Estate of Bydalek Ex Rel. Bydalek v. Metropolitan Life Insurance

The issues on appeal concern the distribution of the remaining proceeds of a personal injury structured settlement negotiated on behalf of the deceased, Steven Michael Bydalek, while he was under a guardianship as an incompetent. On the application for the annuity contract which funded the settlement, Steven's personal injury attorney designated Frank and Katherine Bydalek, Steven's parents and his guardians, as beneficiaries of the annuity payments in the event of Steven's death. In this declaratory judgment action brought by Steven's estate, the circuit court ruled that neither the attorney…