Cox v. Henderson

In this declaratory judgment action, the trial court established a constructive trust in favor of plaintiff for the proceeds of a life insurance policy insuring the life of Ralph Sands, deceased, and also declared that two certificates of deposit are assets of Sands’ estate. Defendants1 appeal and argue that the insurance proceeds and deposits belong to Iver Sands, the deceased’s brother. We affirm as to the life insurance proceeds and reverse as to the deposits.

Sands and his wife Ruth were ranchers for many years near Wilbur, Oregon. Ruth died in 1978. Plaintiff Cox had been their friend and…