Banner Life Insurance v. U.S. Bank

931 F. Supp. 2d 629, 2013 WL 1173964, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38971
CourtDistrict Court, D. Delaware
DecidedMarch 21, 2013
DocketCivil Action No. 1:12-CV00047-RGA
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 931 F. Supp. 2d 629 (Banner Life Insurance v. U.S. Bank) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Delaware primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Banner Life Insurance v. U.S. Bank, 931 F. Supp. 2d 629, 2013 WL 1173964, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38971 (D. Del. 2013).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

ANDREWS, District Judge:

Before the court is U.S. Bank’s motion to dismiss the complaint pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) and (6). (D.I. 35). Additionally, Banner has moved to dismiss Bancorp’s counterclaims pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). (D.I. 37).

Banner issued an insurance policy on the life of Robert Daniels. The owner of the policy was Mr. Daniel’s law firm, Braverman Daniels Kaskey, Ltd. (D.I. 1, ¶ 7). Pursuant to a “Collateral Security Agreement,” the law firm assigned the policy to Bancorp as collateral for a loan. (Id. at ¶ 8-10). Banner was aware of the assignment. (Id. at ¶ 10). Braverman Daniels transferred the policy to the Daniels Trust in June 2006. (Id. at ¶ 11-16). The Trust subsequently sold the policy representing falsely that the policy was free of any liens. In re Ritchie Risk-Linked Strategies Trading (Ireland), Ltd., 471 B.R. 331, 335 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y.2012). Eventually, Ritchie Risk acquired the policy and declared bankruptcy. Id. at 335. Nutmeg obtained ownership of the policy from an asset sale as part of the bankruptcy proceedings. The sales was free and clear of any liens. Id. at 335-36. U.S. Bank then held the policy as securities intermediary for Nutmeg. Id. at 333-34. Upon Mr. Daniel’s [632]*632death in 2011 both U.S. Bank and Bancorp submitted a death benefit claim to the policy. (D.I. 1 ¶¶ 19-24). Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1335, Banner filed this complaint for interpleader. (D.I. 1). On August 13, 2012, the Court approved a stipulated agreement between Bancorp and U.S. Bank relinquishing the proceeds at issue to U.S. Bank. (D.I. 29).

The Court’s jurisdiction in this case arises from 28 U.S.C. § 1335, which requires minimal diversity between at least two adverse claimants for an amount in controversy equal or greater than $500. At the time the complaint was filed, these requirements were alleged.

U.S. Bank’s Motion to Dismiss Complaint

As the funds in dispute have been disbursed to U.S. Bank under an agreement reached with Bancorp, there is no longer a controversy involving two or more adverse parties. The purpose of this lawsuit was to make sure that if Banner paid one of the claimants the proceeds of the insurance policy, it would not later be subject to litigation that it should have paid the other. Banner has accomplished that goal. Therefore, its complaint will be dismissed.

Banner’s opposition to U.S. Bank’s motion to dismiss the complaint asserts that not all relief has been granted in this case, as it seeks a release of any future liability and attorney fees. (D.I. 43, p. 3). U.S. Bank has offered a release of liability. (D.I. 46, p. 5). Bancorp has been barred by order of the Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of New York from asserting any claims against the policy at issue. In re Ritchie at 341. As the funds in dispute have been assigned to U.S. Bank with Bancorp’s stipulation, Banner’s desire for a further release from U.S. Bank will not preclude dismissal.

The awarding of attorney fees in an interpleader complaint is “committed to the sound discretion of the trial court.” Mutual of Omaha Ins. Co. v. Dolby, 531 F.Supp. 511, 516 (E.D.Pa.1982). Insurance companies regularly encounter disputes between multiple claimants to a policy’s benefits. Making a determination as to which claim prevails is the ordinary business of insurance companies. Id. at 517. Awarding attorney fees to insurance companies would shift their ordinary business expenses to the claimants, which is not generally appropriate. Id. at 517. See Fidelity Bank v. Com. Marine and General Assur. Co., 592 F.Supp. 513, 526 (E.D.Pa.1984). Banner is in the business of determining which claims to a policy’s benefits are valid and therefore there does not appear to be any basis to award attorney fees.1

For the reasons set forth above, the court will grant U.S. Bank’s motion to dismiss Banner’s interpleader complaint.

Banner’s Motion to Dismiss Bancorp’s Counterclaims

Bancorp filed five counterclaims against Banner for breach of contract (Count I), negligence (Count II), breach of fiduciary duty (Count III), fraud by omission (Count IV) and tortious interference with contract (Count V). (D.I. 34). Counterclaim Count I is based on the contention that the “Collateral Security Agreement” and the insurance policy are contracts between Banner and Bancorp. (D.I. 34, ¶ 51). Plaintiff contends that Banner is not a party to any contract with Bancorp as the “Collateral Security Agreement” was merely an ac[633]*633knowledgment of receipt provided for recording purposes. (D.I. 38, p. 11). The remaining counterclaims assert that Banner owed a duty to Bancorp to notify subsequent purchasers of the policy of Bancorp’s lien, to object to the sale of the policy, and to notify Bancorp of the policy’s impending sale in the bankruptcy proceedings. (D.I. 34, pp. 15-16). Bancorp alleges that Banner’s breach of this duty was the proximate cause of the interest in the policy created by the “Collateral Security Agreement” being extinguished and resulting damages to Bancorp in excess of $500,000.

The issue pertaining to Ban-corp’s breach of contract counterclaim is whether the counterclaim should be dismissed for a failure to state a claim. Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) requires that a complaint contain, “enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell All. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007). “A cause of action for breach of contract must be established by pleading (1) the existence of a contract, including its essential terms, (2) a breach of duty imposed by the contract and (3) resultant damages.” Corestates Bank, N.A v. Cutillo, 723 A.2d 1053, 1058 (Pa.Super.1999). An essential element to the formation of a contract is consideration. Weavertown Transp. Leasing v. Moran, 834 A.2d 1169, 1172 (Pa.Super.2003). “Consideration consists of a benefit to the promisor or a detriment to the promisee.” Id. There was no consideration bargained for by Banner in signing the “Collateral Security Agreement” or the insurance policy. Therefore there is no allegation that there is a contract between Banner and Bancorp. Nor is there any other contract theory alleged as to why Banner owed any duty to Bancorp. For the above stated reason, Banner’s motion to dismiss Bancorp’s Counterclaim I is granted.

In pleading a cause of action for negligence Bancorp must establish that Banner owed a duty to Bancorp, that duty was breached, and the breach was the proximate cause of resulting damages. Reilly v. Tiergarten Inc., 430 Pa.Super.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
931 F. Supp. 2d 629, 2013 WL 1173964, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 38971, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/banner-life-insurance-v-us-bank-ded-2013.