The Ohio Court of Appeals holds life insurer has no affirmative duty to search Social Security Death Master File *

USA - November 9 2012
The Ohio Court of Appeals recently ruled that a life insurer has no affirmative duty to search the Social Security Death Master File ("DMF") to independently determine whether insureds have died where neither the underlying policy nor law imposes such an obligation.

Co-authors: Nicholas A. Secara.

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New York Emergency Regulation 200 creates search requirements for unclaimed life insurance benefits *

USA - May 25 2012
In a May 14, 2012, press release, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and Financial Services Superintendent Benjamin Lawsky, announced the issuance of Emergency Regulation 200, which creates search requirements for unclaimed life insurance benefits.

Co-authors: A. Kenneth Levine, Matthew Criscuolo , John David Dickenson.

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Shareholder brings derivative action against life carrier’s officers and directors targeting unclaimed property practices *

USA - February 3 2012
Yet another lawsuit has been filed targeting a leading life insurer’s claims settlement practices for unpaid death benefits.

Co-authors: A. Kenneth Levine, Matthew Criscuolo , John David Dickenson, Douglas L. Prochnow , Mark G. Peters.

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Whistleblower claims $1.6 billion in unclaimed property lawsuit against two leading US life carriers *

USA - January 26 2012
In January 2011, Total Asset Recovery Services, LLC, a company describing itself as “an investigative group of professionals tasked with locating lost or unrecoverable assets on behalf of rightful owners and creditors,” filed a lawsuit under seal against two leading life insurers in Illinois state court.

Co-authors: A. Kenneth Levine, Matthew Criscuolo , John David Dickenson, Douglas L. Prochnow , Mark G. Peters.

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The great state treasure hunt: unclaimed life insurance benefits *

USA - September 5 2011
Insurance regulators and state attorneys general, alike, have been investigating life carriers’ alleged failure to identify dormant policies where death benefits might be owing and, to the extent beneficiaries cannot be located, timely escheat policy benefits to the state.

Co-authors: John David Dickenson.

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