Ex Parte Estelle

Kimberly Estelle, the daughter of John Estelle, deceased, sued John's landlord, Ruthie Lee Cunningham, alleging fraud and undue influence, claiming that Ruthie had induced John to change the beneficiary on his life-insurance policies from Kimberly to Ruthie. The trial court entered a summary judgment in favor of Ruthie on the ground that a former beneficiary has no standing to sue the new beneficiary based on an allegation of undue influence. We reverse.

Facts and Procedural History

For the last 17 years of his life, John lived in a boarding house owned and operated by Ruthie. In addition to…