Post by dalejrfan on Jun 4, 2005 1:47:50 GMT -5
LEXINGTON, N.C. -- Late NASCAR championLEXINGTON, N.C. -- Late NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt acknowledged on a life insurance application that he became dizzy during a race, apparently a 1997 event in South Carolina in which he crashed.
"Dizziness in race in Darlington approx. three years ago -- checked and no cause found -- returned to racing immediately -- no further symptoms," said the handwritten note submitted with Earnhardt's application for a $3.7 million policy in January 2001.
ALSO
Court proceedings in the lawsuit filed by Richard Childress Racing against the United of Omaha Life Insurance Company are under way.
The case arises out of life insurance covering the death of Dale Earnhardt at Daytona on Feb. 18, 2001, and involves the three-year contract Earnhardt and Richard Childress signed in 2000 to cover 2001-03.
Earnhardt crashed in the first turn of the 1997 Southern 500 in Darlington after blacking out twice at the wheel.
The disclosure is included among 41 exhibits introduced to the jury in a case that pits Earnhardt's car owner, Richard Childress Racing, against an insurer who refused to pay the $3.7 million claim after the driver's death in a last-lap crash at the Daytona 500 in 2001.
Superior Court Judge Kimberly Taylor released the exhibits Thursday after previously sealing them with a protective order. The Associated Press and several other news organizations filed a motion with the court to win access.
The exhibits offer a glimpse into Earnhardt's finances and medical history. They include a heavily redacted copy of his contract with RCR, the application for the contested insurance policy, medical records, payment invoices and letters.
On the application with insurer United of Omaha, a subsidiary of parent company Mutual of Omaha, Earnhardt listed his job simply as "race driver." He indicated that he raced about 35 times a year, reaching speeds in excess of 195 miles per hour.
Earnhardt signed the life insurance application, dated Jan. 3, 2001. He died about six weeks later.
The life insurance policy had an annual premium of $21,645 over its 10-year term.
In a handwritten addendum to the application, Earnhardt disclosed that he underwent "disc surgery on back -- 1999 -- complete recovery -- raced entire 2000 season."
A policy application from 1996 shows that the seven-time NASCAR champion broke his sternum and collarbone earlier that year and chipped a rib the previous year. He also reported that he was treated and released for an undated neck injury.
On another document entitled "confidential personal financial questionnaire," Earnhardt lists his annual salary from Richard Childress Racing at $7.2 million.
The exhibits also include correspondence about pending disability insurance on Earnhardt with monthly payments of nearly $27,000, and copies of canceled checks written by RCR officials to insurance brokers and agents.
There are also copies of letters written by United of Omaha officials, including one letter dated Feb. 21, 2001, to RCR from vice president Steven Neth that indicates the company was not going to pay the claim.
Earnhardt had died three days earlier. RCR's lawsuit claims the company failed to properly investigate the claim before turning it down.
"We have discontinued the processing of the life insurance application for Ralph Dale Earnhardt," Neth wrote. "Since the underwriting requirements needed to complete the file have not been received and now cannot be completed, we are closing our file at this time."
Neth ends the letter to RCR by extending "our sincere condolences to the Earnhardt family and RCR Racing Enterprises for the untimely loss of Mr. Earnhardt."
RCR took out the policy and is pursuing the matter on the family's behalf. Another insurer has already paid a $3.5 million claim. United of Omaha says its policy for Earnhardt was invalid because he had not taken a required physical.
In a letter to Neth dated March 5, 2001, independent insurance agent John Gorsline, who wrote the policy on Earnhardt, warns the company, "A decision like this to deny this claim would involve very bad publicity for Mutual of Omaha."
that he became dizzy during a race, apparently a 1997 event in South Carolina in which he crashed.
"Dizziness in race in Darlington approx. three years ago -- checked and no cause found -- returned to racing immediately -- no further symptoms," said the handwritten note submitted with Earnhardt's application for a $3.7 million policy in January 2001.
ALSO
Court proceedings in the lawsuit filed by Richard Childress Racing against the United of Omaha Life Insurance Company are under way.
The case arises out of life insurance covering the death of Dale Earnhardt at Daytona on Feb. 18, 2001, and involves the three-year contract Earnhardt and Richard Childress signed in 2000 to cover 2001-03.
Earnhardt crashed in the first turn of the 1997 Southern 500 in Darlington after blacking out twice at the wheel.
The disclosure is included among 41 exhibits introduced to the jury in a case that pits Earnhardt's car owner, Richard Childress Racing, against an insurer who refused to pay the $3.7 million claim after the driver's death in a last-lap crash at the Daytona 500 in 2001.
Superior Court Judge Kimberly Taylor released the exhibits Thursday after previously sealing them with a protective order. The Associated Press and several other news organizations filed a motion with the court to win access.
The exhibits offer a glimpse into Earnhardt's finances and medical history. They include a heavily redacted copy of his contract with RCR, the application for the contested insurance policy, medical records, payment invoices and letters.
On the application with insurer United of Omaha, a subsidiary of parent company Mutual of Omaha, Earnhardt listed his job simply as "race driver." He indicated that he raced about 35 times a year, reaching speeds in excess of 195 miles per hour.
Earnhardt signed the life insurance application, dated Jan. 3, 2001. He died about six weeks later.
The life insurance policy had an annual premium of $21,645 over its 10-year term.
In a handwritten addendum to the application, Earnhardt disclosed that he underwent "disc surgery on back -- 1999 -- complete recovery -- raced entire 2000 season."
A policy application from 1996 shows that the seven-time NASCAR champion broke his sternum and collarbone earlier that year and chipped a rib the previous year. He also reported that he was treated and released for an undated neck injury.
On another document entitled "confidential personal financial questionnaire," Earnhardt lists his annual salary from Richard Childress Racing at $7.2 million.
The exhibits also include correspondence about pending disability insurance on Earnhardt with monthly payments of nearly $27,000, and copies of canceled checks written by RCR officials to insurance brokers and agents.
There are also copies of letters written by United of Omaha officials, including one letter dated Feb. 21, 2001, to RCR from vice president Steven Neth that indicates the company was not going to pay the claim.
Earnhardt had died three days earlier. RCR's lawsuit claims the company failed to properly investigate the claim before turning it down.
"We have discontinued the processing of the life insurance application for Ralph Dale Earnhardt," Neth wrote. "Since the underwriting requirements needed to complete the file have not been received and now cannot be completed, we are closing our file at this time."
Neth ends the letter to RCR by extending "our sincere condolences to the Earnhardt family and RCR Racing Enterprises for the untimely loss of Mr. Earnhardt."
RCR took out the policy and is pursuing the matter on the family's behalf. Another insurer has already paid a $3.5 million claim. United of Omaha says its policy for Earnhardt was invalid because he had not taken a required physical.
In a letter to Neth dated March 5, 2001, independent insurance agent John Gorsline, who wrote the policy on Earnhardt, warns the company, "A decision like this to deny this claim would involve very bad publicity for Mutual of Omaha."
"Dizziness in race in Darlington approx. three years ago -- checked and no cause found -- returned to racing immediately -- no further symptoms," said the handwritten note submitted with Earnhardt's application for a $3.7 million policy in January 2001.
ALSO
Court proceedings in the lawsuit filed by Richard Childress Racing against the United of Omaha Life Insurance Company are under way.
The case arises out of life insurance covering the death of Dale Earnhardt at Daytona on Feb. 18, 2001, and involves the three-year contract Earnhardt and Richard Childress signed in 2000 to cover 2001-03.
Earnhardt crashed in the first turn of the 1997 Southern 500 in Darlington after blacking out twice at the wheel.
The disclosure is included among 41 exhibits introduced to the jury in a case that pits Earnhardt's car owner, Richard Childress Racing, against an insurer who refused to pay the $3.7 million claim after the driver's death in a last-lap crash at the Daytona 500 in 2001.
Superior Court Judge Kimberly Taylor released the exhibits Thursday after previously sealing them with a protective order. The Associated Press and several other news organizations filed a motion with the court to win access.
The exhibits offer a glimpse into Earnhardt's finances and medical history. They include a heavily redacted copy of his contract with RCR, the application for the contested insurance policy, medical records, payment invoices and letters.
On the application with insurer United of Omaha, a subsidiary of parent company Mutual of Omaha, Earnhardt listed his job simply as "race driver." He indicated that he raced about 35 times a year, reaching speeds in excess of 195 miles per hour.
Earnhardt signed the life insurance application, dated Jan. 3, 2001. He died about six weeks later.
The life insurance policy had an annual premium of $21,645 over its 10-year term.
In a handwritten addendum to the application, Earnhardt disclosed that he underwent "disc surgery on back -- 1999 -- complete recovery -- raced entire 2000 season."
A policy application from 1996 shows that the seven-time NASCAR champion broke his sternum and collarbone earlier that year and chipped a rib the previous year. He also reported that he was treated and released for an undated neck injury.
On another document entitled "confidential personal financial questionnaire," Earnhardt lists his annual salary from Richard Childress Racing at $7.2 million.
The exhibits also include correspondence about pending disability insurance on Earnhardt with monthly payments of nearly $27,000, and copies of canceled checks written by RCR officials to insurance brokers and agents.
There are also copies of letters written by United of Omaha officials, including one letter dated Feb. 21, 2001, to RCR from vice president Steven Neth that indicates the company was not going to pay the claim.
Earnhardt had died three days earlier. RCR's lawsuit claims the company failed to properly investigate the claim before turning it down.
"We have discontinued the processing of the life insurance application for Ralph Dale Earnhardt," Neth wrote. "Since the underwriting requirements needed to complete the file have not been received and now cannot be completed, we are closing our file at this time."
Neth ends the letter to RCR by extending "our sincere condolences to the Earnhardt family and RCR Racing Enterprises for the untimely loss of Mr. Earnhardt."
RCR took out the policy and is pursuing the matter on the family's behalf. Another insurer has already paid a $3.5 million claim. United of Omaha says its policy for Earnhardt was invalid because he had not taken a required physical.
In a letter to Neth dated March 5, 2001, independent insurance agent John Gorsline, who wrote the policy on Earnhardt, warns the company, "A decision like this to deny this claim would involve very bad publicity for Mutual of Omaha."
that he became dizzy during a race, apparently a 1997 event in South Carolina in which he crashed.
"Dizziness in race in Darlington approx. three years ago -- checked and no cause found -- returned to racing immediately -- no further symptoms," said the handwritten note submitted with Earnhardt's application for a $3.7 million policy in January 2001.
ALSO
Court proceedings in the lawsuit filed by Richard Childress Racing against the United of Omaha Life Insurance Company are under way.
The case arises out of life insurance covering the death of Dale Earnhardt at Daytona on Feb. 18, 2001, and involves the three-year contract Earnhardt and Richard Childress signed in 2000 to cover 2001-03.
Earnhardt crashed in the first turn of the 1997 Southern 500 in Darlington after blacking out twice at the wheel.
The disclosure is included among 41 exhibits introduced to the jury in a case that pits Earnhardt's car owner, Richard Childress Racing, against an insurer who refused to pay the $3.7 million claim after the driver's death in a last-lap crash at the Daytona 500 in 2001.
Superior Court Judge Kimberly Taylor released the exhibits Thursday after previously sealing them with a protective order. The Associated Press and several other news organizations filed a motion with the court to win access.
The exhibits offer a glimpse into Earnhardt's finances and medical history. They include a heavily redacted copy of his contract with RCR, the application for the contested insurance policy, medical records, payment invoices and letters.
On the application with insurer United of Omaha, a subsidiary of parent company Mutual of Omaha, Earnhardt listed his job simply as "race driver." He indicated that he raced about 35 times a year, reaching speeds in excess of 195 miles per hour.
Earnhardt signed the life insurance application, dated Jan. 3, 2001. He died about six weeks later.
The life insurance policy had an annual premium of $21,645 over its 10-year term.
In a handwritten addendum to the application, Earnhardt disclosed that he underwent "disc surgery on back -- 1999 -- complete recovery -- raced entire 2000 season."
A policy application from 1996 shows that the seven-time NASCAR champion broke his sternum and collarbone earlier that year and chipped a rib the previous year. He also reported that he was treated and released for an undated neck injury.
On another document entitled "confidential personal financial questionnaire," Earnhardt lists his annual salary from Richard Childress Racing at $7.2 million.
The exhibits also include correspondence about pending disability insurance on Earnhardt with monthly payments of nearly $27,000, and copies of canceled checks written by RCR officials to insurance brokers and agents.
There are also copies of letters written by United of Omaha officials, including one letter dated Feb. 21, 2001, to RCR from vice president Steven Neth that indicates the company was not going to pay the claim.
Earnhardt had died three days earlier. RCR's lawsuit claims the company failed to properly investigate the claim before turning it down.
"We have discontinued the processing of the life insurance application for Ralph Dale Earnhardt," Neth wrote. "Since the underwriting requirements needed to complete the file have not been received and now cannot be completed, we are closing our file at this time."
Neth ends the letter to RCR by extending "our sincere condolences to the Earnhardt family and RCR Racing Enterprises for the untimely loss of Mr. Earnhardt."
RCR took out the policy and is pursuing the matter on the family's behalf. Another insurer has already paid a $3.5 million claim. United of Omaha says its policy for Earnhardt was invalid because he had not taken a required physical.
In a letter to Neth dated March 5, 2001, independent insurance agent John Gorsline, who wrote the policy on Earnhardt, warns the company, "A decision like this to deny this claim would involve very bad publicity for Mutual of Omaha."