Zanca v. Life Insurance Co. of North America

|, BAGNERIS, Judge.

This controversy arises out of an action by Gwen Zanca, the mother of the deceased Todd Zanca, Exide Corporation (“Exide”) and the Life Insurance Company of North America (“LICNA”), defendants, for the proceeds of an accidental death policy. Exide and LICNA paid and processed Todd Zanca’s life insurance benefits but refused to pay the accidental death benefits arguing that Mr. Zanca’s death was a suicide which precluded payments of benefits.

FACTS

On the evening of January 27, 1997, Todd Zanca went out with some friends to a bar in Chalmette, Louisiana. Shortly, before…