Butcher v. Nationwide Life Insurance

MARTIN (Robert M.), Judge.

The Accidental Death Benefit Rider issued on the life of Donald Butcher provided $10,000 insurance against “the death of the Insured . . . [resulting] directly and independently of all other causes from bodily injury caused solely by external, violent and accidental means.” In applying the law to the uncontroverted facts of this case, we conclude that the death of the insured was not caused by accidental means and that it was not, therefore, covered by the Accidental Death Benefit Rider. Defendant’s motion for a directed verdict should have been allowed.

The term…