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Florida Court Awards $1.08 Million to Child in Life Insurance Dispute

This article details a landmark legal victory where O.H.M., the surviving child of an insured, secured $1.08 million plus interest in a life insurance dispute. Learn how interpleader law was pivotal in this Florida federal court case, defeating an invalid beneficiary change.

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Table of Contents

  • Case Overview

  • Legal Background

  • Key Ruling Details

  • Importance of Interpleader Law

  • Frequently Asked Questions


Case Overview

O.H.M., a minor and the surviving child of the insured, was awarded $1.08 million plus interest in life insurance proceeds after a disputed beneficiary change request. The case, decided in the Middle District of Florida, upheld the insurer’s rejection of the change, ensuring the child’s rightful claim.


Case Details

  • Author: Michael J. Hoover

  • Date: December 16, 2021

  • Court: Middle District of Florida

  • Case: American General Life Insurance Company v. O.H.M. a/k/a O.H.S., a Minor, et al., Case No. 8:20-cv-01581-WFJ-CPT

  • Summary: Following the insured’s death, a beneficiary change request to add the insured’s wife was rejected by American General Life Insurance Company. Represented by Michael J. Hoover and local counsel Joel Ewusiak of Ewusiak Law in Tampa, O.H.M., the surviving child, secured the full $1.08 million death benefit plus interest. The court upheld the insurer’s discretion to deny invalid requests. The case is currently under appeal in the Eleventh Circuit.



Legal Background

The case relied on interpleader law, which allowed American General Life Insurance Company to deposit the disputed $1.08 million with the court for a neutral resolution. Michael J. Hoover and Joel Ewusiak’s legal strategy defended the insurer’s rejection of the beneficiary change, leveraging ERISA and policy terms to protect O.H.M.’s rights as the rightful beneficiary.


Key Ruling Details

Judge William F. Jung’s ruling upheld American General’s decision to reject the beneficiary change request, awarding O.H.M. the full $1.08 million plus interest. The decision affirmed the insurer’s discretion to deny invalid requests, reinforcing protections for designated beneficiaries. The case remains under appeal in the Eleventh Circuit.

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Importance of Interpleader Law

  • Resolves Conflicts: Interpleader law enables courts to fairly settle disputes over life insurance proceeds, as seen in this American General case.

  • Protects Beneficiaries: It safeguards rightful claimants, like O.H.M., against invalid beneficiary changes, ensuring their entitlement.

  • Legal Strategy: Expert representation, like that of Michael J. Hoover and Joel Ewusiak, is crucial in navigating ERISA-governed disputes and securing favorable outcomes.


Frequently Asked Questions

How does interpleader law affect life insurance disputes?

Interpleader law allows courts to resolve competing claims to life insurance proceeds, ensuring a neutral and fair outcome, as demonstrated in this Florida case.

Can an insurer reject a beneficiary change request?

Yes, insurers have discretion to deny invalid or improper beneficiary changes, protecting the rightful beneficiary’s claim, as shown by O.H.M.’s recovery.


Next Steps

Explore more about life insurance claim strategies or contact a legal expert for assistance with similar disputes. Monitor the Eleventh Circuit for updates on the ongoing appeal.



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