Kowalski v. Jackson National Life Insurance

981 F. Supp. 2d 1309, 2013 WL 5954380, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 159645
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Florida
DecidedNovember 7, 2013
DocketCase No. 12-60597-CIV
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 981 F. Supp. 2d 1309 (Kowalski v. Jackson National Life Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Kowalski v. Jackson National Life Insurance, 981 F. Supp. 2d 1309, 2013 WL 5954380, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 159645 (S.D. Fla. 2013).

Opinion

ORDER DENYING WILSON’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND GRANTING KOWALSKI’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

JAMES I. COHN, District Judge.

THIS CAUSE is before the Court on Third Party Defendant’s Motion for Summary Judgment Regarding Plaintiffs Third Amended Complaint, Statement of Material Facts, and Supporting Memorandum of Law [DE 188] (‘Wilson Motion”) and Kowalski’s Motion for Summary Judgment; Rule 56 Statement of Undisputed Material Facts and Memorandum of Law in Support of the Motion [DE 190] (“Kowalski Motion”) (collectively “Motions”). The Court has carefully considered the Motions, the responses and replies thereto, the record in the case, and is otherwise advised in the premises.

I. BACKGROUND

A. Procedural History.

Plaintiff Lisa Kowalski (“Kowalski”) commenced this action on April 3, 2012, against Defendants Jackson National Life Insurance Company (“Jackson”) and Barbara Wilson (“Wilson”) to establish her entitlement to the proceeds of a life insurance policy. See Compl. [DE 1]. After Wilson filed a motion to dismiss alleging that this Court lacked personal jurisdiction over her and Jackson sought dismissal for failure to state a claim under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), Kowalski sought leave to file an amended complaint which dropped Wilson as a party and amended the allegations in her Complaint. See DE 21. The Court granted the motion and allowed Kowalski to amend the Complaint. See DE 29. In the Amended Complaint, Kowalski sought a declaratory judgment from this Court reflecting that she is the owner and beneficiary of the policy proceeds. Am. Compl. [DE 30] at 3.

[1312]*1312On July 27, 2012, Jackson filed an unopposed motion in which it sought leave to respond to the Amended Complaint within 10 business days of the appointment of a personal representative for the estate of Florence P. Kowalski (“the Estate”). See DE 31. In the motion, Jackson explained that it has no interest in the policy proceeds and needed the proper adverse claimants to the proceeds before the Court in order to interplead the funds into the Court registry. Id. ¶ 4. The Court granted this motion. See DE 32.

Before a personal representative had been appointed for the Estate and Jackson filed its answer, Kowalski moved (1) to compel Jackson to deposit the proceeds of the policy into the Court registry and (2) for partial summary judgment. See DE 34, 35. On October 31, 2012, 2012 WL 5364267, the Court denied both motions as premature because the Court could not issue a declaratory ruling as to the beneficiary of the policy proceeds until all parties asserting an interest in the policy were before the Court. See DE 46.

On November 12, 2012, Jackson filed its answer and third party complaint against Wilson, who the probate court had appointed as the personal representative of the Estate. See DE 47. On January 22, 2013, Wilson filed an answer to Jackson’s third party complaint which asserted a counterclaim against Jackson for a declaratory judgment (Count 1) and breach of contract (Count IV) and cross claims against Kowalski for a declaratory judgment (Count 1), unjust enrichment (Count II), and conversion (Count III). See DE 75. On February 22, 2013, Jackson filed its answer to Wilson’s counterclaim. See DE 90. This answer asserted a cross claim against Kowalski for fraudulent misrepresentation (Count I), negligent misrepresentation (Count II), indemnity (Count III), and unjust enrichment (Count IV). Cross Claim [DE 90] at 17-20. On April 23, 2013, 2013 WL 1748740, the Court entered an order denying Kowalski’s motion to dismiss Jackson’s cross claim. See DE 108.

Jackson filed a motion to deposit the proceeds of the life insurance policy in the Court registry on November 27, 2012. See DE 50. The Court granted in part the motion, allowing Jackson to deposit the proceeds into the registry, but declining to dismiss Jackson based on Wilson’s pending counterclaim. See DE 79. While the motion to deposit the life insurance proceeds was pending, Kowalski filed a motion for leave to file a second amended complaint. See DE 72. Although both Jackson and Wilson argued that further amendment of the complaint was futile, the Court granted the motion finding that the futility arguments would best be addressed by way of a motion to dismiss or motion for summary judgment. See DE 94.

Kowalski filed her Second Amended Complaint on March 12, 2013. 2d Am. Compl. [DE 95]. The Second Amended Complaint brought a claim against Wilson for unjust enrichment and constructive trust and a claim against Jackson for breach of contract. On May 6, 2013, the Court granted Wilson’s motion to dismiss the claim against her. See DE 109. The Court denied Kowalski’s motion for reconsideration of this order. See DE 113. Jackson then moved for summary judgment on Kowalski’s breach of contract claim, Wilson moved for summary judgment on the counterclaim and third party complaint filed by Jackson and on Count I of her counterclaim and cross claim, and Kowalski moved for partial summary judgment against both Jackson and Wilson. See DE 118, 121, 124. On July 1, 2013, 2013 WL 3308332, the Court granted Jackson’s motion for summary judgment, granted in part and denied in part Wilson’s [1313]*1313motion for summary judgment, and denied Kowalski’s motion for partial summary judgment. See DE 157 (“July 1, 2013 Order”). In the July 1, 2013 Order, the Court determined that under the terms of the policy, the Estate is entitled to the policy proceeds. The Court, however, also granted Kowalski leave to reassert her claim for unjust enrichment and constructive trust against the Estate.

Kowalski filed a Third Amended Complaint on July 8, 2013. See 3d Am. Compl. [DE 161]. Wilson then filed a motion to dismiss the claim against the Estate for failure to state a claim pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). See DE 171. The Court denied the motion to dismiss on August 30, 2013. See DE 181 (“August 30, 2013 Order”). Wilson and Kowalski have now filed cross motions for summary judgment regarding all remaining claims between the Estate and Kowalski.

B. Undisputed Material Facts. 1

On or about March 18, 1992, Jackson issued a life insurance policy upon the life of Florence P. Kowalski (the “Insured”) in the amount of $175,500. Jackson’s Statement of Material Facts [DE 121 at 6-13] (“Jackson Facts”) ¶ 1; Kowalski’s Response to Jackson’s Statement of Undisputed Material Facts [DE 135] (“Jackson Response Facts”) ¶ 1. Edward Kowalski, Kowalski’s husband, and the son of the Insured, was the owner and beneficiary of the policy. Jackson Facts If 2; Jackson Response Facts ¶ 2. Edward Kowalski died on April 30, 2008. Jackson Facts ¶ 5; Jackson Response Facts ¶ 5. To change the ownership of the policy, the policy provides that:

The ownership of this Policy may be changed at any time during the Insured’s lifetime. Such change must be made by written notice acceptable to the Company. A change will take effect on the date the notice is signed.

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Bluebook (online)
981 F. Supp. 2d 1309, 2013 WL 5954380, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 159645, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kowalski-v-jackson-national-life-insurance-flsd-2013.