Thrivent Financial for Lutherans v. Strojny
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans v. Strojny
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
I. Introduction
Plaintiff in this interpleader action is an insurance company that issued a life insurance policy to Decedent, Paul Monroe, with a death benefit in the amount of $75,000 and an Annuity. Plaintiff alleges that there are conflicting claims to the death benefit from the policies and asks the court to determine the proper beneficiaries. Currently before the court are Plaintiffs Motion for Summary Judgment [#30], Defendants Strojny and LaBlue’s Motion to Vacate Final Decree of Inter-pleader [# 31, # 32], Defendant Metz’s Motion for Summary Judgment [# 33], and two Motions to Strike [# 67, # 70].
II. Background
A. Factual Background
Plaintiff Thrivent Financial for Lutherans (“Thrivent”) is a fraternal benefit society.
In September 2002, Monroe sent a Request for Change of Beneficiary to Thrivent designating Defendants Strojny and LaBlue as primary beneficiaries of the Life Policy and Annuity, listing them each as “friend.”
Monroe died on December 20, 2010.
In January, 2011, Defendants Strojny and LaBlue, through counsel, appealed internally Thrivent’s determination that they were not proper beneficiaries.
In May, 2011, Thrivent received an executed claim package from Defendant Metz.
Thrivent filed its Complaint in Inter-pleader in June, 2011. In July of that year, Defendants Strojny and LaBlue filed a number of Counterclaims [# 4, # 5] against Thrivent. On August 11, 2011, Plaintiff filed a Motion for Entry of Final Decree of Interpleader [# 9]. This court subsequently entered a Final Decree of Interpleader [# 11], granting Plaintiffs motion. On December 1, 2011, Thrivent filed a Motion for Summary Judgment [# 30] on the counterclaims of Defendants Strojny and LaBlue. That same day, Defendant Metz filed a Motion for Summary Judgment [# 33] against Thrivent, and Defendants Strojny and LaBlue filed Motions to Vacate the Final Decree of Interpleader [# 31, # 32], In February, 2012, Thrivent and Defendant Metz each filed a Motion to Strike [# 67, # 70]. All pending motions are currently before the court.
III. Discussion
A. Legal Standard
I. Summary Judgment
The motions for summary judgment currently before the court are governed by Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e). Pursuant to the Rule, the Court will grant a motion for summary judgment “against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the existence of an element essential to the party’s case, and on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial.”
II. Rules Governing Thrivent as a Beneficent Society
As a preliminary matter, Thrivent, as a beneficent society, is governed by Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176 § 1 et seq.
B. Defendants Strojny and LaBlue’s Counterclaims
I. Standing
The court must first determine whether Defendants Strojny and LaBlue have standing to bring their counterclaims against Thrivent.
In the present case, Defendants Strojny and LaBlue do not have standing to bring their counterclaims against Thrivent. Defendants assert their counterclaims on Monroe’s behalf.
II. Breach of Fiduciary Duty
Under Massachusetts law, there is nothing in the relationship between the insured and the insurer that “creates a heightened duty of disclosure.”
Typically, courts find that there is a fiduciary duty where the facts of the case present a special circumstance, such as a continuing relationship between the agent and the insured, or where there is reliance by the insured on the insurer’s agent for advice and guidance on the insured’s policies.
In McCue v. Prudential Ins. Co. of America and Bicknell, Inc. v. Havlin, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, and the Massachusetts Appeals Court, respectively, found a duty existed between the insurance company and the insured because the insurance agent improperly advised the insured about his coverage levels. The relationship in both cases was a close one that had been in place for years and the insured relied on the agent to provide advice and guidance about the proper insurance coverage. In McCue, the insurance agent convinced his customers, the McCues, not to obtain coverage from another company, assuring them that his company provided adequate coverage
Here, to succeed on the claim of breach of fiduciary duty to Monroe, Defendants must establish that Thrivent owed Monroe a duty of care in the first instance and then breached that duty through its conduct. The record reflects that the relationship between the decedent Monroe, and Thrivent is one of an insurer and an insured. There are no facts on the record to indicate that this was the kind of relationship which would have constituted a special relationship creating a heightened duty. Unlike the cases where courts have found an increased duty, Thrivent did not make any misrepresentations or assurances that Monroe’s beneficiary change was valid.
Even if a fiduciary duty existed, Thrivent disclosed all the relevant information about the policy in its October 2002 letter to Monroe, and has therefore met the standard imposed on insurers where there is a fiduciary duty. The letter explicitly outlined that “friend” was not an appropriate beneficiary designation under Monroe’s Life Policy and Annuity, and that his attempt to designate Defendants Strojny and LaBlue as beneficiaries was invalid. The letter also explained that the previously designated beneficiaries would remain in place until Monroe took further action. The letter, by itself, thus satisfied any duty Thrivent could possibly have had to Monroe. Thrivent, however, went above and beyond its duty by attempting to assist Monroe in properly designating Defendants Strojny and LaBlue as beneficiaries. The facts show that Thrivent notified Monroe in the October 2002 letter that the beneficiary change was processed in error and that he would need to take further action to effectuate the change he intended.
To bring a claim for negligence, a plaintiff must establish that “the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of reasonable care, that the defendant breached this duty, that damage resulted, and that there was a causal relation between the breach of the duty and the damage.”
In order to succeed on their negligence claim, Defendants must establish that Thrivent owed Monroe a duty of care.
IV. Estoppel
Under Massachusetts law, an estoppel claim must assert that (1) a party
Defendants Strojny and LaBlue assert their claim of estoppel on Monroe’s behalf. The relevant inquiry is therefore into the nature of Thrivent’s communications with Monroe, and not into whether Defendants Strojny and LaBlue relied on any statements that may have been made by Monroe indicating that they were his beneficiaries. Defendants Strojny and La-Blue must present facts to show that Thrivent intended to induce Monroe to think that his designation of Strojny and LaBlue was valid. While Thrivent initially accepted Monroe’s beneficiary change, the October 2002 letter made it clear that the change was invalid and Monroe’s beneficiaries would remain the same as they were before he attempted the change.
While Defendants Strojny and LaBlue make much of Monroe’s reliance on the initial letter acknowledging the beneficiary change, there cannot be reasonable reliance without first a representation intend
V. Violation of M. G.L. ch. 93A
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 93A § 2 declares unlawful “[ujnfair methods of competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce....”
Here, the only misbehavior that Defendants allege against Thrivent is a failure adequately to notify Monroe of the terms of the Life Policy and the Annuity in relation to his attempt to change the policy beneficiary to two “friendfs].”
C. Defendant Metz’s Motion for Summary Judgment.
I. Contractual Relationship Between Thrivent and Monroe
Beneficent societies, like Thrivent, are governed by Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176 § 1 et seq. Section 23 of the statute provides that the society will issue a benefit certificate to each member of the organization.
Defendants Strojny and LaBlue are not proper beneficiaries under the plain terms of the Life Policy and Annuity. Monroe’s attempt to designate a “friend” as a beneficiary was invalid according to Thrivent’s by-laws which were expressly incorporated into the agreement Monroe signed when he purchased the Life Policy and Annuity.
II. Defendants’ Estoppel Claim
A claim for estoppel must establish that the defendant made “a representation intended to induce reliance” on the part of the plaintiff, that the plaintiff acted “in reasonable reliance on the representation” to his detriment.
As set forth above, Defendants Strojny and LaBlue do not present any facts that could lead to the inference that Thrivent intentionally misrepresented its position in correspondence with Monroe. There is also no evidence that Thrivent intended to induce Monroe into thinking his designation was valid. While Thrivent initially indicated that it would accept Strojny and LaBlue as beneficiaries, the letter was sent in error.
IV. Order
For the reasons stated above, Thrivent’s Motion for Summary Judgment [# 30] is ALLOWED. Because Defendants Strojny and LaBlue are not valid beneficiaries under the policies, Defendant Metz’s Motion for Summary Judgment [# 30] is ALLOWED. In light of the disposition of the Motions for Summary Judgment, and the court’s thorough consideration of the counterclaims raised by Defendants Strojny and LaBlue, Defendants Strojny and La-Blue’s Motions to Vacate Final Decree of Interpleader [# 31, # 32] are DENIED AS MOOT. In reaching its conclusion, the court did not rely upon the evidence contested in Defendant Metz’s Motion to Strike [# 67] and Thrivent’s Motion to Strike [# 70]. Those motions are accord
IT IS SO ORDERED.
. PL St. Material Facts [# 40] ¶ 9 (Exhibit C).
. PL’s St. Mat. Facts ¶ 1; Def. Metz St. Mat. Facts [# 37] ¶ 1; Defs. Strojny and LaBlue St. Mat. Facts [# 53, # 54] ¶ 1.
. PL’s St. Mat. Facts ¶ 2.
. PL's St. Mat. Facts ¶¶ 5-6; Def. Metz St. Mat. Facts ¶¶ 7, 9; Defs. Strojny and LaBlue St. Mat. Facts ¶ 2.
. PL’s St. Mat. Facts ¶ 11; Def. Metz St. Mat. Facts ¶ 3; Defs. Strojny and LaBlue St. Mat. Facts ¶ 14.
. PL's St. Mat. Facts ¶ 12; Def. Metz St. Mat. Facts ¶ 15.
. Pl.'s St. Mat. Facts ¶ 13 (Exhibit E); Def. Metz St. Mat. Facts ¶¶ 16-17; Defs. Strojny and LaBlue St. Mat. Facts ¶ 5.
. Defs. Strojny and LaBlue St. Mat. Facts ¶ 8 (Exhibit 4); Def. Metz St. Mat. Facts ¶ 19.
. PL's St. Mat. Facts ¶ 14 (Exhibit F) (the October 2002 letter) [# 40-1]; Def. Metz St. Mat. Facts ¶ 21.
. Pi's St. Mat. Facts ¶ 15, Ex. F; Def. Metz St. Mat. Facts ¶ 21.
. Pi's St. Mat. Facts ¶ 15, Ex. F; Def. Metz St. Mat. Facts ¶ 21.
. Pl.’s St. Mat. Facts ¶ 15, Ex. F; Def. Metz St. Material Facts ¶21; Defs. Strojny and LaBlue St. Mat. Facts ¶ 10.
. PL's St. Mat. Facts ¶ 14; Def. Metz St. Mat. Facts ¶ 21; Def. Strojny and LaBlue St. Mat. Facts ¶ 9.
. PL St. Mat. Facts ¶ 16.
. PL's St. Mat. Facts ¶ 17 Ex. G; Def. Metz St. Mat. Facts ¶ 22; Defs. Strojny and LaBlue St. Mat. Facts ¶ 15.
. PL's St. Mat. Facts ¶ 18; Defs. Strojny and LaBlue St. Mat. Facts ¶ 19.
. Defs. Strojny and LaBlue St. Mat. Facts ¶ 16.
. PL's St. Mat. Facts ¶ 9, Ex. I; Def. Metz St. Mat. Facts ¶ 26.
. Pl.’s St. Mat. Facts ¶ 9, Ex. I; Def. Metz St. Mat. Facts ¶ 26.
. PL's St. Mat. Facts ¶ 20.
. Compl. [# 1] ¶ 16; Def. Metz St. Material Facts ¶ 28.
. Compl. ¶ 16; PL’s St. Mat. Facts, Ex. H.
. Compl. ¶ 17.
. PL St. Mat. Facts ¶21, Ex. K; Def. Metz St. Mat. Facts ¶ 33.
. Compl. ¶ 27.
. Compl. ¶ 26.
. Compl. ¶ 29.
. Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).
. See OneBeacon America Ins. Co. v. Comm. Union Assur. Co. of Canada, 684 F.3d 237, 241 (1st Cir. 2012) (stating that a motion for summary judgment is to be viewed, "in the light most favorable to the non-moving party,” and that all reasonable inferences should be drawn in that party’s favor.).
. Galloza v. Foy, 389 F.3d 26, 28 (1st Cir. 2004) (citing Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c)).
. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176 § 1 (“Any incorporated society, order or supreme lodge, without capital stock, conducted solely for the benefit of its members and their beneficiaries, and not for profit, operated on a lodge system with ritualistic form of work, having a representative form of government, and which makes provision for the payment of benefits in accordance with this chapter, is hereby declared to be a fraternal benefit society.”).
. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176 § 23.
. In pertinent part, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176 § 23 reads: “The certificate, together with any riders or endorsements attached thereto, the charter or articles of incorporation, the constitution and by-laws of the society, the application for membership, and declaration of insurability, if any, signed by the applicant, and all amendments to each thereof, shall constitute the agreement as of the date of issuance, between the society and the member.”
. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176 § 23; See also Goldman v. Comm. Travellers E. Acc. Ass’n., 302 Mass. 74, 18 N.E.2d 373, 375 (1938) (interpreting Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176 as binding the parties in an insurance dispute to changes made to the by-laws of the society after Plaintiff purchased his policy, barring recovery).
. See DaimlerChrysler Corp. v. Cuno, 547 U.S. 332, 340, 126 S.Ct. 1854, 164 L.Ed.2d 589 (2006) (citing Friends of Earth, Inc. v. Laidlaw Envtl. Servs. (TOC), Inc., 528 U.S. 167, 180, 120 S.Ct. 693, 145 L.Ed.2d 610 (2000)).
. Raines v. Byrd, 521 U.S. 811, 818, 117 S.Ct. 2312, 138 L.Ed.2d 849 (1997) (quoting Allen v. Wright, 468 U.S. 737, 751, 104 S.Ct. 3315, 82 L.Ed.2d 556 (1984)).
. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 230 § 1; Bateman v. Wood, 297 Mass. 483, 9 N.E.2d 375, 377 (1937).
. Defs. Opp. Mot. Summ. J. [# 51] at 2.
. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 230 § 1 ("An action which would have survived if commenced by or against the original party in his lifetime may be commenced and prosecuted by or against his executor or administrator.’’).
. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 230 § 1; Bateman, 9 N.E.2d at 377.
. Defs.’ Opp. Mot. Summ. J. at 10-11. Defendants Strojny and LaBlue’s only claim in this respect is that they are the proper beneficiaries of Monroe’s estate. Id. at 7.
. Defs.’ Opp. Mot. Summ. J. at 10-11; Kochanek v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 262 Mass. 174, 159 N.E. 520, 522 (1928) (characterizing the interest of a beneficiary in a life insurance policy as a "qualified vested interest, which is subject to be divested and defeated should the assured in his lifetime exercise the power given him to change a beneficiary." The Supreme Judicial Court in Kochanek emphasized that "substantial compliance” with the terms of the insurance "policy regulating change in beneficiaries must be followedf,]” and that "a mere unexecuted intention to change the beneficiary or beneficiaries will not be sufficient to bring about that result.”) Because Defendants Strojny and LaBlue were never named beneficiaries, they never had a vested interest in the decedent’s insurance policy.; see also Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176 § 21(a) ("A society may, through its laws or rules, limit the scope of beneficiary designations and shall provide that no revocable beneficiary shall have or obtain any vested inter
. Szymanski v. Boston Mut. Life Ins. Co., 56 Mass.App.Ct. 367, 778 N.E.2d 16, 27-28 (2002) (holding that insurance company was not required to disclose more information than included in the annual policy statements because company did not owe insured any fiduciary duty).
. Baldwin Crane & Equip. Corp. v. Riley & Rielly Ins. Agency, Inc., 44 Mass.App.Ct. 29, 687 N.E.2d 1267, 1269 (1997) (citing Robinson v. Charles A. Flynn Ins. Agency, Inc., 39 Mass.App.Ct. 902, 653 N.E.2d 207 (1995)).
. Szymanski, 778 N.E.2d at 27-28 (Mass.App.Ct. 2002) (quoting Baldwin Crane, 687 N.E.2d at 1269).
. McCue v. Prudential Ins. Co. of America, 371 Mass. 659, 358 N.E.2d 799, 801 (1976) (holding that jury verdict for insured was proper because there were special circumstances that created a heightened duty); Schwartz v. Travelers Indem. Co., 50 Mass.App.Ct. 672, 740 N.E.2d 1039, 1045-46 (2001); Bicknell, Inc. v. Havlin, 9 Mass.App.Ct. 497, 402 N.E.2d 116, 119 (1980) (holding insurance agent responsible for lack of coverage because of special circumstances of agency relationship).
. Baldwin Crane, 687 N.E.2d at 1269.
. McCue, 358 N.E.2d at 801-02.
. Id
. Bicknell, 402 N.E.2d at 118-19.
. McCue, 358 N.E.2d 799 at 801-02; Wilson v. James L. Cooney Ins. Agency, 66 Mass.App.Ct. 156, 845 N.E.2d 1187, 1193 & n. 13 (2006); Martinonis v. Utica Nat. Ins. Group, 65 Mass.App.Ct. 418, 840 N.E.2d 994, 996-997 (2006); Schwartz v. Travelers Indem. Co., 50 Mass.App.Ct. 672, 740 N.E.2d 1039, 1045-46 (2001); Bicknell, Inc., 402 N.E.2d 116 at 118-19.
. Campione v. Wilson, 422 Mass. 185, 661 N.E.2d 658, 664 (1996).
. See generally PL’s St. Mat. Facts ¶¶ 14-15 & Ex. F; Def. Metz St. Mat. Facts ¶ 21; Defs. Strojny and LaBlue St. Mat. Facts ¶ 10; see also McCue, 358 N.E.2d at 801-02; Bicknell, 402 N.E.2d at 118-19.
. Pi's St. Mat. Facts Ex. F.
. Baldwin, 687 N.E.2d at 1269 (Mass. 1997).
. Jupin v. Kask, 447 Mass. 141, 849 N.E.2d 829, 834-35 (2006) (citing J.R. Nolan & L.J. Sartorio, Tort Law § 11.1 (3d ed. 2005)).
. Jupin, 849 N.E.2d at 834—35 (citing Remy v. MacDonald, 440 Mass. 675, 801 N.E.2d 260, 262 (2004) ("If no such duty exists, a claim of negligence cannot be brought.'')).
. See Leavitt v. Brockton Hosp., Inc., 454 Mass. 37, 907 N.E.2d 213, 215 (2009); Long v. Niles Co., Inc., No. 08-ADMS-40036, 2010 WL 1139325, at *2 (Mass.App.Ct. March 10, 2010).
. See Jupin, 849 N.E.2d at 834 ("To prevail on a negligence claim, a plaintiff must prove that the defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of reasonable care....”).
. Defs.’ Opp’n Mot. Summ. J. 9 [# 51].
. Baldwin, 687 N.E.2d at 1269 ("It is not tenable to argue that [the insurance company] has a duty to ensure that [its insured] understood the full import of [a policy term].”)
. Compl., Ex. E.
. Pl.’s Mot. Summ. J., Ex. F.
. See Campione v. Wilson, 422 Mass. 185, 661 N.E.2d 658, 665 (finding that, “[although an insured is entitled to rely on his [insurance] broker as his agent, an insured cannot abandon all responsibility for ascertaining the terms of the coverage his broker obtained.”) Here, unlike in Campione, the record does not contain evidence that Monroe relied upon the representations of any particular insurance broker, and it can be inferred that he therefore took upon himself the duty to understand the terms of his insurance policy-
. Bongaards v. Millen, 440 Mass. 10, 793 N.E.2d 335, 339 (2003).
. Sullivan v. Chief Justice for Admin. And Management of Trial Court, 448 Mass. 15, 858 N.E.2d 699, 711 (2006) ("‘Circumstances that may give rise to an estoppel are (1) a representation intended to induce reliance on the part of a person to whom.the representation is made; (2) an act or omission by that person in reasonable reliance on the representation; and (3) detriment as a consequence of the act or omission.' ") (quoting Bongaards, 793 N.E.2d at 339); Lunt v. Aetna Life Ins. Co. of Hartford, Conn., 261 Mass. 469, 159 N.E. 461, 463 (1928) ("In order to work an estoppel it must appear that one has been induced by the conduct of another to do something different from what otherwise would have been done and which has resulted to his harm and that the other knew or had reasonable cause to know that such consequences might follow.”) (internal quotations omitted); see Hamilton v. Hanover Ins. Co., 75 Mass.App.Ct. 1113, 916 N.E.2d 774 (2009) (citing Lunt, 159 N.E. at 463, and dismissing a claim of estoppel claim on summary judgment because there was no evidence to support the assertion that the insurance company made representations which induced reliance).
. Kanamaru v. Holyoke Mut. Ins. Co., 72 Mass.App.Ct. 396, 892 N.E.2d 759, 766-767 (2008) (quoting Weston Forest & Trail Assn., Inc. v. Fishman, 66 Mass.App.Ct. 654, 849 N.E.2d 916, 921 (2006) ("reliance by the party claiming estoppel must have been reasonable in the circumstances.”)); Giuffrida v. High Country Investor, 73 Mass.App.Ct. 225, 897 N.E.2d 82, 93 (2008) ("[T]hey offer no explanation of their reliance, so no estoppel.”); Medeiros v. Middlesex Ins. Co., 48 Mass.App.Ct. 51, 716 N.E.2d 1076 (1999) (holding estoppel applied because plaintiff relied on a promise made by an insurance agent that she would be properly covered).
. Cannon v. Cannon, 69 Mass.App.Ct. 414, 868 N.E.2d 636, 643 (2007).
. Pl.’s St. Mat. Facts, Ex. F.
. Id.
. Cannon, 868 N.E.2d at 643 (grant of summary judgment reversed because there were facts on the record that could lead to the inference that the party made a promise that "reasonably could be expected to induce forbearance of a substantial character and did so.”).
. Id.
. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 93A § 2(a)
. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 93A § 9(1); Hershenow v. Enterprise Rent-A-Car Co. of Boston, Inc., 445 Mass. 790, 840 N.E.2d 526, 532 (2006) ("[T]o warrant an award of damages under G.L. c. 93A, there must be a 'causal connection between the seller’s deception and the buyer’s loss.’ ” (quoting Kohl v. Silver Lake Motors, Inc., 369 Mass. 795, 343 N.E.2d 375 (1976))).
. Meyer v. Wagner, 429 Mass. 410, 709 N.E.2d 784, 793 (1999); Darviris v. Petros, 442 Mass. 274, 812 N.E.2d 1188, 1192 (2004) ("[A] violation of G.L. c. 93A requires, at the very least, more than a finding of mere negligence.”); Aquino v. Pacesetter Adjustment Co., 416 F.Supp.2d 181, 192 (D.Mass. 2005).
. Meyer, 709 N.E.2d at 793.
. Defs.’ Opp. Mot. Summ. J. at 9.
. Def. Strojny & LaBlue's Counterclaims [# 5] ¶ 30; Def. Strojny & LaBlue Opp. Mot. Sum. Jmt. 2 [# 51] (asserting the 93A claim but providing no argument or evidence to support the claim).
. See Defs.’ Strojny and LaBlue St. Material Facts [#].
. Aquino, 416 F.Supp.2d at 192 (citing Glickman v. Brown, 21 Mass.App.Ct. 229, 486 N.E.2d 737 (1985))
. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176 § 23. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176 § 23.
. Id.; Goldman v. Commercial Travellers E. Acc. Assn, 302 Mass. 74, 18 N.E.2d 373 (1938)
. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176 § 23; see also Goldman, 302 Mass. 74, 18 N.E.2d at 374 (1938) (holding that an insured could not recover against insurance company for injuries sustained because the insurance company amended its by-laws to exclude recovery for such injuries); Pain v. Societe St. Jean Baptiste, 172 Mass. 319, 52 N.E. 502, 503 (1899) (finding that amended by-laws applied to benefits received of person who got policy before amendment).
. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176 § 21 ("A society may, through its laws or rules, limit the scope of beneficiary designations....”); O’Brien v. Massachusetts Catholic Order of Foresters, 220 Mass. 79, 107 N.E. 400, 401 (1915).
. Doherty v. Ancient Order of Hibernians Widows’ and Orphans' Fund, 176 Mass. 285, 57 N.E. 463 (1900) (holding that policy benefits should be collected by the previously named beneficiary after an invalid designation); Elsey v. Odd Fellows Mut. Relief Ass’n., 142 Mass. 224, 7 N.E. 844, 846 (1886) (“We can see no reason to suppose that the later assignment was intended to operate as a revocation of the designation to the wife, unless it took effect as a designation to the mother.”);
. Delaney v. Grand Lodge A.O.U.W. of Mass., 244 Mass. 556, 138 N.E. 918, 922 (1923) (describing the insurance policy as a contract); Swabian Realty Co., Inc. v. NGM Ins. Co., 462 Mass. 715, 718, 971 N.E.2d 268 (2012) (quoting Citation Ins. Co. v. Gomez, 426 Mass. 379, 688 N.E.2d 951, 952 (1998) (“Interpretation of an insurance policy is no different from interpretation of any other contract.”)).
. Jacobs v. U.S. Fidelity & Guar. Co., 417 Mass. 75, 627 N.E.2d 463, 464 (1994); Ober v. Nat’l Cas. Co., 318 Mass. 27, 60 N.E.2d 90, 91 (1945).
. Pl.’s St. Mat. Facts ¶ 10, Ex. C.
. Pl.’s St. Mat. Facts ¶ 14; Def. Metz St. Mat. Facts ¶ 13; Defs. Strojny and LaBlue St. Mat. Facts ¶ 9.
. See Pi's St. Mat. Facts, Ex. C, Thrivent Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws [# 30-4] § 5 (listing eligible beneficiary designations).; see also Pi's St. Mat. Facts, Ex. F.
. Brown v. Marone, 81 Mass.App.Ct. 1128, 2012 WL 1191893, at *1 (quoting Bongaards, 793 N.E.2d at 339).
. Brown, 2012 WL 1191893, at *1 (quoting Rooney v. Paul D. Osborne Desk Co., 38 Mass.App.Ct. 82, 645 N.E.2d 50, 51 (1995)).
. Defs. Strojny and LaBlue St. Mat. Facts ¶ 8, Ex. 4; Def. Metz St. Mat. Facts ¶ 19.
. Pi. St. Mat. Facts V 14, Ex. F.
. Pi. St. Mat. Facts ¶ 14, Ex. F.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- THRIVENT FINANCIAL FOR LUTHERANS v. Michelle STROJNY
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published