Insurance and Finance Update - Friday, November 21, 2008 15:37 - 0 Comments

High Profile Lawsuit filed on Life Insurance Claim

A lawsuit has been filed against the Minnesota-based ReliaStar Life Insurance Co. over a $10 million life insurance policy. The policy insured the life of film actor Health Ledger. The company has not paid the proceeds since the actor’s death earlier this year. The suit alleges the company is trying to avoid paying the claim to Matilda Rose, Ledger’s two-year-old daughter. The lawsuit doesn’t mention Heath Ledger by name, nor does it list his daughter’s name. But, it states that the suit is on behalf of a man who died of “accidental causes on January 22, 2008.” That is the date the 28-year-old actor was found dead of an apparent accidental prescription drug overdose in New York City.

ReliaStar claims it is seeking more information about whether Ledger may have lied on his application for the insurance policy. The company is also investigating whether the actor’s death may have been a suicide. The lawsuit claims ReliaStar had an obligation to investigate any statements Ledger made in his application while the actor was still alive. The lawsuit was removed from Los Angeles Superior Court to federal court. It should be noted that ING Americas owns ReliaStar.

Source: Newsday