Ex-Spouse Secures $382,000 in Texas Suicide Case

William J. Perry
Sep 12
2 min read

Updated: Sep 16

This article details a significant legal victory where Trisha Vacknitz, the ex-wife of a deceased Cinemark employee, secured $382,000 in life insurance proceeds following his suicide. Learn how interpleader law and video evidence were pivotal in this Texas federal court case.

Case Overview
Legal Background
Key Ruling Details
Importance of Interpleader Law
Frequently Asked Questions

Case Overview

Trisha Vacknitz, the ex-wife of the insured, was awarded $382,000 in life insurance proceeds after the insured’s suicide in 2018. The case, decided in the Southern District of Texas, overcame a challenge from the current wife, affirming Trisha’s beneficiary status.

Case Details

Author: William J. Perry
Date: November 20, 2019
Court: Southern District of Texas
Case: Aetna Life Insurance Company v. Trisha Vacknitz, et al., Case No. 4:19-cv-01590
Summary: Following the 2018 suicide of a Cinemark employee, his current wife challenged the $382,000 life insurance policy’s designation of ex-wife Trisha Vacknitz as beneficiary. Represented by William J. Perry, Trisha secured the full death benefit plus interest, with video evidence of the insured’s rational decision to name her hours before his death proving decisive.

Legal Background

The case relied on Interpleader Law, which allowed Aetna Life Insurance Company to deposit the disputed $382,000 with the court for a neutral resolution. William J. Perry’s legal strategy leveraged video evidence to confirm the insured’s intent, ensuring Trisha Vacknitz’s rights as the designated beneficiary were upheld against the competing claim.

Key Ruling Details

The court’s ruling awarded Trisha Vacknitz the full $382,000 life insurance death benefit plus interest, affirming the validity of the insured’s beneficiary designation based on video evidence of his rational decision. The decision rejected the current wife’s challenge, reinforcing protections for designated beneficiaries.

Importance of Interpleader Law

Resolves Conflicts: Interpleader law enables courts to fairly settle disputes over life insurance proceeds, as seen in this Aetna case.
Protects Beneficiary Intent: It upholds the insured’s clear intent, as evidenced by video in this case, safeguarding rightful claimants like Trisha Vacknitz.
Legal Strategy: Expert representation, like William J. Perry’s, is crucial in leveraging evidence to resolve complex beneficiary disputes.

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 Texas suicide case.

Can a beneficiary designation be upheld in a suicide case?

Yes, if supported by clear evidence of the insured’s intent, such as video evidence, designations can be upheld, as shown by Trisha Vacknitz’s recovery.