Rice v. Life Insurance Co. of North America

Appeal is taken from the trial court's finding that respondents properly paid accidental death insurance proceeds to one Deborah A. Chrabot, not a party to this lawsuit, instead of the prior named beneficiaries, the appellants herein. We affirm.

In 1973, Cary Howard Rice, decedent, requested voluntary accidental death and dismemberment policy benefits with respondents under a group policy available through his employer Dean Witter & Co., Inc. Decedent chose the employee and spouse plan, $10,000 coverage, and named Lynell Rice, his spouse, as beneficiary.

Under the terms of the master policy,…