Van Ostrand v. National Life Assurance Co. of Canada

This is a motion by defendants for summary judgment in an action commenced by Mary Van Ostrand against the National Life Assurance Company of Canada and her former employer First National Bank and Trust Company of Ithaca.

While plaintiff was employed by First National, the bank carried a group life insurance policy for its employees. In January of 1972 a new feature of the plan was introduced which permitted employees to purchase insurance on the life of certain of their dependents, including spouses. Plaintiff purchased a policy on her husband’s life and paid the premiums by a payroll…