LeBlanc v. New York Life Insurance

500 F. Supp. 664, 1980 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14504
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Louisiana
DecidedOctober 27, 1980
DocketCiv. A. No. 80-366-B
StatusPublished

This text of 500 F. Supp. 664 (LeBlanc v. New York Life Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Louisiana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
LeBlanc v. New York Life Insurance, 500 F. Supp. 664, 1980 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14504 (M.D. La. 1980).

Opinion

POLOZOLA, District Judge:

Kay Aucoin LeBlanc has filed this suit against New York Life Insurance Company to recover benefits due under certain life insurance policies which were issued to Percy H. LeBlanc, plaintiff’s husband. This suit was originally filed in the 23rd Judicial District Court for the Parish of Ascension. New York Life Insurance Company timely filed a petition for removal of this suit to this Court.

The plaintiff contends that the defendant is indebted to her in the sum of $136,182.08, plus penalties and attorney’s fees. This sum represents the amount due on six policies of life insurance which were issued by the defendant on the life of Percy H. LeBlanc. The plaintiff in this case was the owner and beneficiary of the policies. On January 5, 1980, Percy H. LeBlanc died. Plaintiff then forwarded proof of claim notices to the defendant demanding payment on all sums due under the policies. On April 14, 1980, the defendant advised petitioner that she was not entitled to a full cash settlement of the funds due under the policies, but was entitled to recover the proceeds on an installment refund basis in the amount of $705.42 per month beginning January 5, 1980. The plaintiff has refused to accept the monthly installment refund basis as a settlement option and demands payment in full in a lump sum cash payment on these policies.

The defendant, on the other hand, contends that plaintiff, as the owner of the policies, elected to receive the benefits due under the policy on a monthly basis rather than on a full cash settlement basis. Defendant contends that the settlement agreement signed by the plaintiff on June 17, 1960 is binding on her.

This matter is now before the Court on motions filed by both the plaintiff and the defendant. The plaintiff has filed a motion for summary judgment. The defendant has filed a motion to dismiss and in the alternative a motion for summary judgment. Because the parties have attached exhibits to the motions, the Court will treat all motions as motions for summary judgment.

The parties have agreed and stipulated to the following facts:

“1.

Mr. Percy H. LeBlanc, deceased husband of plaintiff, Kay Aucoin LeBlanc, purchased seven life insurance policies during his lifetime, from defendant, New York Life Insurance Company, more particularly described as follows:

Exhibit Policy Number Settlement Amount Date Osmership Transferred to Issue Date Kay A.LeBlanc Face Amount
A 20 070 928 $28,615.30 11/15/44 10/9/56 $15,000
B 20 070 929 37,216.67 11/15/44 10/9/56 20,000
C 20 070 931 6,614.33 11/15/44 10/9/56 ' 3,600
D 21 936 180 ■ 31,961.72 1/14/51 10/9/56 25,000
[666]*666E 21 936 181 19,180.73 1/14/51 10/9/56 15.000
F 21 936 182 12,593.33 1/14/51 10/9/56 10.000
G 25 190 846 44,037.69 5/28/57 9/24/57 35,000

2.

The plaintiff, Mrs. Kay Aueoin LeBlanc, was named beneficiary of each of the life insurance policies at the time each was issued.

3.

Effective October 9, 1956, the ownership of those six policies marked “A” through “F” above was transferred by Percy H. LeBlanc to plaintiff.

4.

On June 17,1960, the plaintiff executed a settlement agreement affecting those six policies marked “A” through “F” above, which agreement provided for life income with installment refund as set forth in Option 6 of the life insurance policies.

5.

Percy H. LeBlanc died on January 5, 1980.

6.

The settlement value of the six life insurance policies at the date of the insured’s death was $136,182.08.

7.

Upon receipt of proof of claim, New York Life Insurance Company issued a settlement certificate providing that monthly installments of $705.42 be paid to the beneficiary as required under the terms of the settlement agreement in effect on the date of death of the insured.

8.

On March 17,1980, plaintiff requested, by letter, a lump sum payment rather than monthly life income as provided under the terms of the settlement agreement, which request was denied by New York Life Insurance Company.”

As noted in the statement of facts agreed to by the parties, Percy H. LeBlanc purchased seven life insurance policies from New York Life Insurance Company. The plaintiff in this case was named beneficiary on six of the life insurance policies at the time each was issued. On October 9, 1956, Mr. LeBlanc transferred the ownership of each of the policies to the plaintiff. As owner of the policies, the plaintiff was entitled to select the manner in which she wished to receive payment from the insurance company upon the death of Mr. LeBlanc. On June 17, 1960, the plaintiff executed a settlement agreement on the six policies which are the subject of this suit, in which the plaintiff selected a life income with installment refund method of settlement as the manner in which she wished to receive payment for the benefits due under the policies issued to her husband. No further action was taken by the plaintiff to change the settlement option by which she was to be paid proceeds from the policies until after Mr. LeBlanc died.

Thus, the sole issue now before the Court is whether or not an owner-beneficiary of a life insurance policy who has executed a settlement agreement prior to the maturity of the life insurance policy may unilaterally modify or change the method of settlement after the policy has matured because of the death of the insured.

The Court finds that under the facts of this case the plaintiff is bound by the settlement agreement she executed on June 17, 1960 and, therefore, may not, after the death of the insured, change the method upon which the insurance proceeds are to be paid to her. Jameson v. Occidental Life [667]*667Insurance Co. of California, 219 So.2d 520 (La.App. 3rd Cir. 1969).

The settlement agreement signed by the plaintiff on June 17, 1960 contains the following provisions which are applicable herein:

“SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
Kay Myra Aucoin LeBlanc, wife of the Insured, as Owner, hereby directs New York Life Insurance Company, upon receipt of due proof of the death of the Insured, to settle the proceeds of all policies enumerated above with the following beneficiaries in accordance with this agreement. Any prior designation of beneficiary or direction as to the method of settlement is revoked. * * *
EFFECTIVE DATE OF SETTLEMENT: Upon receipt of due proof of the death of the Insured, any settlement arrangement then applicable shall be granted as from the date of the Insured. * * *
RESERVATIONS OF RIGHTS:
All rights, benefits, and privileges conferred upon the policyowner in each policy enumerated above are hereby reserved. This agreement as to designation of beneficiary and method of settlement will be revoked as to any such policy by a subsequent change of beneficiary under said policy or by a subsequent change in the method of settlement of the proceeds of said policy or by an assignment of the said policy which transfers to the assignee the entire interest of said beneficiary in said policy.

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Related

Jameson v. Occidental Life Insurance
219 So. 2d 520 (Louisiana Court of Appeal, 1969)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
500 F. Supp. 664, 1980 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14504, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/leblanc-v-new-york-life-insurance-lamd-1980.