issue of material fact exists, which precludes the entry of summary judgment. Reversed. . Raymond Cloud filed a…
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- Gulf Life Ins. Co. v. Nash, 97 So. 2d 4 (Fla. 1957)