Metropolitan Life Insurance v. Heaver

LILES, Judge.

Stanislaw Knapowski (the insured) took out a $50,000 life policy on his life issued by appellant (the insurer). Ap-pellee was a beneficiary under this policy. The insured tried to substitute his mother as beneficiary, but Metropolitan told him this was not advisable as his mother lived in Poland, and it would be difficult to get money to someone behind the Iron Curtain. The insured died in an auto accident, thereby invoking the double indemnity clause of his policy. The insured’s mother made an appearance through counsel hired by the Polish government, and the case went to trial…