Horn v. John Hancock Variable Life Insurance Co.

CORRECTED OPINION

This is an appeal by the plaintiff beneficiary Jean Horn from a final judgment entered upon a directed verdict and involuntary dismissal in an action to collect on an accidental death rider in a life insurance policy. The action arose after the defendant John Hancock Variable Life Insurance Company paid the plaintiff the face value of the life insurance policy ($100,000), but declined to pay the plaintiff the accidental death benefit ($100,000) in the policy after the insured Victor Horn died in a plane crash while piloting a commercial aircraft.

First, it is undisputed that…