Lloyd v. First Farwest Life Insurance

Helmi Lloyd appeals a summary judgment declaring she has no claim under her First Farwest insurance policy for a ruptured cerebral aneurysm resulting from Lloyd's deliberate, nonmedical inhalation of cocaine. The policy covered "bodily injury caused by accident" but excluded loss due to "a sickness, disease, or disorder".

According to Lloyd's expert, her injury "was due to the hypertensive/hypermetabolic effects of cocaine on her cerebral vasculature", as opposed to an "active disease." The expert testified that, had it not been for the increase in blood pressure, "which can be expected to…