New England Life Insurance Company v. Doeer

Background

New England Life Insurance Company filed an interpleader action to resolve competing claims to life-insurance proceeds payable after the death of Gene Haynes. The opinion states that the policy’s death benefit was $163,958.65. New England Life asserted that it had no ownership interest in the benefit, acknowledged that the benefit was owed, and could not determine the proper payee without potentially facing multiple liability.

The opinion states that David Doerr claimed the death benefit, while Leslie Dubeau and Stacy Archer, individually and as executrix of Haynes’s estate, asserted competing claims. It also states that the defendants were citizens of New York and West Virginia, and that the amount exceeded the statutory interpleader minimum of $500.

Motion

New England Life moved for permission to deposit the death benefit into the court’s registry under 28 U.S.C. § 1335(a)(2) and Rules 22 and 67 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. The interpleader statute requires, among other things, that the disputed funds be deposited with the court or that an appropriate bond be provided. Rule 67 allows a party, with court permission and notice to the other parties, to deposit money with the court when the case seeks a money judgment or disposition of money.

Ruling

The court denied New England Life’s motion for interpleader deposit of proceeds without prejudice to renewal once the defendants appear. The court also directed the Clerk of Court to terminate the pending motion sequence at Doc. 11. The opinion does not determine which claimant is entitled to the death benefit. The order was signed by Judge Philip M. Halpern.