Equitable Variable Life Insurance v. Wood

In this case, we decide whether an insurance policyholder effectively cancelled her life insurance policy when she mailed a notice of cancellation to her insurance agent’s office at his direction, rather than to the place specified in the policy where “premiums and requests [should be sent] . . . unless instructed otherwise.”

Wallace J. Wood, beneficiary under his daughter’s life insurance policy, filed this action to recover upon that policy after his daughter’s death. The insurance company filed a motion for summary judgment upon stipulated facts, contending the policyholder had cancelled…