combined insurance company of america v. swift et al complaint

7/28/2019 COMBINED INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA v. SWIFT et al Complaint

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IN T H E U N IT E D S TA T ES DIS TRI CT C O U R T

F O R T H E NO R TH E RN DI STR ICT O F WE ST I RG I NI A

C OM B I N ED N SU R A NC E CO M PA NY OF

A ME RI C A, f o r e i g n c o r p o r a t i o n ,

P l a i nt i f f ,

v . C AS E O. :

J E RR Y . SW I FT , IC KIE . B A KE R ,

M IC H A EL . S WI F T, n dB RY AN T . S WI F T,

D ef e n da n t s .

CO M PL AIN T F OR NT ER P LE A DE R AC TIO N

No w o me s l a i n t i f f , Co m b i n e d I n s u r a n c e Co mpa n y o f Amer i c a "Co mbi n e d" ) , b y c o uns e l ,

Gle n A . Mur p h y a n d An dr e w S. D or n bo s , an d t h e law f i r m o f S p i l ma n Tho ma s & a t t l e , P LL C ,

an d f o r i t s Co mp la i n t f o r I n t e r p l e a d er Act i o n t o s u p p o r t i t s r i g h t s t o t h e r e l i e f s o u g ht he r e i n , d o e s

he r e by t a t e a s f o l l o w s:

S TA T EM E N T O F JU R IS D IC T IO N AN D VE N U E

1. P l a i n t i f f i s a c or p o r a t i o n i n co r p o r a t e d un d e r t h e l a ws o f l l i n o i s w i t h i t s p r i n c i pa l

p l a c e o f us i n e s s i n Gle n v i e w, l l i n oi s . Co mbi n e d i s a c i t i z en o f l l i n o i s w it h i n t h e mea n i n g o f 28

U.S .C . 3 32 ( c ) .

2 . Upo n i n f o r ma t i o n a n d be l i e f , D e f e n da n t J e r r y L. Sw if t i s a c i t i z e n o f Be l l a i r e ,

Be l mo n t Coun ty , Ohi o . Thi s Defe ndan t i s a c i t i z e n o f Oh i o w i t h i n t h e me a n i n g o f 28 U. S .C .

133 2 (c ) .

3 . Up on i n f o r m a t io n a n d b el i e f , Def e n d an t Vi c k i e L. Bak e r i s a c i t i z e n o f G r e env i l l e ,

Da r k e Co un t y, Ohi o . Thi s Def e n da n t i s a c i t i z e n o f Oh i o w it h i n t h e me an i n g o f 28 U.S . C.

133 2 (c ) .

Case 5:13-cv-00086-FPS Document 1 Filed 07/08/13 Page 1 of 6 PageID #: 1

5:13-cv-86 (Stamp)

Electronically Filed July 8, 2013


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4. Upon i n f or m a ti o n a n d b el i e f , D ef e n da n t M ich ae l E . S wi f t s a c i t i z e n o f r e e n v il l e ,

B e ll a i r e , Da rke Coun t y , O h i o . T his D ef e n da n t s a c i t i z e n o f O hi o w i t h i n t h e me a n i n g of 2 8 U . S . C.

3 32 ( c) .

5 . Upon i n f o r m a ti o n a n d be l i e f , De f e nd an t Brya nt R. Swif t i s a c i t i z e n of G l en d al e ,

Ma r s h al l Coun ty, We s t Vi r gi n i a . T h i s Def e n dan t s a c i t i z e n of We s t V i rg i ni a w it h i n t h e me an i n g

of 2 8 U.S .C . 13 3 2( c ) .

6 . T hi s C ou r t ha s j u r i s d i c t i o n u nder 28 U . S . C. 1 33 2 , a s t h e r e i s c ompl e t e d i v e r s i t y

be t w e e n C om bi n e d , o n t h e o n e ha nd, a n d D e f e n dant s o n t h e o t he r h an d, and t he a mou n t i n

c o n t r o v e r sy e x c e e ds t h e su m or v a l ue o f 7 5, 0 0 0 . 0 0 , xc l u s i v e of nt e r e s t a n d c o s ts .

7. Ve n u e i s p r o p er i n t h i s C ou r t un de r 2 8 U.S . C . 1 39 7 , a s o ne o r mor e of t h e

c l a i ma n t s r e s i d e i n t h i s di s t ri c t.

AL L EG A TI ON S

8 . On r abou t S e p t e m b e r 25 , 1987 , J o a n S w if t ( d e cede n t ) a pp l i e d f o r a n A meri c a n

Ag e n c y Li f e I n s ur a n ce Comp any " A m er i c a n Age n c y " ) l e x i b l e p r e m i u m a d j us t a b l e l i f e i n s ur a n c e

p o l i c y . O n t he App l i c a t i o n f o r Li f e I n s ur a nc e ( " Ap p l i c a t i o n" ) , J oa n Sw i f t d e s i gna t e d a s he r

p r ima r y b e ne f i c i a r y : " E d w i n L . S w i f t , Hus b an d . " At t h e t i m e o f Ap p l i c at i o n , Ed wi n L . S w i ft w a s

t h e h u s b and o f J o an S wi f t . L i k e w i s e , J oa n S w if t i n it ia l l y d e s i gn a t e d "D i v i ded E q u al l y a mo n g " s

h e r c o n t i ng e n t be n e f i c i a r y . A a t i f i c at i o n of Ch a n g e w as m a de t o t h e P ol i c y t o d es i g n a t e t h e

Cont ing e nt Be n e f i c i a r y a s c h ange d t o r e a d "Div id e d E qu a l l y Am o ng ur v i v i n g C hi l d r e n. " J oan

S w i f t s i g n ed t h e A p p li c a t i on v e ri f y i n g t h e i n f or ma t i o n c on t a i n e d w i t hi n . S e e , A ppl i c a t i o n f o r L if e

I n s u r a n c e a t t a ch e d h er e t o a s " E x h i b i t A " r e d ac t e d w h e r e n e ce ss a r y ) .

9. O n O ct ober 27, 1 987, Pl a i n t i f f i s s ue d a f l e x i b l e p r e m i u m a d j u s t a bl e l i fe i n s u r a n c e

p ol i c y , P ol i c y Number N0 405 5 067 " P o li c y " ) o n t h e l i fe of J oa n S w if t w i t h Ed wi n L . w i f t , n a me d

a s t h e p r i mary b e n e fi c i a r y and he r s u r v i v i n g c hi l d r e n " d i v i de d e qu al l y " a s c o n t i n g e n t b e n ef i c i a r i e s

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( J e r r y S w i f t , V i c k i e Baker, Michae l S w i f t and Bryan t S w i f t , a . k . a . t h e D e f e n d a n t s ) . Th e f a c e

a m o u n t of h e P o l i c y wa s $ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 . 0 0 a n d t h e P o l i c y wa s s e t t o e x p i r e on Octobe r 2 7 , 2 0 2 3 . S e e ,

P o l i c y a t t a c h e d h e r e t o a s " E x h i b i t B" r e d a c t e d w h e r e n e c e s s a r y ) .

1 0 . A m e r i c a n A g e n c y wa s a s u b s i d i a r y of Th e L i f e I n s u r a n c e C o m p a n y of V i r g i n i a

w h e n t h e P o l i c y wa s i s s u e d a n d a l l paperwork r e c e i v e d a t t h a t t ime r e f l e c t e d t h e A m e r i c a n A g e n c y

n a m e . I n D e c e m b e r 1 9 8 7 , G l o b e L i f e I n s u r a n c e C o m p a n y, a n a f f i l i a t e o f A m e r i c a n A g e n c y,

assumed a l l of A m e r i c a n Agency ' s o b l i g a t i o n s unde r t h e P o l i c y . G l o b e wa s l a t e r m e rg e d i n t o

C o m b i n e d I n s u r a n c e C o m p a n y of Amer ica . Dur ing b o t h of t h e s e t r a n s i t i o n s , t h e s e r v i c i n g of l l

p o l i c i e s r ema ined a t Th e L i f e I n s u r a n c e C o m p a n y of i r g i n i a . I n 1996 , Genera l E l e c t r i c p u r c h a s e d

Th e L i f e I n s u r a n c e C o m p a n y of V i r g i n i a , a n d t h e c o m p a n y c h a n g e d i t s n a m e t o Genera l E l e c t r i c

L i f e a n d Annu i ty Assurance C o m p a n y ( " G E L A A C " ) . I n J a n u a r y 2 0 0 6 , GELAAC c h a n g e d i t s

n a m e t o G e n w o r t h L i f e a n d Annu i ty I n s u r a n c e C o m p a n y ("Genworth"). Th e P o l i c y a t i s s u e i s a

C o m b i n e d I n s u r a n c e C o m p a n y of A m e r i c a p o l i c y , w h i c h i s s e r v i c e d b y Genwor th ' s cus tomer

s e r v i c e c e n t e r .

1 1 . Th e i n s u r e d , Joan S w i f t , d i e d on Sep tember 27 , 2 0 0 9 , w i t h i n t h e t e rm of h e P o l i c y ,

a n d t h e l i f e i n s u r a n c e p r o c e e d s of t h e P o l i c y b e c a m e d ue a n d p a y a b l e . See , C e r t i f i c a t e of D e a t h

a t t a c h e d h e r e t o a s " E x h i b i t C" r e d a c t e d w h e r e n e c e s s a r y ) .

1 2 . E d w i n L. w i f t , t h e o r i g i n a l pr imary b e n e f i c i a r y of h e P o l i c y , p r e d e c e a s e d h i s w i f e .

1 3 . C o m b i n e d w a s n o t i f i e d of h e d e a t h of Joan S w i f t on o r abou t Oc tobe r 6 , 2 0 0 9 , b y

h e r son, Defendan t Bryan t S w i f t .

1 4 . On Octobe r 1 4 , 2 0 0 9 , C o m b i n e d forwarded t o Defendan t B r y a n t S w i f t , a n

a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t of M s . S w i f t ' s d e a t h , a r e q u e s t f o r a "Cla imant ' s S t a t e m e n t " , a r e q u e s t f o r a n

o r i g i n a l d e a t h c e r t i f i c a t e a n d a r e q u e s t f o r t h e complete o r i g i n a l p o l i c y . S e e , e t t e r a t t a c h e d h e r e t o

a s " E x h i b i t D. "

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1 5. Defe nda n t B r y a n t Sw i f t was c oo pe r a t i v e i n p r o v i d i n g t he i n it i a l l y r e q u es t e d

do c u m e n t a t i o n , b u t was u n s uc c e s s f u l i n o b t a i n i n g t h e n e c e s sa r y e n d o r s e m en t s o f t h e r e m a i n i ng

D e f e n d a n t s Jo a n S wi f t ' s o t h e r s u r vi v i n g c hi l d r e n ) o n a n e c es s a r y S ur v i v i n g Ch i l d r e n ' s S t a t e m e n t.

1 6 . P l ai n t i f f u n suc c e s s f u l l y s o u g h t t h e c o o p er a t i o n o f t h e a d d i t i o n al De f e n d a n t s J e r r y

Sw i f t , Vi c k i e Ba ke r a n d M ic h a e l S wi f t , s o t h a t t h e Po l i c y p r o ce e d s c o u l d b e p ai d ou t , a l o ng wi t h

a n y l e g a l l y a c c r u e d i n t e r e s t , a nd t h e ma t t e r c ou l d b e a m i c a bl y r e s o l v e d , b u t t h a t c o o pe r a t i on was

no t f o r t h c om i ng .

1 7 . On No ve m b er 3 0 , 20 1 2 , Pl a i n t i f f c o nt a c t e d D efe n da n t B r y a n t S w if t b y l e t t e r

( i m p r o p e r l y s pe l l e d a s Br i a n ) a nd a d v i s e d t h a t " i t a p p ea r s we p l a i n t i f f ] w i l l n o t b e r e c e i v i n g t h e

r e q u e st e d s i g n e d s u r v i v i n g c hi l d r e n' s s t a t e m e n ts . . . . " Li kewi s e , n t h e sa m e e t te r, Pl a i n t i f f a d v i s e d

D ef e n d a n t B r y an t Sw if t " t h a t t h e r e may b e a d i s pu t e a mo n g t h e c hi l d r e n o v er e nt i t l e me n t t o t h e

p r o c ee d s . " S e e , e t t e r a t t a c h ed h e r e t o a s " E x h i b i t E ."

18 . T o da t e , a n d i n s p i t e o f e q u es t i n g t h e s a m e , l a i n t i f f h as o n ly r e c e i v e d a c o mp l e t e d

S ur v i v i n g Ch i l d r e n ' s S t a t e m e nt f r o m De fe n d a nt Br y a n t S w if t . See , t t a c h e d "E xh i b i t F ."

1 9 . As a r e s u l t o f t h e c o nf l i c t i n g c l a i m s t o t h e p r o c e ed s o f t h e Po l i c y , Pl a i n t i f f c a n n o t

d e t e r m i ne a n a p p ro p r i a t e d i s t r i b u t i on o f t h e Po l i c y p r oc e e d s w it h o u t e xp o s i n g i t s e l f t o p o t e nt i a l

m u lt i p l e l i a b i l i ti e s . P l a i n t i f f does no t k now whi c h o f h e D ef e n d a n t s t may a f e l y p a y t h e p r o c e e ds

o f h e a b o v e - m e nt i o n e d P o l i c y w i t h o u t c o n c e r n o f e c o u r s e f r o m t h e r e m a i n i n g D ef e n d an t s .

20 . P la i n t i f f h a s n o i t l e ,c l a i m or i n t e r e s t i n t h e P o l i c y p r o c e e d s a n d i s r e a d y a n d w i l l i n g

t o d ep o si t t h e l u m p su m o f he P o l i c y p r o c e ed s , p l u s a n y l e g a l l y a c c r u e d i n t e r e s t , i n t o t h e Re g i s t r y

o f h e C o u rt .

2 1. Fo r t h e f o r e g o i n g r e a s o n s , Pl a i n t i f f wishes t o i n t e r p l e a d t h e l u m p su m o f h e P ol i c y

p r o c ee ds d u e u n de r Po l i c y Numb er N0 4 0 5 5 0 67 , l u s a n y l e g a l l y a c c r u e d i n t e r e s t , w it h t h e Cl e r k o f

t h i s C ou r t , s a i d su m o a b i d e t h e f u r t h e r o r d e r o f h i s C o ur t .

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2 2 . P la i n t i f f r e s p e ct f u l l y r e q ue st s t h i s C our t d e t e r m i n e a n d d ec l a r e wh o i s t he p r o pe r

p a r t y or pa r t i e s t o r e c ei v e t h e b en e fi t s o f h e Po l i c y p r o c e e d s i n q u e st i o n an d ma ke a d et e r mi n a t i o n

a s t o h o w h e Po l i c y p ro c e e d s s h oul d b e d i s t r i b ut e d .

WH ER EF O RE , l a i n t i f f , C om bi n e d , r e s p ec t f u l l y p r a y s t h a t t h i s C ou r t g ra nt r e l i e f a s

f ol l o ws :

A. T hi s Co ur t ap p r o v e Pl a i n t i f f ' s de p os i t o f dm it t e d l i a b i l i t y i n t h e f o r m o f he Po l i c y

pr o c ee d s i n t h e su m o f One Hu nd r e d T ho u s a n d Dol l a r s ( $ 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 .0 0 ) , pl u s an y l e g al l y a c c r ue d

i n t e r e s t ( i n a n a mo u n t t o b e de t e r m in e d) , w i t h t h e C le r k o f hi s C o u rt , s a i d s u m o a bi d e t he f ur t h e r

Or d e r o f h i s Cou r t ;

B. Th at De f e n d a n t s e a c h be t e mpo r a r i l y e n jo i n e d du r i ng t h e p e n d e n c y o f h i s s u i t , a n d

t h e r e af t e r p e r man e n t l y an d p e r pe t u a l l y e nj o i n ed , f r o m c o mme n c i n g a n y pr o ce ed i ng o r p r o se c u t i n g

an y c l a i m a g a i n st P l ai n t i f f a nd / o r i t s a ge nt s i n a n y s t a t e or f e de r a l c o ur t o r o t h er fo r u m , w it h r e s p ec t

t o t he P o li c y , an d t h a t s a i d i n j un c t i on b e i s s ue d w it h o ut b o n d o r s u r et y ;

C. T h a t t h e D ef e n d a n t s i n t e r p l e ad t o ge t h er a n d am on g t h e ms e l ve s c on c er n i ng t h ei r

r e s pe c t i ve c l a i m s t o t h e l i f e i ns u ra n c e pr o c ee d s;

D. T h a t h i s Cou r t e nt e r an O r d e r de c l a r i n g t h e r i g h t s o f h e p a rt i e s t o t he s ub j e c t P o li c y

p r o c e ed s an d di r e c t i n g t h e Cour t Re g i s t r a r a s t o w hom o di s b ur s e t h e Pol i c y p r o ce e ds ;

E. T ha t h i s Cour t e n t e r a n O r d e r d i s mi s s i ng P l ai n t i f f f r o m t h i s c a se , w it h p r e j u d ic e , a n d

d i s c h a rg i n g P l a i nt i f f a nd/ o r i t s a g e nt s f r o m an y an d a l l l i ab i l i t y i n r e l a t i o n t o P ol i c y Nu mb e r

N04 0 550 6 7 a n d t h e s u bj e c t o f hi s C om pl a i n t ; an d

G. Th a t hi s C o u rt , i n i t s di s c r e t i o n a n d t o t h e e x t ent al l o w e d b y l a w , awar d P la i n t i f f a l l

o f t s c os t s a n d e x p e n s e , n cl u d i n g b u t n ot l i mi t e d t o a t t o r n eys ' f e e s i n c u r r ed i n c on ne ct i o n w it h t h i s

a ct i o n, an d a n y s uc h o t h er an d f u r t h e r r e l i e f a s t h i s Co u r t d e e ms a p pr o p r i a t e .

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COMBINED INSURANCE COMPANY OF

AMERICA

By: SPILMAN THOMAS & ATTLE, LLC

/ s / Glen A. MurphyGlen A. Murphy, squire (WV ar #5587)

Andrew S . Dornbos , squire (WV ar # 1 124)300 K a n a w h a Blvd. Eas tPos t f f i c e Bo x 273C h a r l e s t o n , We s t i r g i n i a 25321-0273

(304) 40-3800 Telephone(304) 40-3801 F a c s i m i l egmurphys@sp i lman law.comadornbos@sp iman law.com

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