INSURANCE MONEY PAYMENTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 March 1933, Page 9

INSURANCE MONEY PAYMENTS

COMPANIES’ APPEAL

[PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

WELLINGTON, November 13

The Court of Appeal, to-day,, is hearing the case Australasian I o.nperance and General Mutual Assurance Coy., and Commercial Union Assurance Coy. against Elizabeth Ivy .Johnson, and .John Randolph Johnson. The insurance companies are appealing against the decision of Justice Reed, delivered at Wellington in August last, in which he gave judg? merit in favour of Mrs Johnson lor £2-15/10/- against the Commercial Company at id for £;>oo against, the T. and G. Company. Both actions wore claims by Mrs Johnson for insurance money’s in respect of a. motor accident, at the Ohan railway crossing on Muy 6, ttc’.o, as the result of which she suffered amputation of the left leg below the knee. In the case of die action against the Commercial Union, the claim was made under a comprehensive. motor car policy, whereby she was insured inter alia for £25(1, and £lO medical expenses for loss of a leg. Tho claim against the 'l'. aiid G. was based on the provisions of an ordin ary accident policy entitling the insured Io a sum of £5OO for the same injury. In each case (he insurance companies acknowledged liability and paid insurance moneys to the husband of the plaintiff, Mrs Johnson, and obtained receipts purporting to be signed by her. Mrs Johnson alleged that these receipts were forgeries and the Court, accepted this view. I’he trial Judge held that Mrs Johnson had not signed the receipts ami that she had not. received the moneys to which she was out med under the provisions of the policies. An appeal is brought against this decision.