On May 23, 2020, Tyrone McCray-Bey, Jr. was gunned down in Baltimore, Maryland.  After his death, the administrator of Tyrone’s estate sought to block his ex-wife from receiving any portion of his $600,000 death benefit.  As a result, Primerica filed an interpleader action in federal court in Maryland.  After a settlement conference with U.S. Magistrate Judge Brendan Hurson, the parties were able to resolve their dispute, and Interpleader Law’s client was awarded more than $408,000.

Dominique Bowers was an employee of Northrop Grumman, who was shot and killed in August 2021.  She failed to name a beneficiary for her life insurance benefits, which were provided by MetLife.  When a beneficiary is not named, the benefits pay out first to a spouse or domestic partner, and then to any children if there is no spouse or domestic partner.  After Dominique’s death, her boyfriend, Niko Zaharopoulos, made a claim for the $492,000 death benefit, claiming to be her “domestic partner.”  Dominique’s son, Nasir Taylor, also asserted a claim as her surviving child.

MetLife initially approved Zaharopoulos’ claim.  As a result, Nasir Taylor retained Interpleader Law, which submitted an ERISA appeal to MetLife that resulted in the company reversing its original decision to pay Zaharopoulos.  The case then made its way to federal court as an interpleader case, in which both parties submitted competing motions for summary judgment.  Agreeing with Interpleader Law’s argument, the court ruled that Nasir Taylor, as the surviving child, was the lawful beneficiary.

After the Middle District of Florida federal court found in favor of Interpleader Law’s client, O.H.M., the insured’s widow, Lisa Maharajh, sought to overturn the decision, claiming the district court applied the wrong legal standard.  After oral argument before the Eleventh Circuit, the court issued an opinion holding that the trial court was correct to award the funds to O.H.M.

In a case concerning the interpretation of a divorce decree requiring an insured to maintain a $1 million policy for his children’s benefit, the court determined that the $1 million policy at issue in this interpleader case was not encumbered by the divorce decree.  As a result, the four parties were represented by Interpleader Law were awarded $320,000.

On April 18, 2021, Amanda Broderick was meeting her ex-husband, Stephen Broderick, for a supervised custody visit with their minor child.  Without warning, Stephen rammed Amanda’s car and then opened fire on her and several other passengers.  Amanda, her daughter, Alyssa, and Alyssa’s boyfriend were all killed.  Amanda’s and Stephen’s minor son managed to escape the car and flee on foot, surviving the incident.  As the named beneficiary of Amanda’s life insurance policy, Stephen sought to recover the death benefit.  With the help of Interpleader Law, Amanda’s mother, Charlene Ramirez, was able to recover 100% of the death benefit.  Stephen Broderick was later found guilty of the murders and sentenced to life in prison.

Valerie Junius was gunned down in her home by her estranged husband, Lawrence Henry Reed.  The mother of six children had named her killer as the beneficiary of her life insurance.  Though he shot his wife to death, Reed continued to claim entitlement to her life insurance death benefit.  With the help of Interpleader Law, Valerie’s estate was able to recover 100% of the death benefit.

Ronald DeLong reluctantly agreed to the arrangement proposed by the insured, who was unable to afford paying for a private nurse.  However, after the insured’s death, the insured’s mother challenged the validity of the transaction.  With the help of Interpleader Law, Ronald DeLong secured a favorable settlement that resulted in him receiving more than 76% of the contract’s death benefit.

Instead of notifying the court that Kelly Frazier was actively participating in the litigation, the other parties used her lack of knowledge of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to obtain a default against her.  She was inches away from losing by default when she reached out to Interpleader Law.  After successfully getting the preliminary default set aside, Interpleader Law was also able to defeat a pending summary judgment motion, forcing the case to trial.  The parties subsequently settled, and Ms. Frazier received nearly half of the $400,000 death benefit.  Brittany Root of Interpleader Law represented Kelly Frazier.

The case concerned whether a beneficiary change request submitted by the insured 10 years before his death that sought to add his wife as the primary beneficiary was valid even though it had been rejected by the insurer for various reasons.  Recognizing that the policy adequately granted the insurer discretion to reject problematic beneficiary change requests, the court ruled that the request was invalid, and the insured’s minor child was entitled to 100% of the death benefit.  O.H.M. was represented by trial counsel Michael Hoover of Interpleader Law and local counsel Joel Ewusiak of Ewusiak Law in Tampa, Florida.  The case is currently on appeal to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Suspecting their father’s widow was involved in his murder, the children of John Paul Wilty, Sr. filed suit against Prudential to block payment of approximately $800,000 in life insurance and accidental death benefits that were set to pay out to his widow, Angela Wilty.  After about a year into the litigation, Angela was arrested and charged with murder.  Eventually, despite maintaining her innocence for many months, Angela confessed and accepted a guilty plea for her role in procuring Mr. Wilty’s murder.  Due to her conviction, the funds were awarded to Mr. Wilty’s six surviving children, five of whom were represented by Interpleader Law.

Joel Guy, Jr.’s criminal trial was broadcast on Court TV.  He was convicted of not only murdering his parents, but of attempting to dissolve their bodies in acid.  The case gained notoriety when investigators revealed that they found Lisa Guy’s severed head boiling in a pot on the stove after conducting a welfare check when she did not show up to work.  The trial further revealed that Joel left behind a “murder notebook” in which he outlined a plan to kill his parents for the insurance money after they decided to cut him off financially as they approached retirement age.  Joel attempted to convince the federal court that ERISA (a federal statute governing employee benefit plans) preempts state slayer laws that declare a convicted murderer is disqualified from inheriting from his victims.  Judge Clifton L. Corker of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee rejected Joel’s argument, and awarded the $696,000 in benefits plus interest to other family members.

The children of the decedent had argued that their step-mother was disqualified as beneficiary of their father’s Veteran’s Group Life Insurance (“VGLI”) death benefit because she was charged in Georgia state court with driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. However, the SGLI Slayer Regulation, which governs VGLI claims, provides that a beneficiary is only disqualified if the death of the insured is an intentional and wrongful killing. Negligent acts do not trigger the SGLI Slayer Regulation. Roxanne West was represented by attorney William Perry of Interpleader Law.

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada filed this interpleader lawsuit in Tennessee federal court after the insured’s estate, his ex-wife, and their two children all filed competing claims for the death benefit of a group life insurance policy.  The brother of the insured, on behalf of the estate, sought to exclude the ex-wife and children from receiving any of the death benefits or the insured’s 401(k) by claiming that they were involved in his murder.  One of the sons, Joshua Jordi, confessed to the killing and was later convicted of murder.  However, neither the ex-wife nor the other child were involved in the death, and were entitled to collect the benefits.  Michael Hoover of Interpleader Law represented Barbara Shimmon and Ethan Jordi, along with local counsel Tony Orlandi of Branstetter, Stranch & Jennings in Nashville, Tennessee.

The decedent’s son, Chad Harris, had challenged a beneficiary designation made in favor of Florence Wiggins near the end of the insured’s life, arguing that his father lacked the mental capacity or was unduly influenced into making the beneficiary change.  The court disagreed, finding that Harris proffered “no competent evidence to support a reasonable inference that Albert lacked the mental capacity to sign the beneficiary change form” and that his “assertion that Wiggins exerted undue influence over Albert is mere speculation.”  Mrs. Wiggins was represented by attorneys Michael Hoover and Brittany Root, who are members of the Eastern District of Texas federal court.

New York Life filed this interpleader lawsuit due to the death of Carretta Starks, who was murdered in her home. Even after being convicted of murdering his wife, Richard Starks, Jr. refused to waive his claim to the life insurance proceeds. Interpleader Law filed a motion for summary judgment, urging the court to award the death benefit to the insured’s children without waiting for Richard Starks’ criminal appeals to be fully exhausted. The court agreed that a judgment of conviction in Louisiana is final for purposes of invoking the state’s slayer statute (La. R.S. § 22:901(D)(1)), regardless of any pending appeals. Therefore, the court awarded the children 100% of the death benefit. Michael Hoover and William Perry, attorneys with Interpleader Law, represented Te’a Starks and Ashton Davis.

MetLife filed suit in New Jersey federal court seeking to deposit more than $9 million in life insurance proceeds due to a beneficiary dispute. Attorneys for the children and estate of the decedent sought to invalidate beneficiary designations in favor of the accountant’s widow on the basis that the most recent beneficiary changes violated a divorce decree and were the result of undue influence and/or lack of capacity. The estate lawyers also sought to transfer the case to state probate court. After the federal court sided with Interpleader Law on the jurisdictional issue, the parties agreed to a resolution of the case. Attorney Michael Hoover for Interpleader Law represented Dena Lawless, along with Evan Silagi as local counsel in New Jersey.

Reliance Standard had sought to avoid paying the family’s claim on the basis that alcohol and drugs caused or contributed to the accident, thus triggering one of the policy’s coverage exclusions.  In rejecting Reliance Standard’s argument, United States District Judge Daniel Breen stated “there is simply insufficient evidence in the record tying intoxicating substances to Mr. Murchison’s death.  In rendering its decision, Reliance selectively chose information that was favorable to it and relied on that information to support its denial, while completely ignoring other information, sometimes in the same document, which was unfavorable. . . the Court concludes, therefore, that the administrative record cannot support a ‘reasoned explanation’ for Reliance’s decision and, thus, the determination was arbitrary and capricious.”  The Murchison family was represented by attorney Michael Hoover, who is admitted to the bar of the Western District of Tennessee federal court.

Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada filed an interpleader lawsuit in the Western District of Washington after Jennifer Armentrout claimed a community property interest in her husband’s group life insurance benefits, even though he had listed his mother as beneficiary of those benefits.  United States District Judge James L. Robart agreed with Interpleader Law’s contention that “ERISA preempts Washington’s community property laws, leaving the Estate without claim to the Proceeds.”  The court awarded 100% of the proceeds to Interpleader Law’s client.  Attorney Michael Hoover handled this case, assisted by local counsel Chrystina Solum of Ledger Square in Tacoma, Washington.

Aetna Life Insurance Company filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of Texas after Walter Vacknitz’s current wife challenged the validity of his decision to name his ex-wife as beneficiary of his group life benefits mere hours before committing suicide.  Due, in part, to video evidence wherein Mr. Vacknitz rationally explained the basis for his decision, Interpleader Law was able to obtain a favorable result for its client.  Trisha Vacknitz was represented by attorney William Perry, who is admitted to the bar of the Southern District of Texas federal court.

At the time of his death, there was approximately $410,619.23 in Dwayne Hutchinson’s Thrift Savings Plan (“TSP”) account administered by Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (“FRTIB”), a $143,355.94 Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) policy, and a $119,145.90 New York Life Insurance Company (“New York Life”) policy. When Dwayne’s widow made a claim for her husband’s life insurance and retirement benefits, Dwayne’s mother objected, alleging that his widow had been involved in his death.  New York Life filed an interpleader suit against the widow and the mother alleging that they did not know who to pay. MetLife and the FRTIB were eventually added to the suit, and Interpleader Law helped Melissa Hutchinson recover 75% of the total disputed benefits.  She was represented by attorney William Perry, along with local counsel Joel Ewusiak of Tampa, Florida.

MetLife had asked the court to enforce a provision of the group policy requiring Massachusetts law to apply, whereas Mrs. Gambino argued that California law should apply. The court agreed with Mrs. Gambino, holding that because a certificate of insurance was delivered to Mr. Gambino in California, it was subject to the California Insurance Code. The ruling is important because the California Insurance Code requires any policy delivered in the State of California to contain language concerning prescription drug overdoses that is more favorable to the beneficiary than the language that was in this particular policy. As a result, as long as the prescription medication was lawfully prescribed, the accidental death could not be excluded from coverage. Delia Gambino was represented by Michael Hoover of Interpleader Law.

Primerica filed this interpleader lawsuit after police were unwilling to rule out anyone (including the decedent’s spouse) as a suspect in his murder. After filing a motion for summary judgment, the court held that “because the children rely solely on the existence of an open investigation, and have not presented any credible evidence that Donley was responsible for the insured’s murder, Donley’s motion is GRANTED.” Attorney Michael Hoover of Interpleader Law represented Shameika Donley, along with local counsel Erin Godwin of Campbell Partners.

Interpleader Law attorney William Perry represented Chirrikka Kirk on behalf of two of the minor children.

Minnesota Life filed an interpleader lawsuit after attorneys for the decedent’s minor child asserted that she, and not the decedent’s ex-girlfriend, was the proper beneficiary of his life insurance. Arguing that Washington’s revocation by divorce statute does not extend to less formal boyfriend/girlfriend relationships, Interpleader Law successfully convinced the court that the ex-girlfriend was the rightful beneficiary. Wendy Roberson was represented by Michael Hoover of Interpleader Law and local counsel Chrystina Solum of Ledger Square.

As the named beneficiary, Iturbide could only be disqualified from receiving the death benefit upon a showing that she intentionally and wrongfully killed the insured. Having made sufficient uncontroverted allegations that Iturbide was disqualified, the court awarded the contingent beneficiary all of the proceeds. William Perry of Interpleader Law was the lead attorney on this case.

Trina Weimer, individually and on behalf of her minor children, was represented by attorney Michael Hoover of Interpleader Law and attorney Michael Young of Sanders, Motley, Young & Gallardo in Sherman, Texas.

The main issues in the case concerned whether the plaintiff had an insurable interest in the decedent’s life, and whether there was any evidence of foul play. Attorney Michael Hoover handled this case for Norbert Billard.

The Estate of James Raine sought to disqualify Emma Raine from receiving her husband’s life insurance proceeds after he was murdered in their home in Poplar, Mississippi. Nearly six years after his death, Garden State filed an interpleader lawsuit to determine the rightful beneficiary. Ruling in favor of Emma Raine, the court noted that “while it may be suspiciously coincidental that Emma Raine’s second husband was shot and killed, that she was convicted for her role in that murder, and that she collected life insurance money, without more, the Estate has nothing more than mere speculation at this point” that she killed James Raine. The court therefore awarded her $248,806, which was reduced by a pre-existing tax liability to $154,599. Attorney Michael Hoover of Interpleader Law represented Emma Raine in this case.

The court concluded that California law applied, and the ex-husband’s interest in the life insurance policy was not revoked. Michael Hoover from Interpleader Law handled this case, along with local counsel Shann Winesett of Las Vegas.

Carol Miller, the insured’s mother, initially filed suit in Arizona state court alleging that the beneficiary designation was invalid because it was the result of undue influence or financial exploitation of her son.  Prudential removed the lawsuit to federal court, and converted it to an interpleader action.  After less than three months of litigation in federal court, the case was resolved on terms favorable to Mrs. Vagotis.  Deborah Vagotis was represented by Michael Hoover of Interpleader Law.

Lincoln National filed this interpleader suit after the insured’s mother contested payment to the surviving spouse.  After approximately three months of litigation, she dropped her claims and consented to the spouse receiving the entire death benefit.  Shannon Steward was represented by attorney Michael Hoover of Interpleader Law along with local counsel Gary Freed of Atlanta, Georgia.

Transamerica initiated this interpleader lawsuit to determine the rightful beneficiary of an annuity. Using a power of attorney, Marlene Berard had attempted to change the beneficiary of the annuity’s death benefit to be herself. Arguing that the power of attorney did not grant Mrs. Berard the authority to self-deal and name herself as the sole beneficiary of the annuity, Interpleader Law moved for summary judgment. The court agreed, finding that while the power of attorney granted her broad authority “[t]o apply for, purchase, maintain and/or deal with insurance and annuity contracts, insurance policies, including life insurance upon [Mr. Tarver’s] life or the life of any other appropriate person and to make any elections and disclaimers under such policies,” the “Power of Attorney expressly excluded from Mrs. Berard’s power the ability to designate herself as a beneficiary.” The court therefore awarded the remaining $111,000 plus interest to Mrs. Marsch. Colynn Marsch was represented by Michael Hoover of Interpleader Law.

In awarding more than $270,000 to Ms. Bressler, the court rejected the arguments of her siblings that their mother lacked the mental capacity to change her beneficiary or was unduly influenced into naming only one of them as the sole beneficiary due to chemotherapy and medications. Karen Bressler was represented by attorney Michael Hoover of Interpleader Law.

Nationwide filed suit after it received false information that the insured’s husband was a person of interest surrounding his wife’s undetermined cause of death. It was therefore concerned about paying the death benefit to him for fear that it might become subject to double liability if he was later implicated in her death. After several months of litigation, Interpleader Law was able to convince the contingent beneficiaries that the claims of his involvement were baseless, and the court awarded more than $330,000 to the husband. Interpleader Law attorney Michael Hoover represented Randall Long.