Opinion

United States v. Sligh

  • 31 F.2d 735
  • 1929 U.S. App. LEXIS 3988
Court
Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Filed
Mar 4, 1929
Status
Published
Author
Dietrich
On the bench
John B. Wright
Cited by
39 cases

The opinion

DIETRICH, Circuit Judge

(concurring). The fact that during the major part of the period in question appellee was receiving a substantial salary is material, but not conclusive. Aside from the consideration that the testimony tended to show that the employer was moved by sentiment and sympathy, fairly construed, the policy is to be understood as meaning not present ability in an absolute sense, but a capacity that may be legitimately exercised; that is, without serious peril to the life or health of the insured. That appellee was afflicted with active tuberculosis is admitted, and in the medical profession the view seems to prevail that at that stage hope of curing, or even staying, the progress of the malady, is largely conditioned upon complete rest. Had appellee put aside concern for the immediate necessities of his family, and, yielding to the advice of a conservative physician, wholly refrained from work, it may be doubted whether any question would have been raised of his right to receive the insurance. But manifestly his “ability” in a legal sense would be the same in one ease as in the other.

Upon the proposition that the policy is to be liberally construed in favor of the insured, I express no opinion.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

A word about cookies

We need a few to keep you signed in and the library working. The rest help us see which pages people use and where they get stuck. They stay off unless you say yes.