Antonio De Gogorza, Respondent v. the Knickerbocker Life Insurance Company, Appellant

Summary

The New York Court of Appeals reversed the lower court, holding that a life‑insurance policy provision stating the policy is void if the insured "dies by his own hand, sane or insane" is valid and bars recovery, even when the insured was insane, unless the death was truly accidental. The court found the jury instruction on accident erroneous and ordered a new trial.