Primerica Life Insurance Company v. Phillips et al

Filing 15

ORDER granting pltf's request to be allowed to deposit proceeds of the life insurance policy, $188,000 into the registry of the Court. Signed by Chief Judge J. Leon Holmes on 2/22/12. (vjt)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
WESTERN DIVISION
PRIMERICA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
v.

PLAINTIFF

NO. 4:11CV00799 JLH

ALDAY S. PHILLIPS; KORWYN A. MILLER;
KEYLON K. PHILLIPS; ALFREDRICK PHILLIPS, JR.;
DOMINIQUE WATSON, as mother and natural
guardian of Cacedrick J. Phillips, a minor, on behalf
of Cacedrick J. Phillips; MELISSA GRIMES, as
mother and natural guardian of Chanel Phillips,
a minor, on behalf of Chanel Phillips; and
FORD ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION

DEFENDANTS

ORDER
This is an interpleader action brought by Primerica Life Insurance Company pursuant to
28 U.S.C. § 1335 and § 1397. All of the defendants have been served with summons and complaint.
All of the defendants have answered except for two, and the time for answering has run as to those
two defendants. The following facts are alleged in the complaint and admitted in the answers.
Primerica Life Insurance Company issued a policy of life insurance on the life of Alfredrick
Phillips, Sr., in the amount of $125,000, with an increasing benefit rider of $63,000, for a total
amount of $188,000. On July 29, 2011, Alfredrick Phillips, Sr., was found dead at his home. The
death certificate reflects that he died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds. Law enforcement
officials have concluded that the death was a homicide. Alfredrick Phillips, Sr., died unmarried.
He is survived by six children: Alday S. Phillips; Korwyn A. Miller; Keylon K. Phillips; Alfredrick
Phillips, Jr.; Cacedrick J. Phillips; and Chanel Phillips. Alfredrick Phillips, Sr., listed the six
children as equal beneficiaries of the life insurance policy mentioned above. Law enforcement
officials have advised that one or more of Alfredrick Phillips, Sr.’s children are believed to be

involved in the death but have declined to identify which child or children are the subject of the
investigation. Primerica Life Insurance Company named Ford Acceptance Corporation as a
defendant because Alday S. Phillips, Korwyn A. Miller, and Keylon K. Phillips assigned Ford
Acceptance Corporation a portion of their benefits to pay for the funeral of Alfredrick Phillips, Sr.
Under Arkansas law, one who wrongfully kills another is not permitted to profit from the
crime. Middleton v. Lockhart, 344 Ark. 572, 583, 43 S.W.3d 113, 121 (2001); Luecke v. Mercantile
Bank of Jonesboro, 286 Ark. 304, 307-08, 691 S.W.2d 843, 846 (1985). Because it has not been
determined who killed Alfredrick Phillips, Sr., Primerica Life Insurance Company cannot ascertain
which, if any, of the beneficiaries of Alfredrick Phillips, Sr., may be ineligible to receive proceeds
from the policy.
Primerica Life Insurance Company therefore has requested that it be allowed to interplead
the life insurance benefits into the registry of the Court and be discharged from the action. Ford
Acceptance Corporation, Melissa Grimes, as mother and natural guardian of Chanel Phillips,
Korwyn A. Miller, Alday S. Phillips, and Alfredrick Phillips, Jr., have answered. Each answer
admits the allegations in the complaint. Dominique Watson, as mother and natural guardian of
Cacedrick J. Phillips, a minor, was personally served on December 7, 2011; and Keylon K. Phillips
was served in person on January 24, 2012. The time for filing an answer for these two defendants
has expired.
The request for Primerica Life Insurance Company to be allowed to deposit the proceeds of
the life insurance policy into the registry of the Court is granted. Primerica Life Insurance Company
may deposit the sum of $188,000 into the registry of the Court. The Clerk is directed to accept that
sum from Primerica Life Insurance Company and to deposit that sum in an interest-bearing account
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pending further orders of the Court. After making the deposit, Primerica Life Insurance Company
may file a motion to be dismissed from the action. Thereupon, the Clerk will issue an initial
scheduling order pursuant to Local Rule 16.1.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 22nd day of February, 2012.

J. LEON HOLMES
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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