{
  "id": 2623632,
  "name": "Winnefred McGreevy, Defendant in Error, v. National Union, Flaintiff in Error",
  "name_abbreviation": "McGreevy v. National Union",
  "decision_date": "1909-12-07",
  "docket_number": "Gen. No. 14,594",
  "first_page": "62",
  "last_page": "66",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "152 Ill. App. 62"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "Ill. App. Ct.",
    "id": 8837,
    "name": "Illinois Appellate Court"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 29,
    "name_long": "Illinois",
    "name": "Ill."
  },
  "cites_to": [
    {
      "cite": "236 Ill. 444",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ill.",
      "case_ids": [
        3385300
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ill/236/0444-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "74 Ill. App. 482",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "Ill. App.",
      "case_ids": [
        5234715
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/ill-app/74/0482-01"
      ]
    }
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  "analysis": {
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T20:55:41.765695+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "Winnefred McGreevy, Defendant in Error, v. National Union, Flaintiff in Error."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Mr. Justice Mack\ndelivered the opinion of the court.\nThis action is on a benefit certificate issued by defendant to plaintiff\u2019s husband and payable to plaintiff. The application and medical examination are expressly made a part of the certificate and a copy is attached thereto. The certificate provides as follows:\n\u2018 \u2018 This certificate is granted upon the express condition that all statements and representations made by said member in his application for membership in said council and all statements made the Medical Examiner by him are true, and upon further condition that this friend complies with the Laws of the Order now in force or which shall hereafter be enacted.\u201d\nThe application signed by deceased contained the following:\n\u201cI do hereby consent and agree that any untrue statements made above, or to the Medical Examiner, or any concealment of facts by me in this application, in regard to my health, habits, or circumstances, personal or family history, or my suspension or expulsion from, or voluntary severing of my connection with the Order, shall forfeit the rights of myself and my family or beneficiary to all benefits and privileges therein.\u201d\nThe medical examination contains the following questions and answers: \u201c13A. When and for what did you last seek medical advice? A. Nothing. 14A. For what have you had medical advice during the last five years? A. Nothing. 16. Have you ever had any of the following disorders or diseases? (Answer \u2018yes\u2019 or \u2018no\u2019 to each.) Pneumonia or inflammation of the lungs? A. No.\u201d At the end of the medical examination is the following: \u201cI hereby warrant that the answers to the above questions are true and I agree that any impairment of my present physical condition before the completion of my membership php.ll invalidate any benefit certificate issued thereon,\u201d which was also signed by said McGreevy.\nThe evidence shows that the deceased was attended by his physician for pneumonia in October, 1905; the medical examination for the insurance was in February, 1906, and the death from tuberculosis in August, 1907.\nThe examining physician called in rebuttal by plaintiff testified that he did not remember whether he asked McG-reevy if he had had pneumonia; that Mc-Greevy did not have certain data as to his family history and was to send it to be filled in; that he thought it was mailed to him and that his wife had copied it off. He further stated that every answer which appeared in his heavy writing was obtained from Mc-Greevy personally after putting the question; that part of those answers were written in before and part after McGreevy had signed the document. The answer \u201cNothing\u201d to the question 13A appears in heavy writing, while the same word in answer to the question 14A, as well as the answer \u201cNo\u201d to question 16, is in the light handwriting of the doctor\u2019s wife.\nOn direct examination the physician was asked, \u2018 \u2018 State whether or not he said he had not had medical advice for any disease,\u201d to which he answered, \u201cHe did not.\u201d The cross-examination was in part as follows:\n\u201cQ. Take for instance answer to question 13A and let me read that. \u2018When and for what did you last seek medical advice?\u2019\nA. \u2018Nothing.\u2019\nQ. That answer is in your handwriting?\nA. I believe that is in my handwriting.\nQ. That is true, that is what he told you, is it not?\nA. That is what I presume.\nQ. You would not have written it down if it had not been answered?\nA. I do not think I would. \u2019 \u2019\nThis physician was plaintiff\u2019s witness. His testimony is contradictory in part and unreliable. Without it, however, plaintiff could not succeed, as on the face of the papers the deceased had made a materially false representation and warranty.\nIt is urged, however, that this evidence shows, or at least that the jury was justified in believing therefrom, that none of these material questions had been asked the deceased, and that, therefore, the warranty did not extend to them.\nIt seems to us, however, clear that the apparent contradiction between the direct and cross-examination can be avoided by a closer examination of the question put to the witness on the direct examination. Counsel carefully avoided asking whether or not question 13A had been asked and answered. The question put, \u201cState whether or not he said he had not had medical advice for any disease?\u201d is more applicable to 14A than to 13A. The question as put presupposes that the blank form contains the question, \u201cHave you had medical advice for any diseases?\u201d But there is no such question in the blank. 13A is, \u201cWhen and for what did you last seek medical advice?\u201d 14A is, \u201cFor what have you had medical advice during the last five years?\u201d The answer \u201cNothing\u201d to 13A is in the doctor\u2019s handwriting; that to 14A is in the handwriting of the doctor\u2019s wife. Under his testimony, the only conclusion that in our judgment can reasonably be drawn is that he did ask him question 13A and received the answer; but that he did not ask him 14A.\nWhether the answer to 13A was inserted before or after signature is immaterial. It is clear that the physician, though acting for the company, was authorized by the deceased to fill up the blanks in accordance with the statements made and those regarding family history to be furnished. Moreover, when the certificate was issued, a copy of the examination, containing these answers over the signature of the deceased, was attached to it as part of it. Whatever the effect of receiving and retaining the certificate in that form may be, as to those questions and answers which were never put or answered, it seems to us clear that it is a ratification, if ratification be needed, of the insertion by the doctor of those answers which were in fact given. Nat\u2019l Union v. Arnhorst, 74 Ill. App. 482; Spence v. Central Acc. Ins. Co., 236 Ill. 444. We are entirely satisfied on this record that a materially false statement was knowingly made by the deceased for the purpose of securing this insurance. Under these circumstances, his beneficiary can obtain no rights against the company.\nThe judgment will be reversed with a finding of facts.\nReversed with a finding of facts.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Mr. Justice Mack"
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Charles J. Kavanagh, for plaintiff in error.",
      "John A. Bloomingston, for defendant in error."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "Winnefred McGreevy, Defendant in Error, v. National Union, Flaintiff in Error.\nGen. No. 14,594.\n1. Insurance\u2014when making of material false statement in application will defeat recovery. If the application, the statements of which are expressly warranted to be true, contain a false statement as to a material fact, a recovery will not be sustained.\n2. Insurance\u2014effect of receiving policy with copy of application containing false statement attached. If an examining physician has filled in the blanks in the application and such application contains false statements as to material facts, the receiving and retention by the insured of the policy or certificate with a copy of such application attached as a part thereof, is a ratification by the insured of the insertion by the physician of those answers which were in fact given.\nAssumpsit. Error to the Municipal Court of Chicago; the Hon, Edwin K. Walker, Judge, presiding. Heard in the Branch Appellate Court at the October term, 1908.\nReversed with finding of facts.\nOpinion filed December 7, 1909.\nCharles J. Kavanagh, for plaintiff in error.\nJohn A. Bloomingston, for defendant in error."
  },
  "file_name": "0062-01",
  "first_page_order": 80,
  "last_page_order": 84
}
