French v. Shenandoah Life Insurance

By JUDGE GLYN R. PHILLIPS

The insured, Mr. French, was an employee of Lambert Coal Company. The terms of his employment included coverage under a group policy which Lambert Coal Company had with Shenandoah Life Insurance Company. Mr. French died in a slate fall at one of the mines operated by Lambert Coal Company.

The Master Policy, retained by Lambert’s, provided that accidental death benefits are not payable for any loss to which a contributory cause is injury arising out of the course of employment. The certificate describing the group policy issued to Mr. French was duplicative of the…