Bendford v. National Life & Accident Insurance

In June, 1953, plaintiff’s decedent signed a written application to defendant insurance company for a policy of industrial life insurance. The policy was issued June 29, 1953, naming his wife, plaintiff, beneficiary. He died May 26, 1955. Defendant declined to make payment under the policy and tendered all premiums paid on it. Plaintiff refused the tender and brought this suit in the common pleas court for the city of Detroit to recover the $1,000 face amount of the policy, plus interest.

Defendant raised 2 major defenses: (1) the policy had been procured by fraud in that decedent had made…