Stucker v. Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co.

This is a suit by the appellant upon a policy insuring the life of a saddle horse against death caused directly by disease, accidental injury, fire, or lightning. The complaint alleges that the horse was accidentally injured and was later destroyed by a veterinarian for humanitarian reasons. To this complaint the appellee filed a general denial. At the close of the plaintiff’s proof the court directed a verdict for the insurer.

The first question is whether the horse’s death was directly caused by an accidental injury. The proof shows that the animal was accidentally injured in the plaintiff’s…