Opinion · Supreme Court of the United States

AETNA LIFE INS. CO. v. HAWORTH, 300 U.S. 227 (1937)

AETNA LIFE Ins. CO. v. HAWORTH, 300 U.S. 227 (1937)

Type
Opinion
Court
Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction
Federal
Date
1937-03-01
Topic
general

AETNA LIFE INS. CO. v. HAWORTH, 300 U.S. 227 (1937) 57 S.Ct. 461 AETNA LIFE INSURANCE CO. v. HAWORTH ET AL. CERTIORARI TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT.

Citator

UpLaw has not yet analyzed AETNA LIFE INS. CO. v. HAWORTH, 300 U.S. 227 (1937). The absence of a flag is not a finding that it is good law.

AETNA LIFE INS. CO.v. HAWORTH,300 U.S. 227(1937)
57 S.Ct. 461
AETNA LIFE INSURANCE CO.v. HAWORTH ET AL.
CERTIORARI TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT.
No. 446.
Argued February 4, 1937.
Decided March 1, 1937.
1. The Federal Declaratory Judgment Act deals with "controversies" in the constitutional sense and is procedural only. P. 239. 2. In the exercise of its control over practice and procedure of the lower federal courts, Congress is not limited to traditional forms or remedies but may create and improve as well as abolish or restrict. P. 240. 3. A controversy, in the constitutional sense and in the sense of the Declaratory Judgment Act, must be justiciable — it must be definite and concrete, touching the legal relation of parties having adverse legal interests — it must be a real and substantial controversy admitting of specific relief through a conclusive decree, as distinguished from an opinion advising what the law would be upon a hypothetical statement of facts. P. 240. 4. There may be adjudication of the rights of parties without award of process or payment of damages and where no allegation of irreparable injury is made. P. 241. 5. Where the holder of life insurance policies claims, under disability benefit clauses, that, notwithstanding nonpayment of premiums, the policies, by reason of his total and permanent disability,Page 228remain in force and entitle him to cash benefits, and makes repeated and persistent demands upon the insurer accordingly; whereas the insurer denies that such disability existed and insists that the policies have lapsed because the premiums were not paid, there is an "actual controversy" on which suit may be maintained by the insurer against the insured under the Federal Declaratory Judgment Act. P. 242.84 F.2d 695, reversed.
CERTIORARI,299 U.S. 536.
This suit by the Insurance Company, under the Federal
Declaratory Judgment Act, was dismissed by the District Court
upon the ground that there was no justiciable controversy.
11 F. Supp. 1016. The decree was affirmed by the court below.
Mr. E.R. Morrison, with whomMessrs. Berkeley CoxandDouglas Strippwere on the brief, for petitioner.

The Declaratory Judgment Act is constitutional.Ashwanderv.Tennessee Valley Authority,297 U.S. 288;Nashville, C. St.L. Ry. v.Wallace,288 U.S. 249.

The bringing of this suit does not deprive respondents of a jury trial. The Act makes express provision for submission of questions of fact to a jury.

There is an actual controversy within the meaning of the Declaratory Judgment Act and the Federal Constitution.

The allegations of the petition show there is a controversy of a definite, specific and substantial character. The claims of the policy-holder have been clearly and repeatedly asserted in writing, and petitioner's denials of these claims have been equally specific and consistent. The respective rights of the parties depend upon a determination of the single clear-cut issue — whether disability existed when payment of premiums ceased. The right of the petitioner to treat the policies as lapsed became complete when premium payments ceased, if thePage 229requisite disability did not then exist. On the other hand, the right of the insured to disability benefits and the maintenance of the policies in force during the continuance of disability then became complete if such disability did exist.

This is not an attempt to obtain an opinion based on an uncertain or hypothetical state of facts, as inLibertyWarehouse Co. v.Grannis,273 U.S. 70.

The claims of the insured are not mere expressions of opinion in private conversation, as inWillingv.Chicago AuditoriumAssn.,277 U.S. 274,288, nor indefinite and unspecific as inNew Jerseyv.Sargent,269 U.S. 328. On the contrary, they are couched in formal language, attested before a notary public, and accompanied by a physician's sworn certificate. At frequent intervals and at least thirteen times, beginning in 1930, these claims have been reasserted in similar form.

The present suit is similar in its essential characteristics toNashville, C. St. L. Ry. v.Wallace,288 U.S. 249. See alsoGullyv.Interstate Natural Gas Co.,82 F.2d 145, cert. den.,298 U.S. 688;Travelers Insurance Co. v.Helmer,15 F. Supp. 355;New York Life Ins. Co. v.London,15 F. Supp. 586.

The allegations of the petition disclose a situation which would enable the policyholder to maintain an action against the petitioner.

A party who would normally be defendant under other forms of procedure may seek a declaration under the Act.FidelityNational Bank Trust Co. v.Swope,274 U.S. 123;TravelersInsurance Co. v.Helmer, supra; New York Life Ins. Co. v.London, supra.

There are other decisions by the federal district courts holding that suits may be brought under the Act by the party to the controversy who would normally otherwise be the defendant.Ohio Casualty Co. v.Plummer,13 F. Supp. 169;CommercialCasualty Co. v.Humphrey,13 F. Supp. 174Page 230;Blackv.Little,8 F. Supp. 867;Lionel Corp. v.De Filippis,11 F. Supp. 712;Zenie Bros. v.Miskend,10 F. Supp. 779;McKesson Robbinsv.Charsky,15 F. Supp. 209.

Like holdings have been made in numerous cases under state declaratory judgment acts.American Motorists Ins. Co. v.Central Garage,86 N.H. 362;Owenv.Fletcher SavingsTrust Co.,99 Ind. App. 365;Pulsiferv.Walker,85 N.H. 434;Hessv.Country Club Park,213 Cal. 613;Tollev.Struve,124 Cal.App. 263;Utica Mutual Ins. Co. v.Glennie,132 Misc. 899;Woodwardv.Fox West CoastTheaters,36 Ariz. 251. Also in England.Guaranty Trust Co. v.Hannay Co., (C.A.) 2 K.B. 536, 555 (1915). SeeFaulknerv.Keene,85 N.H. 147,155; Borchard in Chicago Law Review, 1936, Vol. 4, No. 1.

The report of the State Committee on the Judiciary accompanying the bill to amend the Judicial Code by adding a new section to be numbered 274D, Report No. 1005, 73d Cong., 2d Sess., May 10, 1934; Borchard, Declaratory Judgments, p. 634. states the elements required for rendering a declaratory judgment. It is not indicated that there must be either a pending suit or a threat of immediate suit by the parties against whom the declaration is sought. The cases do not make such a requirement.

One of the primary purposes of declaratory judgment procedure is to provide means for the prompt settlement of controversies. This objective would not be attained if a party asserting a claim would prevent his adversary from instituting an action by the simple expedient of not stating when he proposed to sue to enforce the claim.

Petitioner is entitled to prompt and efficient relief and should not be compelled to wait until such time as its adversaries choose to bring suit.Bankv.Stone, 88 F. 383, 391, opinion by Judge Taft with whom sat Mr.Page 231Justice Harlan and Judge Lurton;Mutual Life Ins. Co. v.Pearson, 114 F. 295;Lincoln National Life Ins. Co. v.Hammer,41 F.2d 12. SeeTollev.Struve,124 Cal.App. 263;Petition of Kariher,284 Pa. 455,463.

The repeated, formal assertions of claim by the policyholder in the case at bar are far more conclusive as showing a determination to enforce these claims by court action than would be a mere threat to sue.

A decision in this suit will be a final determination of the controversy.Fidelity National Bank Trust Co. v.Swope,274 U.S. 123.

The fact that rights which might subsequently accrue cannot be determined in this suit is no ground for refusing to determine present rights asserted in the form of a justiciable controversy.

The cases cited by respondents in this connection simply lay down the rule that the judgment must finally dispose of the then existing controversy. Cf.Lewisv.Greene, L.R. (1905), 2 Ch. Div. 340.

The fact that the respondents could obtain a final judgment in their favor on the cause of action disclosed in the petition for a declaratory judgment would seem to be conclusive proof that a declaratory judgment rendered under the petition would possess all the essential elements of finality.

The right to be free from an unfounded claim, or to know whether a claim is well founded, and the right to treat a contract as ended, may well be considered rights within the meaning of the Act.

But the Act does not limit declarations to declarations of rights. It provides for a declaration of "rights andotherlegal relations." Rights must have been considered legal relations by the Congress, else the word "other" would not have been included. If a right is a legal relation, then the corresponding obligation must necessarily be a legal relation. Therefore, whether or not petitionerPage 232has rights to be declared, it is entitled to come into court and ask for a declaration as to its obligations.

There is ample authority for the proposition that a declaration of immunity from asserted claims is a proper one under the Act. Sen. Rep. No. 1005, 73d Cong., 2d Sess., 1934. SeeNashville, C. St. L. Ry. v.Wallace, supra; Gullyv.Interstate Natural Gas Co., supra; Guaranty Trust Co. v.Hannay Co., C.A. 2 K.B. 536 (1915);Society MaritimeCommercialv.Venus S.S. Co., 9 Comm. Cas. 289 (1904); Borchard, Declaratory Judgments, pp. 74et seq.

However, petitioner's claim that there are rights and other legal relations disclosed by the petition which are properly the subject of a declaration, does not need to be based entirely upon the proposition that immunity from obligation comes within that phrase of the Act. If it is determined that the policyholder has been totally disabled, then the relationship of the insured and insured exists between him and petitioner, and the relationship of creditor and debtor also. If a declaration is granted as prayed by petitioner, then neither of these relationships exist between it and the policyholder. Cf.Columbian National LifeIns. Co. v.Foulke,13 F. Supp. 350,352.

Irreparable injury need not be alleged, but is alleged and exists in this case.

The plaintiff is required annually to set aside substantial reserves for each of the policies until it is judicially determined that they have lapsed and are null and void. The setting aside of these reserves constitutes more than a bookkeeping entry, and we submit that the court of appeals was in error in holding that the company's "control over such funds is neither modified nor affected" by the notices served upon petitioner by the respondents.

The status of insurance reserves was considered by this Court inMaryland Casualty Co. v.United States,251 U.S. 342,350.Page 233

So long as these reserves are required to be set up by the company, they constitute in a very real sense both a segregation of assets and a liability of the company.

Not only the company, but all of its policyholders are interested in seeing that premiums are promptly collected on all outstanding policies, and that in all cases of defaulted premiums the policies shall be promptly forfeited or cancelled. All matters affecting the rights and interests of the policyholder directly affect the business of the company.New York Life Ins.Co. v.Statham,93 U.S. 24,29.

There are other reasons why a denial of the relief prayed for and the resulting delay in the determination of this controversy would be injurious to petitioner. By § 5929, Rev. Stats., Missouri, 1929, an insurer may be subjected to a penalty of 10% of the claim, and the payment of opposing party's attorney's fee, for vexatious delay in claimed payment. This added liability is ordinarily held to be a question for the jury.Gueringerv.Fidelity Deposit Co., 184 S.W. 936. If suit should be brought for accumulated disability benefits and petitioner should be held liable therefor, it would be compelled to pay interest at the rate of 6% per annum from the date that the respective payments were due, under the provisions of § 2839, Rev. Stats., Missouri, 1929.

It is unconscionable that the respondents should have the right to hold this claim "as a menace and threat over the head of the complainants," while in the meantime evidence may become "lost or unavailable."Schmidtv.West, 104 F. 272. Relief in equity has often been granted to avoid postponement of litigation to a "time when the facts are no longer capable of complete proof or have become involved in the obscurities of time." Story, Eq. Juris., § 705.Mr. Rees Turpinfor respondents.

The petition does not present an actual or justifiable controversy. The Declaratory Judgment Act does notPage 234change the essential requisites for the exercise of judicial power. Nor does it for the purposes of the Act make that a controversy which before its enactment was not a controversy in the constitutional sense.Ashwanderv.Tennessee ValleyAuthority,297 U.S. 288.

The petitioner asks the court to determine a fact, the only value of which determination would be that it could be employed by the petitioner as a defense in the event of a future suit on any of the policies.

When the petition was field there was no present right of recovery of an amount sufficient to give a federal court jurisdiction. The petition, therefore, does not present a case or controversy between the parties as to the right of either to a money judgment against the other in a federal court. The controversy cognizable here, if any there be, must, therefore, be about something other than a present right to a judgment for money.

The petitioner says its petition presents a controversy of fact, the adjudication of which in its favor will be a good defense to a possible future suit upon policies written in the face amount of more than $3,000.00. It argues therefrom that the determination of such fact would be a declaration of rights or legal relations involving the jurisdictional amount.

The respondents say no controversy in the constitutional sense is presented.

A dispute out of court about the present existence of a mutable fact, which may become an element in the determination of an action at law that may be commenced at some future time, is not a controversy in the sense in which that word is used in the Constitution.Piedmont Northern Ry. v.United States,280 U.S. 469;Nashville, C. St. L. Ry. v.Wallace,288 U.S. 249;Fidelity National Bankv.Swope,274 U.S. 123;Willingv.Chicago Auditorium Assn.,277 U.S. 274;Arizonav.California,283 U.S. 423;Alabamav.Arizona,291 U.S. 286;Page 235United Statesv.West Virginia,295 U.S. 463;NewJerseyv.Sargent,269 U.S. 328;Ashwanderv.TennesseeValley Authority, supra.

It is generally recognized that declaratory judgments are not applicable to every difference, or to every controversy, that may arise between prospective litigants. In all jurisdictions it has been declared that the court has a discretion in determining whether under the law it should declare a judgment at all in any particular case.Newsumv.Interstate Realty Co.,152 Tenn. 302; 3 Freeman on Judgments, 5th ed., par. 1356;Zieglerv.Pickett,46 Wyo. 283.

The purpose of the proceeding is not to settle any present "rights or other legal relations," but to settle one particular fact that may later be called into question in a possible suit. The dispute is not even as to a completed fact capable of exact and final ascertainment, but as to a fact probably changing and resting somewhat in opinion. If the insured should now establish the questioned fact, he would not be entitled to a present judgment against the Insurance Company; it would not determine finally his right to a judgment in a future action; the adjudication would not be susceptible of violation and could not call for enforcement; it would not finally adjudicate the standing of the parties.

The declaratory procedure is inappropriate to a judicial investigation of disputed facts, or to an inquiry where, as here, if the decision should go in one way it might involve further litigation, or to an inquiry, as here, that would not necessarily lead to a final determination of the right of one litigant to recover against the other. The discretion of the court to refuse to declare a judgment in such cases is generally recognized.Lewisv.Green, L.R. (1905) 2 Ch. Div. 340;Zieglerv.Pickett,46 Wyo. 283;Newsumv.Interstate Realty Co.,152 Tenn. 302; 3 Freeman, Judgments, 5th ed., par. 1356;Page 236Ladnerv.Siegel,294 Pa. 368;Washington Detroit TheaterCo. v.Moore,249 Mich. 673; 41 Yale L.J., June, 1932, p. 1195; 45 Harv. L. Rev., p. 1089.
MR. CHIEF JUSTICE HUGHES delivered the opinion of the Court.
The question presented is whether the District Court had jurisdiction of this suit under the Federal Declaratory Judgment Act. Act of June 14, 1934,48 Stat. 955; Jud. Code, § 274D; 28 U.S.C. § 400.1

The question arises upon the plaintiff's complaint which was dismissed by the District Court upon the ground that it did not set forth a "controversy" in the constitutional sense and hence did not come within the legitimate scope of the statute.11 F. Supp. 1016. The decree of dismissal was affirmed by the Circuit Court of Appeals.84 F.2d 695. We granted certiorari. November 16, 1936.Page 237

From the complaint it appears that plaintiff is an insurance company which had issued to the defendant, Edwin P. Haworth, five policies of insurance upon his life, the defendant Cora M. Haworth being named as beneficiary. The complaint set forth the terms of the policies. They contained various provisions which for the present purpose it is unnecessary fully to particularize. It is sufficient to observe that they all provided for certain benefits in the event that the insured became totally and permanently disabled. In one policy, for $10,000, issued in 1911, the company agreed, upon receiving the requisite proof of such disability and without further payment of premiums, to pay the sum insured, and dividend additions, in twenty annual installments, or a life annuity as specified, in full settlement. In four other policies issued in 1921, 1928 and 1929, respectively, for amounts aggregating $30,000, plaintiff agreed upon proof of such disability to waive further payment of premiums, promising in one of the policies to pay a specified amount monthly and in the other three to continue the life insurance in force. By these four policies the benefits to be payable at death, and the cash and loan values to be available, were to be the same whether the premiums were paid or were waived by reason of the described disability.

The complaint alleges that in 1930 and 1931 the insured ceased to pay premiums on the four policies last mentioned and claimed the disability benefits as stipulated. He continued to pay premiums on the first mentioned policy until 1934 and then claimed disability benefits. These claims, which were repeatedly renewed, were presented in the form of affidavits accompanied by certificates of physicians. A typical written claim on the four policies is annexed to the complaint. It states that while these policies were in force, the insured becamePage 238totally and permanently disabled by disease and was "prevented from performing any work or conducting any business for compensation or profit"; that on October 7, 1930, he had made and delivered to the company a sworn statement "for the purpose of asserting and claiming his right to have these policies continued under the permanent and total disability provision contained in each of them"; that more than six months before that date he had become totally and permanently disabled and had furnished evidence of his disability within the stated time; that the annual premiums payable in the year 1930 or in subsequent years were waived by reason of the disability and that he was entitled to have the policies continued in force without the payment of premiums so long as the disability should continue.

With respect to the policy first mentioned, it appears that the insured claimed that prior to June 1, 1934, when he ceased to pay premiums, he had become totally and permanently disabled, that he was without obligation to pay further premiums and was entitled to the stipulated disability benefits including the continued life of the policy.

Plaintiff alleges that consistently and at all times it has refused to recognize these claims of the insured and has insisted that all the policies had lapsed according to their terms by reason of the non-payment of premiums, the insured not being totally and permanently disabled at any of the times to which his claims referred. Plaintiff further states that taking loans into consideration four of the policies have no value and the remaining policy (the one first mentioned) has a value of only $45 as extended insurance. If, however, the insured has been totally and permanently disabled as he claims, the five policies are in full force, the plaintiff is now obliged to pay the accrued installments of cash disability benefits for which two of the policies provide, and the insuredPage 239has the right to claim at any time cash surrender values accumulating by reason of the provisions for waiver of premiums, or at his death, Cora M. Haworth, as beneficiary, will be entitled to receive the face of the policies less the loans thereon.

Plaintiff thus contends that there is an actual controversy with defendants as to the existence of the total and permanent disability of the insured and as to the continuance of the obligations asserted despite the non-payment of premiums. Defendants have not instituted any action wherein the plaintiff would have an opportunity to prove the absence of the alleged disability and plaintiff points to the danger that it may lose the benefit of evidence through disappearance, illness or death of witnesses; and meanwhile, in the absence of a judicial decision with respect to the alleged disability, the plaintiff in relation to these policies will be compelled to maintain reserves in excess of $20,000.

The complaint asks for a decree that the four policies be declared to be null and void by reason of lapse for nonpayment of premiums and that the obligation upon the remaining policy be held to consist solely in the duty to pay the sum of $45 upon the death of the insured, and for such further relief as the exigencies of the case may require.First. The Constitution limits the exercise of the judicial power to "cases" and "controversies." "The term `controversies,' if distinguishable at all from `cases,' is so in that it is less comprehensive than the latter, and includes only suits of a civil nature." Per Mr. Justice Field inIn re Pacific Railway Comm'n, 32 F. 241, 255, citingChisholmv.Georgia, 2 Dall. 419, 431, 432. SeeMuskratv.United States,219 U.S. 346,356,357;Old Colony Trust Co. v.Commissioner,279 U.S. 716,723,724. The Declaratory Judgment Act of 1934, in its limitation to "cases of actual controversy," manifestlyPage 240has regard to the constitutional provision and is operative only in respect to controversies which are such in the constitutional sense. The word "actual" is one of emphasis rather than of definition. Thus the operation of the Declaratory Judgment Act is procedural only. In providing remedies and defining procedure in relation to cases and controversies in the constitutional sense the Congress is acting within its delegated power over the jurisdiction of the federal courts which the Congress is authorized to establish.Turnerv.Bank of North America, 4 Dall. 8, 10;Stevensonv.Fain,195 U.S. 165,167;Klinev.Burke Construction Co.,260 U.S. 226,234. Exercising this control of practice and procedure the Congress is not confined to traditional forms or traditional remedies. The judiciary clause of the Constitution "did not crystallize into changeless from the procedure of 1789 as the only possible means, for presenting a case or controversy otherwise cognizable by the federal courts."Nashville, C. St. L. Ry. Co. v.Wallace,288 U.S. 249,264. In dealing with methods within its sphere of remedial action the Congress may create and improve as well as abolish or restrict. The Declaratory Judgment Act must be deemed to fall within this ambit of congressional power so far as it authorizes relief which is consonant with the exercise of the judicial function in the determination of controversies to which under the Constitution the judicial power extends.

A "controversy" in this sense must be one that is appropriate for judicial determination.Osbornv.United States Bank, 9 Wheat. 738, 819. A justifiable controversy is thus distinguished from a difference or dispute of a hypothetical or abstract character; from one that is academic or moot.United Statesv.Alaska S.S. Co.,253 U.S. 113,116. The controversy must be definite and concrete, touching the legal relations of parties havingPage 241adverse legal interests.South Spring Gold Co. v.Amador GoldCo.,145 U.S. 300,301;Fairchildv.Hughes,258 U.S. 126,129;Massachusettsv.Mellon,262 U.S. 447,487,488. It must be a real and substantial controversy admitting of specific relief through a decree of a conclusive character, as distinguished from an opinion advising what the law would be upon a hypothetical state of facts. SeeMuskratv.United States,supra; Texasv.Interstate Commerce Comm'n,258 U.S. 158,162;New Jerseyv.Sargent,269 U.S. 328,339,340;LibertyWarehouse Co. v.Grannis,273 U.S. 70;New Yorkv.Illinois,274 U.S. 488,490;Willingv.Chicago AuditoriumAssn.,277 U.S. 274,289,290;Arizonav.California,283 U.S. 423,463,464;Alabamav.Arizona,291 U.S. 286,291;United Statesv.West Virginia,295 U.S. 463,474,475;Ashwanderv.Tennessee Valley Authority,297 U.S. 288,324. Where there is such a concrete case admitting of an immediate and definitive determination of the legal rights of the parties in an adversary proceeding upon the facts alleged, the judicial function may be appropriately exercised although the adjudication of the rights of the litigants may not require the award of process or the payment of damages.Nashville, C. St. L. Ry.Co. v.Wallace, supra, p. 263;Tutunv.United States,270 U.S. 568,576,577;Fidelity National Bankv.Swope,274 U.S. 123,132;Old Colony Trust Co. v.Commissioner, supra, p. 725. And as it is not essential to the exercise of the judicial power that an injunction be sought, allegations that irreparable injury is threatened are not required.Nashville, C. St. L.Ry. Co. v.Wallace, supra, p. 264.

With these principles governing the application of the Declaratory Judgment Act, we turn to the nature of the controversy, the relation and interests of the parties, and the relief sought in the instants case.Page 242Second. There is here a dispute between parties who face each other in an adversary proceeding. The dispute relates to legal rights and obligations arising from the contracts of insurance. The dispute is definite and concrete, not hypothetical or abstract. Prior to this suit, the parties had taken adverse positions with respect to their existing obligations. Their contentions concerned the disability benefits which were to be payable upon prescribed conditions. On the one side, the insured claimed that he had become totally and permanently disabled and hence was relieved of the obligation to continue the payment of premiums and was entitled to the stipulated disability benefits and to the continuance of the policies in force. The insured presented this claim formally, as required by the policies. It was a claim of a present, specific right. On the other side, the company made an equally definite claim that the alleged basic fact did not exist, that the insured was not totally and permanently disabled and had not been delivered of the duty to continue the payment of premiums, that in consequence the policies had lapsed, and that the company was thus freed from its obligation either to pay disability benefits or to continue the insurance in force. Such a dispute is manifestly susceptible of judicial determination. It calls, not for an advisory opinion upon a hypothetical basis, but for an adjudication of present right upon established facts.

That the dispute turns upon questions of fact does not withdraw it, as the respondent seems to contend, from judicial cognizance. The legal consequences flow from the facts and it is the province of the courts to ascertain and find the facts in order to determine the legal consequences. That is every day practice. Equally unavailing is respondent's contention that the dispute relates to the existence of a "mutable fact" and a "changeable condition — the state of the insured's health." The insuredPage 243asserted a total and permanent disability occurring prior to October, 1930, and continuing thereafter. Upon that ground he ceased to pay premiums. His condition at the time he stopped payment, whether he was then totally and permanently disabled so that the policies did not lapse, is not a "mutable" but a definite fact. It is a controlling fact which can be finally determined and which fixes rights and obligations under the policies. If it were found that the insured was not totally and permanently disabled when he ceased to pay premiums and hence was in default, the effect of that default and the consequent right of the company to treat the policies as lapsed could be definitely and finally adjudicated. If it were found that he was totally and permanently disabled as he claimed, the duty of the company to pay the promised disability benefits and to maintain the policies in force could likewise be adjudicated. There would be no difficulty in either event in passing a conclusive decree applicable to the facts found and to the obligations of the parties corresponding to those facts. If the insured made good his claim, the decree establishing his right to the disability benefits, and to the continuance of the policies in force during the period of the proved disability, would be none the less final and conclusive as to the matters thus determined even though a different situation might later arise in the event of his recovery from that disability and his failure after that recovery to comply with the requirements of the policies. Such a contention would present a distinct subject matter.

If the insured had brought suit to recover the disability benefits currently payable under two of the policies there would have been no question that the controversy was of a justifiable nature, whether or not the amount involved would have permitted its determination in a federal court. Again, on repudiation byPage 244the insurer of liability in such a case and insistence by the insured that the repudiation was unjustified because of his disability, the insured would have "such an interest in the preservation of the contracts that he might maintain a suit in equity to declare them still in being."Burnetv.Wells,289 U.S. 670,680;Cohenv.N.Y. Mutual Life Ins. Co.,50 N.Y. 610,624;Fidelity National Bankv.Swope, supra. But the character of the controversy and of the issue to be determined is essentially the same whether it is presented by the insured or by the insurer. Whether the District Court may entertain such a suit by the insurer, when the controversy as here is between citizens of different States or otherwise is within the range of the federal judicial power, is for the Congress to determine. It is the nature of the controversy, not the method of its presentation or the particular party who presents it, that is determinative. SeeGullyv.Interstate Natural Gas Co.,82 F.2d 145,149;Travelers Insurance Co. v.Helmer,15 F. Supp. 355,356;NewYork Life Insurance Co. v.London,15 F. Supp. 586,589.

We have no occasion to deal with questions that may arise in the progress of the cause, as the complaint has been dismissedin limine. Questions of burden of proof or mode of trial have not been considered by the courts below and are not before us.

Our conclusion is that the complaint presented a controversy to which the judicial power extends and that authority to hear and determine it has been conferred upon the District Court by the Declaratory Judgment Act. The decree is reversed and the cause is remanded for further proceedings in conformity with this opinion.Reversed.Page 245
  1. Page 236 The Act provides:

    "(1) In cases of actual controversy the courts of the United States shall have power upon petition, declaration, complaint, or other appropriate pleadings to declare rights and other legal relations of any interested party petitioning for such declaration, whether or not further relief is or could be prayed, and such declaration shall have the force and effect of a final judgment or decree and be reviewable as such.

    "(2) Further relief based on a declaratory judgment or decree may be granted whenever necessary or proper. The application shall be by petition to a court having jurisdiction to grant the relief. If the application be deemed sufficient, the court shall, on reasonable notice, require any adverse party, whose rights have been adjudicated by the declaration, to show cause when further relief should not be granted forthwith.

    "(3) When a declaration of right or the granting of further relief based thereon shall involve the determination of issues of fact triable by a jury, such issues may be submitted to a jury in the form of interrogatories, with proper instructions by the court, whether a general verdict be required or not." ↩