Gurnack v. John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance

William Gurnack, the plaintiff’s decedent, died on September 7, 1978, at his summer home in Becket as a result of a drug overdose. At the time of his death, Gurnack, a physician and an employee of the defendant (Hancock), was covered under two group life insurance policies issued by Hancock, providing accidental death benefits totaling $230,000. Hancock served as administrator of these employee benefit plans, which were regulated under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), 29 U.S.C. §§ 1001 et seq. (1982). American Home Assurance Company (American Home) was a reinsurer…