LeTran Tran v. Minnesota Life Insurance Comp

Brennan, Circuit Judge.

Linno Llenos died engaging in an act known as autoerotic asphyxiation. His widow and beneficiary, LeTran Tran, filed a claim with Minnesota Life Insurance Company, seeking the proceeds from Llenos's ERISA-governed life insurance policies. Minnesota Life paid most of her claims but denied coverage under Llenos's Accidental Death & Dismemberment policy riders. Minnesota Life determined Llenos's death was not accidental and fell under a policy exclusion for deaths resulting from "intentionally self-inflicted injury." The district court reversed, ruling that Llenos's death…