State Farm Life Insurance Co v. Beaston

in which GONZALEZ, HECHT, CORNYN, and ENOCH, Justices, join. PHILLIPS, Chief Justice, and SPECTOR, Justice, join in Parts III, IV, and V.

We are called upon to interpret the terms of a life insurance policy and to decide whether a plaintiff can recover mental anguish damages from an insurance company for a violation of Article 21.21 of the Texas Insurance Code absent a finding that the defendant acted knowingly. Because we hold that the plaintiff is not entitled to benefits under her husband’s policy and that a finding of knowing conduct is required to recover mental anguish damages under…