Estate of Bingham v. Nationwide Life Ins. Co.

Woleslagel, J.:

Defendant Nationwide Life Insurance Company appeals from a grant of summary judgment to the plaintiffs-appellees on their claim for death benefits under a group life insurance contract paid for by Clifford E. Bingham’s employer. Plaintiffs, the Binghams, are the named beneficiaries under the policy. Nationwide also appeals from the allowance of attorney fees pursuant to K.S.A. 40-256 upon a finding that it had “refused without just cause or excuse to pay the full amount” of benefits provided by the policy.

The estate of Clifford E. Bingham originally was one of the plaintiffs,…