Jerry M. Haman v. Prudential Insurance Co‪.‬

This appeal presents for review the issue as to the propriety of instructing a jury on the presumption against suicide, and arises from a judgment for the plaintiff in the amount of $6,000.00 based upon a life insurance policy with additional accidental death benefits, issued by the defendant, The Prudential Insurance Company of America, upon the life of plaintiff's deceased wife. The policy involved was issued May 1, 1963, to Evelyn M. Haman, the wife of the plaintiff, who died as the result of a gunshot wound in the head on December 30, 1963. This policy in the face amount of $3,000.00, contained a provision for payment of an additional $3,000 in the event her death occurred as the result of an accident. The policy among other things provided: