Stone v. SOUTHLAND NAT. INS. CORP.

Southland National Insurance Corporation ("Southland") filed an interpleader action, Rule 22, A.R.Civ.P., naming as defendants Margarette D. Stone and James R. Smith. Southland deposited $50,000 with the trial court, which represented the proceeds from a Southland insurance policy on the life of Judie Smith, James Smith's wife. Ms. Stone, Judie's mother, filed a counterclaim against Southland, alleging, among other things, bad faith refusal to pay a claim, wantonness, and fraud in relation to its handling of the proceeds from the life insurance policy. The trial court awarded the interpleaded…