Sacks v. Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada

At issue is whether a Massachusetts statute (c. 175, §124) regulating life insurance policies written without a medical examination invalidates a condition precedent in a contract for life insurance relating to change in health status during the application review and approval process.

THE UNCONTROVERTED OPERATIVE FACTS

The decedent’s life insurance application was submitted to a broker, defendant John Steiger, in the early spring of 2000. Steiger, however, did not present the application to Sun Life until July 17, 2000. No physician’s examination was required by Sun Life when it considered the…