Beck v. West Coast Life Insurance

38 Cal. 2d 643 ·

Supreme Court of California · Filed March 21, 1952

Published · citable Cited by 4

Holding

The court held that the alternative beneficiary of a life insurance policy, rather than the estate of the murdered insured, is entitled to the policy proceeds when the primary beneficiary murders the insured and is thereby disqualified from taking.

Statutes construed

CCP § 1858
CIV § 2224
CIV § 3517
PROB § 101
PROB § 258

Cited by (4)

E. R. ABBEY, as Public Administrator, etc., Respondent, v. JOSEPH R. LORD, Appellant (1959) 168 Cal. App. 2d 499
BETTY WHITFIELD, as Administratrix, etc., Plaintiff and Respondent, v. LEO FRANCIS FLAHERTY, Individually and as Executor, etc., Defendant and Appellant (1964) 228 Cal. App. 2d 753
STATE FARM LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, Plaintiff, v. JAMES F. PEARCE, as Administrator, etc., Defendant and Appellant; CHARLOTTE MILES, Defendant and Respondent (1991) 234 Cal. App. 3d 1685
STATE FARM LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, Plaintiff, v. JAMES F. PEARCE, as Administrator, etc., Defendant and Appellant; CHARLOTTE MILES, Defendant and Respondent (1991) 234 Cal. App. 3d 1685