McNamara v. Knights of Columbus

206 A.D. 364, 201 N.Y.S. 235, 1923 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 7211

• Court: Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
• Decided: September 26, 1923
• Status: Published

Opinion

Per Curiam:

Plaintiff sues as the beneficiary named in a policy of life insurance to recover the amount thereof. On defendant’s motion an order of interpleader was made substituting as sole defendant Paul J. McNamara, “ as executor of the last will and testament of Daniel McNamara, deceased, and as testamentary trustee for Daniel L. McNamara, an infant under the will of Daniel McNamara, deceased.’’

Just how Paul J. McNamara can be testamentary trustee under the will in question is not clear. (See Surrogate’s Court Act, § 314, subd. 6.) There is no trust created by the will nor is Paul J. McNamara named as trustee; But neither as executor nor as testamentary trustee has he any interest in the proceeds of the policy sued on. The plaintiff is the sole beneficiary named in the policy and is entitled to the proceeds as against the estate of the assured.

Such proceeds were no part of the assets of the estate and did not pass under the will. There is no basis or color for the claim of the executor and trustee. Hence there was no hazard to the respondent in paying plaintiff and disregarding such claim. It is still the rule that an adverse claim must be shown to have some reasonable foundation before interpleader is permitted. (Pouch v. Prudential Ins. Co., 204 N. Y. 281; Hanna v. Manufacturers’ Trust Co., 104 App. Div. 90, 93.)

The order should be reversed, with ten dollars costs, and the motion denied, with ten dollars costs.

All concur.

Order reversed, with ten dollars costs and disbursements, and motion denied, with ten dollars costs.