Smith v. Missouri Fidelity & Casualty Co.

This is a suit for libel in which plaintiff recovered $500' actual and $250 punitive damages. The plaintiff is a physician practicing his profession at Ash Grove, Missouri. The defendant was located at Springfield, Missouri, and issued to him a policy of insurance against loss of time from sickness. The plaintiff presented a claim under this policy and same was paid. Soon thereafter plaintiff presented a second claim which defendant contested on the grounds that the sickness claimed for was a mere continuation of the previous sickness for which it had settled in full and that if a new…