Question

John and Jane Doe were married for 20. When they were first married, John, as beneficiary, bought a life insurance policy on Jane. Jane likewise bought a life insurance policy on John. After their youngest child went off to college, John and Jane got a divorce. Both were working professionals, so no spousal support was awarded in the divorce.

Immediately after the divorce, John purchased a house in a beautiful neighborhood. He was a little worried that him and his neighbor were in a flood zone. Just to be cautious, John bought property insurance policies, with him as the beneficiary, for his house and his neighbor’s house.

After the divorce, Jane moved to California. Considering the number of wildfires in California, Jane bought fire insurance on her home.

One year later there was a flood and John and his neighbor suffered massive losses on their properties. What would happen when John tried to collect on both property insurance policies?

Two weeks after that, there was a wildfire near Jane's house. The wildfire caused a tree to fall, which broke a water line, that caused Jane’s house to flood. She suffered massive damage to her house. What would happen when Jane tried to collect on her fire insurance policy?

Four weeks later, John died of a heart attack. What would happen when Jane tried to collect the life insurance policy?

Answer 1

First of all a person could take a policy on the subject matter in which he have a insurable interest,which means he gains on the existence of subject matter or suffer loss on its non existence. Here John could not take policy on neighbor's property. He could take policy only on his property. So that he could claim only for his property. Here works principle of INSURABLE INTEREST.

In second case Jane could not collect her policy as per the principle OF PROXIMATE CAUSE which means insurance will be provided only by considering nearest cause. Here Jane took policy against fire but the actual cause for risk is falling of tree brokage of water line and through which causes flood. So she could not collect her policy.

Here Jane is taken policy on John she will be paying premiums on the policy. So in the event of risk she have the right to claim for the policy.