UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT DECISIONS ON-LINE

NORTHWESTERN MUT. LIFE INS. CO. V. JOHNSON, 254 U. S. 96 (1920)

254 U. S. 96

U.S. Supreme Court

Northwestern Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Johnson, 254 U.S. 96 (1920)

Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company v. Johnson

Nos. 70, 71

Submitted October 22, 1920

Decided November 15, 1920

254 U.S. 96

Syllabus

A provision in a life insurance policy declaring that the policy shall be void if, within a certain time, the insured, while sane or insane, shall die by his own hand, and a provision making the policy incontestable after a certain time, are both to be interpreted as implying that suicide of the insured, sane or insane, after the time specified, shall not be a defense. P. 254 U. S. 102.

The validity of such agreement to pay life insurance even when death is due to suicide, if it occur after the lapse of a certain time, depends upon the state public policy. Where it did not appear in what state the contracts in question were made, the court upheld them, which, semble, is in accord with the rule generally prevailing. P. 254 U. S. 100.

The cases are stated in the opinion. clubjuris

Page 254 U. S. 99


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