Legal Opinion
Der Minasian v. Aetna Life Insurance
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Decided June 30, 1936PublishedCited by 41 opinions
1Opinion of the CourtLummus, J.
It is settled law that a mentally responsible person who commits murder loses all right to the proceeds of a life insurance policy on the life of the person murdered. Slocum v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. 245 Mass. 565, 27 Am. L. R. 1517. For collections of cases, see 70 Am. L. R. 1539; 91 Am. L. R. 1486; 49 Harv. Law Rev. 715. The present case requires us to consider whether that doctrine extends to cases of unlawful homicide falling short of murder.
We have before us an action of contract by the beneficiary of a policy of insurance upon the life of his wife. She died on August 3, 1930, from…
2Cases cited43 opinions
- Eagle, Star & British Dominions Insurance v. HellerSupreme Court of Virginia · 1927
- Commonwealth v. ChanceMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1899
- Schindler v. Royal Insurance Co.New York Court of Appeals · 1932
- Miller v. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co.Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1935
- Commonwealth v. ClarkMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1935
38 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by41 opinions
- Commonwealth v. WelanskyMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1944
- Terrio v. McDONOUGH HARTFORD FIRE INS. CO.Massachusetts Appeals Court · 1983
- Aetna Casualty & Surety Co. v. NiziolekMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1985
- Three Sons, Inc. v. Phoenix InsuranceMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1970
- Greer v. Franklin Life InsuranceTexas Supreme Court · 1949
36 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.