Kramer v. Phoenix Life Insurance

940 N.E.2d 535, 15 N.Y.3d 539

Opinions

OPINION OF THE COURT

Ciparick, J.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has certified the following question for our consideration:

“Does New York Insurance Law §§ 3205 (b)(1) and (b)(2) prohibit an insured from procuring a policy on his own life and immediately transferring the policy to a person without an insurable interest in the insured’s life, if the insured did not ever intend to provide insurance protection for a person with an insurable interest in the insured’s life?”

We now answer in the negative and hold that New York law permits a person to procure an insurance policy on his or her own life and immediately transfer it to one without an insurable interest in that life, even where the policy was obtained for just such a purpose.

This litigation involves several insurance policies obtained by decedent Arthur Kramer, a prominent New York attorney, on his own life, allegedly with the intent of immediately assigning the beneficial interests to investors who lacked an insurable interest in his life. In May 2008, Arthur’s widow, plaintiff Alice Kramer, as personal representative of her husband’s estate, filed an amended complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York seeking to have the death benefits from these insurance policies paid to her. She alleges that these policies, which collectively provide some $56,200,000 in coverage, violate New York’s insurable interest rule because her husband obtained them without the intent of providing insurance for himself or anyone with an insurable interest in his life.

As alleged in the plaintiffs complaint, defendant Steven Lockwood, the principal of Lockwood Pension Services, Inc. (Lockwood Pension), approached Arthur, presumably a sophisticated investor, about participating in a “stranger-owned life insurance” (SOLI or STOLI) scheme as early as 2003.¹ They commenced such a scheme in June 2005, when Arthur established the first of two insurance trusts (the June trust) and named two of his adult children, Andrew and Rebecca Kramer, as beneficiaries. A present Lockwood Pension employee was named as trustee, succeeded by defendant Jonathan Berck. In June and July 2005, defendant Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Co. funded the trust with one or more insurance policies with a total death benefit of approximately $18,200,000. Andrew and Rebecca then assigned their beneficial interests in the trust to a stranger investor, defendant Tall Tree Advisors, Inc. (Tall Tree). In 2007, Berck, as trustee, sold the ownership interests in the policies to a nonparty purchaser.

Arthur established a second trust in August 2005 (the August trust) and named a third adult child, Liza Kramer, as beneficiary. Hudson United Bank (Hudson) was named trustee,² also succeeded by Berck. In July 2005, defendant Phoenix Life Insurance Co. (Phoenix) issued three insurance policies to fund the August trust, with a total death benefit of $28,000,000, and Liza likewise assigned her interest to Tall Tree. In November 2005, defendant Lincoln Life & Annuity Co. of New York (Lincoln) also issued a policy to the August trust with a death benefit of $10,000,000, and Liza assigned her interest to another stranger investor, defendant Life Products Clearing, LLC (Life Products). Intervenor Lifemark alleges that it purchased a Phoenix policy from the August trust in August 2007, just over two years after its issuance. Allegedly both trust agreements were prepared by counsel for Lockwood Pension, neither Arthur Kramer nor his children ever paid premiums on the policies, and the Kramer children were never “true beneficiaries” of the trusts after the policies were issued. Phoenix and Lincoln allege that Lockwood served as broker pursuant to an “Independent Producer Contract” he had with Phoenix and a “Broker Agreement” he had with Lincoln.

Following Arthur’s death in January 2008, Alice refused to turn over copies of the death certificate to investors holding beneficial interests in the policies. She filed this action alleging that these policies violated New York’s insurable interest rule and so should be paid to her, as the representative of the decedent’s estate. Defendants are the insurance companies that issued the policies, trustees, and various insurance brokers/ investors. They filed counterclaims, cross claims, and third-party complaints. As relevant here, Berck, as trustee, and Life Products filed nearly identical answers seeking to have the proceeds of the Lincoln policy awarded to them. Intervenor Lifemark, claiming to be a good faith purchaser for value, seeks to have the Phoenix policy proceeds paid to it. Phoenix and Lincoln brought claims against Lockwood for breach of contract and also seek a declaratory judgment declaring that the policies are void and that they are not required to pay policy proceeds to anyone.

District Court granted motions to dismiss many of the parties’ claims, but denied Lockwood’s motion to dismiss the insurers’ claims against him. Relying primarily on District Court precedent, the court stated that, according to the alleged facts:

“Lockwood breached provisions of the New York Insurance Law in that he caused to be procured directly or through assignment or other means, a contract of insurance upon the life of the decedent [Kramer] for the benefit of strangers who did not have an insurable interest in his life at the time the policy was obtained” (Kramer, 653 F Supp 2d at 388 [internal quotation marks omitted]).

The court also permitted Alice, Life Products, and Berck’s declaratory judgment claims, counterclaims, and cross claims to go forward.³

District Court certified its order to allow for an interlocutory appeal to the Second Circuit pursuant to 28 USC § 1292 (b), noting that “there is indeed substantial ground for difference of opinion on the application of New York Insurance Law to SOLI arrangements of this type” (653 F Supp 2d at 398), and that “[n]umerous claims in this suit, including but not limited to the initial Declaratory Judgment action by Plaintiff, turn on the interpretation of’ Insurance Law § 3205 (id.). The Second Circuit granted Lifemark’s petition for leave to appeal District Court’s interlocutory order, and certified the question at issue to us.⁴

New York’s insurable interest requirement is codified in Insurance Law § 3205 (b). Section 3205 (b) (1) addresses individuals obtaining life insurance on their own lives:

“Any person of lawful age may on his own initiative procure or effect a contract of insurance upon his own person for the benefit of any person, firm, association or corporation. Nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit the immediate transfer or assignment of a contract so procured or effectuated.”

Section 3205 (b) (2) addresses a person’s ability to obtain insurance on another’s life and requires, in that circumstance, that the policy beneficiary be either the insured himself or someone with an insurable interest in his life:

“No person shall procure or cause to be procured, directly or by assignment or otherwise any contract of insurance upon the person of another unless the benefits under such contract are payable to the person insured or his personal representatives, or to a person having, at the time when such contract is made, an insurable interest in the person insured.”

An insurable interest is defined as, “in the case of persons closely related by blood or by law, a substantial interest engendered by love and affection” or, for others, a “lawful and substantial economic interest in the continued life, health or bodily safety of the person insured” (Insurance Law § 3205 [a] [1] [A], [B]).⁵

The insurable interest requirement at common law was designed to distinguish an insurance contract from a wager on someone’s life (see Ruse v Mutual Benefit Life Ins. Co., 23 NY 516, 523 [1861] [“A policy, obtained by a party who has no interest in the subject of insurance, is a mere wager policy”]). From the first, an insurable interest was required only where a policy was “obtained by one person for his own benefit upon the life of another” (id.). This basic distinction between policies obtained on the life of another and those obtained on one’s own life is reflected in the twin provisions of section 3205 (b) (1) and (2). As we have explained:

“When one insures his or her own life, the wagering aspect is overridden by the recognized social utility of the contract as an investment to benefit others. When a third party insures another’s life, however, the contract does not have the same manifest utility and assumes more speculative characteristics which may subject it to the same general condemnation as wagers” (Caruso, 73 NY2d at 77-78).

Plaintiff and the insurers urge us to find that an individual who procures insurance on his own life with the intent of immediately assigning the policy to one without an insurable interest is subject to the insurable interest requirement articulated in section 3205 (b) (2), despite the fact that section 3205 (b) (1) contains no such requirement. They make three basic arguments: (1) that a policy obtained with the intent to assign it to a party lacking an insurable interest violates section 3205 (b) (2); (2) that this scenario is precluded by a common-law rule that an insured could only assign a policy to one without an insurable interest if the policy was obtained “in good faith” compliance with the insurable interest rule, not as a means of circumventing it; and (3) that one who obtains insurance on one’s own life in accordance with a prior arrangement with a third party, as alleged here, does not act “on his own initiative” within the meaning of the statute. In response, Lifemark, Life Products, Berck, Lockwood, and Lockwood Pension argue that the language of section 3205 (b) (1) confers great freedom on an insured in assigning life insurance benefits, including the freedom to obtain insurance for any reason and to immediately assign a policy to an investor with no insurable interest, and that this freedom cannot be reconciled with any older common-law “good faith” limitation.

The “starting point” for discerning statutory meaning is, of course, the language of the statute itself (see Roberts v Tishman Speyer Props., L.P., 13 NY3d 270, 286 [2009]). “[W]here the language of a statute is clear and unambiguous, courts must give effect to its plain meaning” (Matter of Crucible Materials Corp. v New York Power Auth., 13 NY3d 223, 229 [2009] [internal quotation marks omitted]).

Here, section 3205 (b) (1) clearly provides that, so long as the insured is “of lawful age” and acts “on his own initiative,” he can “procure or effect a contract of insurance upon his own person for the benefit of any person, firm, association or corporation.” This language is unambiguous and not limited by the statutory text. It thus codifies the common-law rule that an insured has total discretion in naming a policy beneficiary (see Olmsted v Keyes, 85 NY 593 [1881]). Our lower courts have long held that, under section 3205 (b), “[w]here the deceased effects the insurance upon her own life, it is well-established law that she can designate any beneficiary she desires without regard to relationship or consanguinity” (Corder v Prudential Ins. Co., 42 Misc 2d 423, 424 [Sup Ct, Erie County 1964]; see also Gibson v Travelers Ins. Co., 183 Misc 678 [Sup Ct, NY County 1944]).

It is equally plain that a contract “so procured or effectuated” may be “immediately] transfer [red] or assign[ed]” (Insurance Law § 3205 [b] [1]). The provision does not require the assignee to have an insurable interest and, given the insured’s power to name any beneficiary, such restriction on assignment would serve no purpose. This freedom of assignment is not limited by section 3205 (b) (2), which addresses procurement of an insurance policy on another’s life, either “directly or by assignment,” because section 3205 (b) (2) requires an insurable interest only “at the time when such contract is made,” that is, when such insurance is initially procured. The statute therefore incorporates the common-law rule that a policy valid at the time of procurement may be assigned to one without an insurable interest in the insured’s life and, relatedly, no insurable interest is required when one holds a policy on another’s life, so long as the policy was “valid in its inception” (Olmsted, 85 NY at 598). As one appellate court has summarized, “Insurance Law § 3205 (b) (1) permits any person of lawful age who has procured a contract of insurance upon his or her own life to immediately transfer or assign the contract, and does not require the assignee to have an insurable interest” (Hota v Camaj, 299 AD2d 453, 453 [2d Dept 2002]).

There is simply no support in the statute for plaintiff and the insurers’ argument that a policy obtained by the insured with the intent of immediate assignment to a stranger is invalid. The statutory text contains no intent requirement; it does not attempt to prescribe the insured’s motivations. To the contrary, it explicitly allows for “immediate transfer or assignment” (Insurance Law § 3205 [b] [1]). This phrase evidently anticipates that an insured might obtain a policy with the intent of assigning it, since one who “immediately” assigns a policy likely intends to assign it at the time of procurement.

The statutory mandate that a policy must be obtained on an insured’s “own initiative” requires that the decision to obtain life insurance be knowing, voluntary, and actually initiated by the insured. In common parlance, to act on “one’s own initiative” means to act “at one’s own discretion: independently of outside influence or control” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary 602 [10th ed 1996]). The key point is that the policy must be obtained at the insured’s discretion. As the dissent acknowledges, common sense dictates that some outside influence is acceptable—advice from a broker or pension planner, for example. The notion of obtaining insurance and the details of the insurance contract need not spring exclusively from the mind of the insured. Rather, the insured’s decision must be free from nefarious influence or coercion.

Contrary to the dissent’s view, the initiative requirement, without more, does not prohibit an insured from obtaining a policy pursuant to a noncoercive arrangement with an investor (see dissenting op at 558). Under the dissent’s interpretation, a sophisticated party who approaches an investor about such an arrangement, drafts necessary documents, procures insurance on his own life, and assigns it for compensation is not acting “on his own initiative.” The language of the statute simply does not support such a reading.

Further, the insurable interest requirement of section 3205 (b) (2) does not alter our reading of section 3205 (b) (1) because it does not apply when an insured freely obtains insurance on his own life. Rather, it requires that when a person “procure[s] or cause[s] to be procured, directly or by assignment or otherwise,” an insurance policy on another’s life, the policy benefits must run, “at the time when such contract is made,” to the insured or one with an insurable interest in the insured’s life (Insurance Law § 3205 [b] [2]). Where an insured, “on his own initiative,” obtains insurance on his or her own life, the validity of the policy at its inception is instead governed by section 3205 (b) (1).

Our reading of the statutory language is buttressed by the legislative history of section 3205 (b). A forerunner to the current provision appeared in the 1939 recodification of the Insurance Law as a single paragraph (L 1939, ch 882, adding Insurance Law, art VII, § 146 [l]),⁶ and a 1984 recodification broke that single paragraph into the two provisions we have today. The sentence “[n]othing herein shall be deemed to prohibit the immediate transfer or assignment of a contract so procured or effectuated,” however, was not added until 1991. It was prompted by a United States Internal Revenue Service private letter ruling suggesting that if a person obtained an insurance policy with the intent of transferring it to a charitable organization lacking an insurable interest in his life, the transaction would violate section 3205 (b) (2) (see Mem of Assemblyman Lasher, Bill Jacket, L 1991, ch 334, at 6, reprinted in 1991 NY Legis Ann, at 179; IRS Private Letter Ruling [PLR] 9110016 [Mar. 8, 1991]). The legislative aim was to “correct [this] erroneous interpretation” (Mem of Assemblyman Lasher, Bill Jacket, L 1991, ch 334, at 6). Thus, it not only added, in terms not limited to charitable organizations, that a policy may be “immediate [ly] transfer [red] or assign[ed]” (Insurance Law § 3205 [b] [1]), but it did so to clarify the legislative understanding that a policy might be assigned regardless of the insured’s intent in procuring it.

In light of the overwhelming textual and historical evidence that the Legislature intended to allow the immediate assignment of a policy by an insured to one lacking an insurable interest, we are not persuaded by plaintiff and the insurers’ argument that section 3205 (b) is limited by the common-law requirement that an insured cannot obtain a life insurance policy with the intent of circumventing the insurable interest rule by immediately assigning it to a third party (see Steinback v Diepenbrock, 158 NY 24, 30-31 [1899]). To the extent that there is any conflict, the common law has been modified by unambiguous statutory language. We note further that if our Legislature had intended to impose such a limitation, it could easily have done so. The Legislature has been very active in this area, most recently in its redrafting of article 78 of the Insurance Law.

Finally, we recognize the importance of the insurable interest doctrine in differentiating between insurance policies and mere wagers (see Caruso, 73 NY2d at 77-78), and that there is some tension between the law’s distaste for wager policies and its sanctioning an insured’s procurement of a policy on his or her own life for the purpose of selling it. It is not our role, however, to engraft an intent or good faith requirement onto a statute that so manifestly permits an insured to immediately and freely assign such a policy.

Accordingly, the certified question should be answered in the negative.

1 . All facts here are drawn from allegations in the parties’ complaints, and are discussed in greater detail in the District Court opinion (see Kramer v Lockwood Pension Servs., Inc., 653 F Supp 2d 354 [SD NY 2009]).

2 . Lincoln Life & Annuity Co. of New York alleges that, in January 2006, Hudson was acquired by and merged with TD Bank, N.A.

3 . Other claims that survived the District Court order include Life Products and Berck’s counterclaims against Alice, in the alternative, for misrepresentation/breach of warranty; Life Products’ third-party claims against Liza for breach of express warranty and breach of contract; and Life Products and Berck’s cross claims against Lincoln for breach of contract.

Notably, District Court determined that the insurers could not attempt to void the policies, as they had been issued over two years earlier and so are incontestible (see Insurance Law § 3203 [a] [3]; New England Mut. Life Ins. Co. v Caruso, 73 NY2d 74 [1989]). As a result, it dismissed the insurers’ counterclaims and cross claims for, among other things, fraud, fraudulent concealment, aiding and/or abetting fraud, and for a declaratory judgment.

4 . The Second Circuit denied Phoenix and Lincoln’s petitions seeking to appeal District Court’s order “because an immediate appeal concerning the issues presented therein is unwarranted.” Nonetheless, the insurers urge us to expand the scope of the certified question and consider whether District Court properly dismissed their claims.

We have considered Phoenix and Lincoln’s arguments relating to the incontestability issue, but decline their request to expand the scope of the certified question. Thus, we are denying Alice and Lifemark’s motions in this Court to strike the portions of the insurers’ briefs addressing whether the incontestability rule should apply here (15 NY3d 901 [2010] [decided today]).

5 . In 2009, the Legislature added several new provisions to the Insurance Law regulating permissible “life settlement contracts,” i.e. agreements by which compensation is paid for

“the assignment, transfer, sale, release, devise or bequest of any portion of:

“(A) the death benefit;

“(B) the ownership of the policy; or

“(C) any beneficial interest in the policy, or in a trust . . . that owns the policy” (see Insurance Law § 7802 [k] [1]).

In addition to regulating the Ufe settlement industry (see Insurance Law art 78), this new law prohibits “stranger-originated life insurance,” defined as

“any act, practice or arrangement, at or prior to policy issuance, to initiate or facilitate the issuance of a policy for the intended benefit of a person who, at the time of policy origination, has no insurable interest in the life of the insured under the laws of this state” (Insurance Law § 7815 [a]).

It also prohibits anyone from entering into a valid life settlement contract for two years following the issuance of a policy, with some exceptions (see Insurance Law § 7813 [j] [1]). Because these provisions did not go into effect until May 18, 2010, they do not govern this appeal.

6 . The 1939 statute read:

“Any person of lawful age may on his own initiative procure or effect a contract of insurance upon his own person for the benefit of any person, firm, association or corporation, but no person shall procure or cause to be procured, directly or by assignment or otherwise any contract of insurance upon the person of another unless the benefits under such contract are payable to the person insured or . . . to a person having, at the time when such contract is made, an insurable interest in the person insured” (L 1939, ch 882, adding Insurance Law § 146 [1]).