Kennesaw Life & Accident Insurance v. Templeton

Bell, Judge.

In this case the plaintiff asserts that the insured came to his death solely by external, violent, and accidental means, in that the double-barreled shotgun which he was in the process of cleaning was discharged by accident, causing his instant death. The defendant, on the other hand, contends that the insured met his death through intentional self-destruction by suicide, and thus the defendant is relieved from liability by reason of Code § 56-909, which provides, “Death by suicide, or by the hands of justice, either punitive or preventive, shall release the insurer from the…