Principal Life Insurance Company v. Benson et al

Filing 34

ORDER Directing OSBI to produce investigative records regarding the death of Summer Benson for in camera review within 30 days. Signed by Honorable Timothy D. DeGiusti on 2/21/2017. (mb)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF OKLAHOMA
PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE, CO., )
)
Plaintiff,
)
)
v.
)
)
GRADY B. BENSON, in his individual )
capacity, CHILD A, a minor, CHILD B, )
a minor, and THE ESTATE OF
)
SUMMER BENSON,
)
)
Defendants.
)

Case No. CIV-16-474-D

ORDER
Before the Court is Defendant Grady B. Benson’s Motion for Summary Judgment
[Doc. No. 28], wherein Mr. Benson requests the Court to rule as a matter of law that he is
entitled to life insurance proceeds currently deposited with the Court, and accordingly, to
order such proceeds distributed to him.

Upon consideration of the Motion, oral

arguments,1 and the case record, the Court finds that additional information is necessary
before a final determination on the Motion can be made. The Court further finds that
certain information likely can be obtained from the Oklahoma State Bureau of
Investigation’s (“OSBI”) records regarding the death of Summer Benson, and that an in
camera examination of the records is sufficient for the Court’s immediate purposes. See
OKLA. STAT. tit. 74, § 150.5(D) (recognizing all records relating to an OSBI investigation
are confidential and not open to the public); State ex rel. Hicks v. Thompson, 851 P.2d
1077 (Okla. 1993).

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On February 6, 2017, the Court held a hearing on the Motion wherein the matter was taken under
advisement. See Minute Entry [Doc. No. 32].

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the OSBI shall produce to the chambers of

the undersigned judge within 30 days from the date of receipt of this Order, the
investigation records concerning the death of Summer Benson. Accordingly, the Clerk of
Court is directed to send a copy of this Order to the OSBI Headquaters, 6600 North
Harvey, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73116, c/o: Jimmy Bunn, Jr., Chief Legal Counsel.
IT IS SO ORDERED this 21st day of February, 2017.

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