States v. McGovern

HUNT, Circuit Judge. McGovern brought this action to recover upon his contract made under the War Risk Insurance Act and acts supplemental thereto. He alleged permanent and total disability while serving in the Navy from October 17, 1918, during the war. The government denied the alleged permanent and total disability and pleaded lapse of the insurance contract by reason of nonpayment of premiums. The cause was tried in june, 1923, the court sitting without a jury. Testimony was heard. Thereafter defendant and plaintiff filed motions for specific findings of fact and in November, 1923, the court filed its decision in favor of plaintiff, and on December 1, 1923, filed specific findings of fact and conclusions of law in favor of plaintiff, and thereafter rendered judgment against the United States for $2,530. ■ Writ of error was allowed. Counsel for defendant in error question the power of this court to review the rulings of the District Court, because it does not appear that the parties or their counsel complied with section 649 of the Revised Statutes (Comp. St. § 1587), by filing a stipulation in writing waiving a jury. The point is well taken, and upon the authority of our decision in Bouldin et al. v. Alto Mines Co., 299 Fed. 301 (decided May 26, 1924), we are confined to an examination of the process, pleadings, and judgment. Commissioners v. St. Louis S. W. R. Co., 257 U. S. 547 , 42 Sup. Ct. 250, 66 L. Ed. 364 . 4[2] Upon the face of the record no error appears; hence the judgment must be affirmed, unless counsel for the United States are correct in their argument that the trial was had under the provisions of section 24, paragraph 20, of the Judicial Code, called the Tucker Act (Comp. St. § 991), which provides that, concurrent with the Court of Claims in certain classes of claims, the 'District Court had power to try the case without a jury. The action, however, was brought as one at law, pursuant to the authority of section 13 of the War Risk Insurance Act of May 20, 1918 ( 40 Stat. 555 ), which provides in substance that, in the event of disagreement as to a claim under the contract of insurance between the bureau and a beneficiary, an action may be brought against the United States in the District Court in the district where the beneficiary resides. In our opinion the subject of the action is within the meaning of a “claim” under the contract sued upon. McGovern applied to the Veterans’ Bureau and the director of the War Risk Insurance Bureau, for moneys claimed to be due under the provisions of the War Risk Insurance Act, and the authorities disagreed with him as to his “claim.” In exercising jurisdiction according to the ordinary, usual, and general procedure in an action at law, the District Court did not sit as a court of claims, vested with jurisdiction concurrent with the Court of Claims, conferred by section 24, paragraph 20, of the Judicial Code. United States v. Pfitsch, 256 U. S. 547 , 41 Sup. Ct. 569, 65 L. Ed. 1084 , is decisive of the point, for it was there said that, in an action such as the one here considered upon an insurance policy, the jurisdiction of the District Court is exclusive, with the right of trial by jury. Our conclusion is that the action was properly proceeded with as one at law, and, as no question arises on the process, pleadings, or judgment, judgment must be- sustained. Affirmed.