Queen v. Vermont Mutual Insurance

Between the date Frank and Bernadette Queen (the Queens) renewed their comprehensive dwelling policy on a house they owned in Burlington and the date that house was damaged by fire, the Queens transferred the house to a trust of which their son, Michael J. Queen (Michael), was the trustee and of which family members were primary and secondary beneficiaries. Vermont Mutual Insurance Company (Vermont), the insurer, declined to honor a claim under the policy on the ground that the named insured, the Queens, having parted with title, no longer had an insurable interest in the property.

A judge of…