The Prudential Insurance Company of America v. Mary Beth Kamrath, Sharri Kamrath Rocca, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Bradley G. Kamrath

BOWMAN, Circuit Judge.

Following a bench trial, the District Court 1 held that Mary Beth Kamrath is entitled to the proceeds because she is the named beneficiary on the policy. The District Court found that Bradley Kamrath’s efforts to change the policy beneficiary did not meet the requirements for application of the substantial-compliance doctrine. We affirm the judgment of the District Court.

On August 1, 1989, Prudential issued Bradley Kamrath a group life insurance policy that insured his life in the amount of $500,000.00. This policy designated Bradley’s wife, Mary Beth, as the primary…