Metropolitan Life Insurance v. Johnson

SHEPARD, Justice.

The sole issue on this appeal is the existence of a valid common law marriage between appellant Lenore Jensen Johnson and the decedent, Lyle E. Johnson. The appeal is from a judgment in an interpleader action distributing the proceeds of a life insurance policy. The trial court held that appellant was not the common law wife of the decedent and awarded the proceeds of the life insurance policy to the decedent’s children, the respondents here. We reverse.

Lyle E. Johnson was covered by a policy of insurance on his life written by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, and upon…