State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company v. Goecks, Jeffrey et al
Filing
55
OPINION AND ORDER: Jeffrey Goecks is entitled to the full proceeds from the State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company and Prudential Insurance Company of America policies at issue in this case. Signed by District Judge William M. Conley on 6/29/16. Associated Cases: 3:14-cv-00885-wmc, 3:15-cv-00011-wmc (jat)
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF WISCONSIN
STATE FARM LIFE AND ACCIDENT
ASSURANCE COMPANY,
v.
OPINION AND ORDER
Plaintiff,
14-cv-885-wmc
JEFFREY S. GOECKS and DONNA GOECKS,
Defendants.
OPINION AND ORDER
THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE
COMPANY OF AMERICA,
v.
Plaintiff,
15-cv-11-wmc
JEFFREY S. GOECKS and DONNA
GOECKS,
Defendants.
This case involves a dispute about four life insurance policies insuring the life of Gary
Goecks.
State Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company and Prudential Insurance
Company of America initiated the case as an interpleader action, naming as defendants
Donna Goecks (Gary’s surviving wife) and Jeffrey Goecks (Gary’s surviving son from his first
wife). At the time of Gary’s death, Donna was the named beneficiary under each of the
policies, although Jeffrey claimed he was entitled to all of the policy proceeds based on a
provision in the divorce judgment between Gary and Jeffrey’s mother.
On April 28, 2016, this court concluded that Donna was entitled to proceeds from a
Met Life policy, which was governed by ERISA and, therefore, preempted the divorce
1
judgment.1
With respect to the Prudential and State Farm policies, however, the court
concluded that Gary violated the divorce decree by changing the beneficiary from his sons,
Jeffrey and Christopher, to Donna. Thus, Donna was not entitled to anything under those
policies, while Jeffrey was entitled to at least some of the policies’ proceeds.
Neither side had addressed, however, what should happen to Christopher’s share,
whose survivors’ interest, if any, was not then represented in this lawsuit.
The divorce
judgment did not say what should happen if one of the sons predeceased Gary; neither side
had submitted the policies themselves for the court’s review; and neither side had attempted
to address the issue in terms of Wisconsin insurance, inheritance or contract law. The court,
therefore, directed the parties to address how Christopher’s death affected the mandates of
the divorce judgment, as well as whether Christopher’s estate or heirs had been notified of
the lawsuit and whether they should be made parties.
Counsel for Donna Goecks responded that she did not wish to participate further in
the case, but that the surviving minor children of Christopher Goecks wished to intervene as
parties in the lawsuit.
(Dkt. #47.)
The minor children subsequently filed a motion to
intervene (dkt. #51), which was granted. For his part, Jeffrey Goecks responded that under
the language of the Prudential and State Farm policies, benefits are payable only to named
beneficiaries that are living at the time of the insured’s death. Accordingly, Jeffrey maintained
that Christopher’s children had no claim on the proceeds from those policies. (Dkt. #48.)
The court directed counsel for the intervenors to respond to Jeffrey’s arguments by
June 10, 2016. Counsel has now filed a letter stating: “After reviewing the remaining life
1
Met Life is not a party to this action.
2
insurance policies at stake” in this matter, counsel and the intervenors agree that “there is no
basis in law, in fact, or in extension of the law to argue the children of Christopher Goecks
are entitled to a portion of the policies. Accordingly, the children of Christopher Goecks will
not put forth any submission or make any claim to the proceeds at issue.” (Dkt. #54.)
After reviewing the language of both policies, the court agrees that:
(1) the
intervenors have no claim to the proceeds of the Prudential and State Farm policies; and (2)
Jeffrey Goecks is entitled to the full amount of the insurance proceeds under these policies.
Accordingly, the clerk of court will be directed to disburse the proceeds currently held by the
court to Jeffrey Goecks and close this case.
ORDER
IT IS ORDERED that Jeffrey Goecks is entitled to the full proceeds from the State
Farm Life and Accident Assurance Company and Prudential Insurance Company of America
policies at issue in this case. The clerk of court is directed to distribute the proceeds from
those policies that were previously deposited with the court to Jeffrey Goecks and close this
case.
Entered this 29th day of June, 2016.
BY THE COURT:
/s/
________________________________________
WILLIAM M. CONLEY
District Judge
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