Articles Posted in Life Insurance

One of the issues confronted by life insurance lawyers deals with situations where the life insurance company is claiming misrepresentation in the policy application and as a result of the misrepresentation, coverage is denied.  A 1972 opinion from the Texas Supreme Court is language and law that life insurance lawyers need to know and understand.  The case is styled, The Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance Company v. Ethel C. Morse, Executrix et al.

This case was tried under an agreed statement of facts by which it was agreed that James K. Morse was neither able to perform, nor expected to resume, the usual duties of his livelihood at any time after October 29, 1962.  However, it has been held that Minnesota Mutual is liable to the extent of the deposits and loans made subsequent to the original issuance of these policies because the incontestability clauses in those policies bar the company from raising the disability defense.

The incontestability clause in policy no. 4666–W states: ‘This policy shall be incontestable two years from its date of issue.’ Policy no. 4666–G provides: ‘The validity of the policy shall not be contested, except for nonpayment of premiums, after it has been in force for two years from its date of issue . . ..’ All premiums, computed on the increased balances, have been paid on these policies up to the date of Morse’s death.  Both policies had been in effect for more than two years when he died in 1967.  Petitioner did not contest coverage of the deceased prior to his death.

Here is an interesting case form the U.S. Northern District, Dallas Division, regarding payment on a life insurance policy.  The case is styled, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company v. Michael Wayne Battle II.

Metlife offers life insurance to federal employees through a program referred to here as FEGLI.  The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) administers the program.  Metlife is required to pay FEGLI benefits when a beneficiary establishes a valid claim under FEGLI.  FEGLI payments are prioritized thus: first, to the employee’s designated beneficiary; second, if there is no designated beneficiary, to the employee’s surviving spouse; and, third, if neither is present, to the employee’s child or children.  This is pursuant to 5 U.S.C. Section 8705.

Battles’ father, Michael Battle (Michael), was covered under the plan and had coverage totaling $475,000 at the time of his death.  Michael had not designated a beneficiary.

Exclusions in life insurance policies are common.  The Texas Insurance Code, Section 1101.055 limits the permissible life insurance exclusions to suicide, stated hazardous occupations, and aviation activities.  Courts have construed this list to render void other exclusions, such as one excluding a loss caused by a preexisting condition.

A 1921, Texas Supreme Court case does a good job of explaining limits on exclusions.  The opinion is styled, First Texas State Insurance Company v. Smalley.

As explained in Smalley:  It was formerly usual for policies of life insurance to contain numerous conditions on which the amount or amounts promised to be paid on the death of the insured might be reduced or entirely defeated.  Among common conditions were those relating to the insured’s occupation, habits, residence, and suicide.  Not infrequently the amount of the insurance was stated in bold type, on the face of the policy, while the conditions were inconspicuously put on the back.  Such policies could be used to lead the unwary into the belief that they held enforcible promises of real and substantial benefits, when the promises were so limited and conditioned as to have slight actual value.  In this way premiums could be collected from the insured in exchange for apparent, rather than real, obligations on the part of the insurers.

This may seem strange but there are times an insurance company will deny a claim for life insurance benefits based on their assertion that the insured has not been proven to be dead.  This is discussed in the 1987, Texas Supreme Court opinion styled, Davidson v. Great National Life Insurance Company.

Here are some interesting facts.  In May 1980, a man identifying himself as Dauod Alquassab applied for a $1,000,000 life insurance policy with Great National.  Alquassab had previously used the names of David Kassab and David Kay; was a convicted of felony fraud charges under a different name.  Alquassab named Ilan Eiger, his partner in a real estate business, as the beneficiary when Great National issued the policy in June 1980.  In September 1980, Alquassab changed the beneficiary designation from Eiger to Phyllis Davidson, his former wife from whom he was divorced in 1968.  Alquassab then traveled to Tel Aviv, Israel, in February 1981.  Prior to his departure, the record indicates that Alquassab allegedly defrauded First City Bank in Houston, of approximately $1.5 million dollars, and committed additional acts of fraud upon other banking institutions.

On Wednesday, February 11, 1981, a body was discovered approximately 100-200 yards from the hotel where Alquassab was registered.  The body, which Davidson claims was Alquassab, had been struck by a car and then dragged face down.  Great National was notified of Alquassab’s alleged death on February 12; the body was buried the following day, Friday, February 13.  After Davidson made a formal claim under the policy to Great National on June 1, Great National rescinded the policy because of Alquassab’s alleged fraud in procuring the policy, and refused to pay any beneficiary proceeds to Davidson.

Who has an insurable interest in a life insurance policy?

The Texas Supreme Court, in 1979, in the case styled, Empire Life Insurance Co. v. Moody, held that a tenant holding property or an estate during the life of another has an insurable interest in the latter’s life.

Is an insurable interest essential to the validity of the life insurance contract?

Life insurance lawyers can tell you that sometimes a corporation can be a beneficiary to a life insurance policy.  The key word here is “sometimes” because it does not mean a corporation can always be a beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

Corporations may name themselves beneficiaries of policies they buy on the lives of their important officers, directors, and stockholders, but that insurable interest does not survive the relationship that created it, and if the relationship has been terminated or the business entity no longer exists, the proceeds go to the insured’s estate.  This is discussed in a 1942, Texas Supreme Court opinion styled, McBride v. Clayton and the 1998, Tyler Court of Appeals opinion styled, Stillwater v. Travelers Insurance Company.  Historically, this type of insurance has been called “key man” coverage, because the business has an economic interest in those officers, directors, and shareholders that are “key” to the operation of the business.

A corporation does not have an insurable interest in all its officers and employees, as stated in the McBride and Stillwagoner opinions, only those of “extensive experience and skill on whom the corporation depended for its continued success.”

A 1938, opinion from the Amarillo Court of Appeals helps answer the above question.  The case is styled, Smith v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. et al.

This lawsuit is a contest over the proceeds of a life insurance policy in the sum of $500 issued upon the life of John Wesley Smith by Metropolitan.  At the time the policy was issued the insured was an employee of Southern Pacific Railway Company, but prior to his death, he had been retired by the railway company and collecting a $40 a month pension.

The record reveals that in June, 1927, the insured was married to Jessie Smith, who was plaintiff in the trial court.  Long prior to the issuance of the policy the insured had ceased to live with the Smith, although they were never divorced.  The policy was originally payable to Emaline Bell and Ella White, who were shown by the record to be the nieces of the insured.  In March, 1936, the insured designated his niece, Ella White, as the sole beneficiary in the policy, such designation having been authorized by the terms of the policy.  The contest over the proceeds of the policy was therefore between the Smith, and Ella White joined by her husband, Rolly White.  The insurance company acknowledged its liability upon the policy, paid the $500 into the registry of the court and was therefore discharged with $50 attorney’s fee allowed it as a stakeholder in the controversy.  The trial court rendered judgment for the White, from which judgment Jessie Smith appealed.

What happens when a beneficiary has an insurable interest when the life insurance policy is obtained but later on, that insurable interest no longer exists?  That question is answered in an 1894, opinion from the Texas Supreme Court styled, Cheeves v. Anders.

Anders was the Administrator of the Estate of the deceased, L.B. Chilton.  Chilton and Cheeves were business partners and Chilton took out the life insurance policy for the benefit of Cheeves due to this partnership interest.  Later the partnership was dissolved whereby Chilton sold his interest in the partnership to Cheeves.  The partnership had paid for the life insurance policy.

This Court started its opinion by stating the law in this State. “It is against the public policy of this state to allow any one who has no insurable interest to be the owner of a policy of insurance upon the life of a human being.”