Aetna Life Insurance Co. v. Haworth
United States Supreme Court
300 U.S. 227, 57 S. Ct. 461, 81 L. Ed. 617 (1937)
- Written by Alex Ruskell, JD
Facts
Aetna Life Insurance Co. (plaintiff) issued Edwin Haworth (defendant) five life-insurance policies that provided for certain benefits if Haworth became totally and permanently disabled. When Haworth claimed that he was totally disabled, Aetna sued Haworth for a declaratory judgment that four of the policies were null and void for nonpayment and the remaining policy was limited to pay $45 upon Haworth’s death. The district court dismissed Aetna’s complaint on the ground that it was not a justiciable controversy under the Federal Declaratory Judgment Act. Aetna appealed, and the court of appeals affirmed. Aetna appealed to the United States Supreme Court, which granted cert.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Hughes, C.J.)
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