PHILADELPHIA – An estate representative of a minor child alleges that an insurer and life insurance plan have wrongfully denied the payment of life insurance policy proceeds.
Cassandra Baker as legal guardian of the estate of minor Zoey Arianna Brown, filed a complaint on Aug. 2 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. and Lowes Cos. Inc. citing the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
According to the complaint, Sherell D. Baker purchased a life insurance policy and that the defendants refused to pay the policy proceeds to her daughter and beneficiary, Brown, after Baker's death. The defendants allege that Baker never submitted a statement of health, but the plaintiff claims the defendants never informed Baker that the statement was a requirement. The plaintiff alleges Baker was given the impression that she satisfied all conditions because the defendants accepted her payments.
The plaintiff seeks monetary relief in the amount of $257,000, surcharge, interest, court costs and any further relief the court grants. She is represented by George Bonchetto and Jeffrey W. Ogren of Bochetto & Lentz PC in Philadelphia.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania case number 2:17-cv-03466-JHS