Family Wins $597,000 in Tennessee ATV Accident Case

Michael J. Hoover
Sep 15
2 min read

Updated: Sep 16

This article details a significant legal victory where the Murchison family secured $597,000 in accidental death benefits following a fatal ATV crash. Learn how Interpleader Law was pivotal in overturning an arbitrary denial in this Tennessee federal court case.

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

Case Overview

The Murchison family was awarded $597,000 in accidental death benefits after the insured, Rickie Wade Murchison, died in an ATV crash. The case, decided in the Western District of Tennessee, overturned Reliance Standard’s denial, which had cited alcohol and drug involvement.

Case Details

Author: Michael J. Hoover
Date: April 23, 2020
Court: Western District of Tennessee
Case: Rita Murchison, et al. v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, Case No. 1:19-cv-01028-JDB-jay
Summary: Following Rickie Wade Murchison’s fatal ATV crash, Reliance Standard denied the family’s $597,000 accidental death claim, citing alcohol and drug involvement. Represented by Michael J. Hoover, the Murchison family—Rita Murchison, Brandy Crawford, and Joshua Murchison—secured the full benefit after Judge Daniel Breen ruled the denial arbitrary due to insufficient evidence of causation.

Legal Background

The case utilized interpleader principles, allowing the court to address the disputed $597,000 accidental death benefits. Michael J. Hoover’s legal strategy challenged Reliance Standard’s reliance on a toxicology report without sufficient evidence linking alcohol or drugs to the crash, leveraging the policy’s exclusion clause requiring a causal connection.

Key Ruling Details

Judge Daniel Breen’s ruling found Reliance Standard’s denial arbitrary, as the insurer failed to provide evidence that alcohol or drugs were a contributing factor to the ATV crash. The decision awarded the Murchison family the full $597,000, plus interest, affirming protections for beneficiaries in accidental death disputes.

Importance of Interpleader Law

Resolves Disputes: Interpleader law enables courts to fairly address disputes over life insurance proceeds, as seen in this Reliance Standard case.
Protects Beneficiaries: It ensures rightful claimants, like the Murchison family, are protected against arbitrary denials lacking causal evidence.
Legal Strategy: Expert representation, like Michael J. Hoover’s, is crucial in challenging improper claim denials and securing favorable outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does interpleader law affect life insurance disputes?

Interpleader law allows courts to resolve disputed claims to life insurance proceeds, ensuring a fair outcome, as demonstrated in this Tennessee ATV accident case.

Can an insurer deny an accidental death claim based on alcohol or drugs?

Such claims can be denied only with evidence of causation; without it, denials may be deemed arbitrary, as shown by the Murchison family’s victory.