Barfield v. Wilson

OPINION

COOPER, Justice.

Laura Elizabeth Barfield, brought this action against Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company, its general agent, Jerry W. Joyner, and its soliciting agent, Billy K. Wilson, to recover the proceeds of a term life insurance policy issued by Penn Mutual upon the life of Joe Brown Barfield. Mr. Barfield drowned in the flood waters of the Mississippi River on March 15, 1979.

The gravamen of the plaintiff’s action was twofold. She insisted primarily that the policy of insurance, which had been permitted to lapse, had been reinstated and was in full force and effect at the time of…