Marsh v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.

The plaintiffs sought recovery for the death of the decedent resulting from an overdose of heroin based on the provisions of a group insurance policy under which the defendant (Metropolitan) insured against death by “Accidental Means * * * independently of all other causes.” 1 Judgment was entered on the jury verdict in favor of Metropolitan following a jury trial and plaintiffs appeal. They contend that death by an unintended overdose of a narcotic drug, as a matter of law, is accidental within the meaning of the policy and that the verdict of the jury is not supported by the evidence.

The…