Section 9.8 Materiality

• Library: Insurance Practice 2015

The vast majority of jurisdictions, including Missouri, do not allow for avoidance of an insurance policy on the basis of misrepresentations in the application process unless those misrepresentations were material to the risk assumed by the insurer. Haynes v. Mo. Prop. Ins. Placement Facility, 641 S.W.2d 497, 499 (Mo. App. E.D. 1982). A misrepresentation or omission is material when the fact misstated or omitted, if stated truthfully, might have reasonably influenced the insurance company to reject the...