Knights of Columbus v. Virginia Trust

996 F. Supp. 2d 1038, 2014 WL 279657, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9112
CourtDistrict Court, D. Nevada
DecidedJanuary 23, 2014
DocketNo. 2:12-CV-688 JCM VCF
StatusPublished

This text of 996 F. Supp. 2d 1038 (Knights of Columbus v. Virginia Trust) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Nevada primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Knights of Columbus v. Virginia Trust, 996 F. Supp. 2d 1038, 2014 WL 279657, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9112 (D. Nev. 2014).

Opinion

ORDER

JAMES C. MAHAN, District Judge.

Presently before the court is defendant/cross-defendant Sheree Williams’ (“Williams”) motion for summary judgment (doc. # 125). Defendants/cross-claimants William Crosby and Danny Hill (“cross-claimants”) filed an opposition to Williams’ motion (doc. # 136) and Williams replied (doc. # 138). Also before the court is cross-claimants’ motion for summary judgment (doc. # 126). Williams filed an opposition to cross-claimants’ motion (doc. # 135) and cross-claimants replied (doc. # 139).

I. Background

a. The Life Insurance Policies

This case centers upon a dispute over two life insurance policies that were purchased by Raymond Williams (“decedent”) from Knights of Columbus (“Knights”). Each of these policies provided a death benefit of $250,000 and was active at the time of decedent’s death on October 1, 2011.

On September 2, 1999 and October 22, 1999, decedent purchased the life insurance policies, and initially named cross-claimants as well as Melanie Crosby as the beneficiaries of both policies, but noted on the policy documents that he would “be changing beneficiary to a trust as soon as completed” and that “[t]hese three beneficiaries will also be named in the trust.” (Doc. # 126-1 p. 2).

On or about July 7, 2000, decedent filled out and executed two change-of-beneficiary forms, which named “The Virginia Trust Dated 9/30/99” as the beneficiary of all death benefits. These forms specifically stated, “Any previous beneficiary desig[1040]*1040nation and any optional mode of settlement elected with respect to death proceeds payable under the above referenced certificate are hereby revoked.” (Doc. # 135-2 pp. 18, 39). Decedent left the “contingent beneficiary” portion of the forms blank.

On October 12, 2001, decedent married defendant/cross-defendant Sheree Williams (“Williams”). The two remained married until decedent’s death in 2011.

Since decedent’s death, no party has been able to locate the written instrument of “The Virginia Trust” that was referred to in decedent’s change-of-beneficiary forms. There is no account of the intended contents of this trust other than the single vague statement that appeared in the original life insurance policy documents. No party has even been able to testify that “The Virginia Trust” was ever even created.

On May 3, 2013, the Eighth Judicial District Court for the State of Nevada heard a petition by cross-claimants to determine the existence of “The Virginia Trust.” The court concluded that cross-claimants failed to present enough evidence to prove the existence of the trust, and declined to exercise jurisdiction over it.

Knights’ bylaws contain a provision that states, “Where, upon the death of the insured, it appears that the certificate holder has failed to make any designation, or that all of the named beneficiaries are dead, or if the designation shall fail for illegality or otherwise, then the death benefit shall be paid in the order of precedence as herein set forth: First: The insured’s spouse.... ” (Doc. 135-9 p. 3).1

In the instant motions, Williams and cross-claimants each argue that they are entitled to the benefits under the terms of the life insurance policies.

b. Conduct of Parties

Additionally, cross-claimants allege claims of conspiracy and equitable estoppel against Williams, and request that the court create a constructive trust for their benefit.

The cross-claimants allege that Melanie Crosby and Williams acted together in an attempt to obtain cross-claimants’ share of the benefits under the policies. They allege that Melanie Crosby attempted to have cross-claimant William Crosby sign a waiver of acceptance of service form, while misrepresenting the form as a document that would allow Williams to “take care of the funeral costs.” Cross-claimants allege that, in addition to misrepresenting the nature of the form, Melanie Crosby had also partially filled out the document with a false address for cross-claimant Crosby.

The cross-claimants also allege that Williams contacted cross-claimant Danny Hill and told him that “an insurance company would be calling him” and that he should say both that “he [didn’t] know anything about the Virginia Trust” and that he did not know decedent’s cousin, cross-claimant Crosby. They also claim that Williams falsely represented to Knights that she was the only claimant to the insurance proceeds, moments after learning that “The Virginia Trust” was actually the designated beneficiary. Finally, the cross-claimants also allege that Williams accessed decedent’s safe deposit box shortly after his death, and was not forthcoming about the fact that she had done so.

II. Legal Standard

The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provide for summary adjudication when the pleadings, depositions, answers to in[1041]*1041terrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that “there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the movant is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed. R.Civ.P. 56(a). A principal purpose of summary judgment is “to isolate and dispose of factually unsupported claims.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323-24, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).

In determining summary judgment, a court applies a burden-shifting analysis. “When the party moving for summary judgment would bear the burden of proof at trial, it must come forward with evidence which would entitle it to a directed verdict if the evidence went uncontrovert-ed at trial. In such a case, the moving party has the initial burden of establishing the absence of a genuine issue of fact on each issue material to its case.” C.A.R. Transp. Brokerage Co. v. Darden Rests., Inc., 213 F.3d 474, 480 (9th Cir.2000) (citations omitted).

In contrast, when the nonmoving party bears the burden of proving the claim or defense, the moving party can meet its burden in two ways: (1) by presenting evidence to negate an essential element of the nonmoving party’s case; or (2) by demonstrating that the nonmoving party failed to make a showing sufficient to establish an element essential to that party’s case on which that party will bear the burden of proof at trial. See Celotex Corp., 477 U.S. at 323-24, 106 S.Ct. 2548. If the moving party fails to meet its initial burden, summary judgment must be denied and the court need not consider the nonmoving party’s evidence. See Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 159-60, 90 S.Ct. 1598, 26 L.Ed.2d 142 (1970).

If the moving party satisfies its initial burden, the burden then shifts to the opposing party to establish that a genuine issue of material fact exists. See Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986).

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
996 F. Supp. 2d 1038, 2014 WL 279657, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9112, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/knights-of-columbus-v-virginia-trust-nvd-2014.