Peterson v. Aetna Life Insurance

Plaintiff is the assignee of the former wife of Floyd Peterson, deceased. Defendant insurance company issued a group policy to Peterson’s employer. The policy provided that those employees of the group to which Peterson belonged would be insured “for the principal sum of $1,000 in the event of death sustained solely through external, violent and accidental means, independently of all other causes.” Defendant paid the life policy but refused to pay upon the accident policy on the ground that Peterson’s death was not occasioned solely through accidental means. The trial court, sitting without a…