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SOUTHEAST TEXAS RECORD

Friday, March 29, 2024

Life insurance company wants to place nearly $40K in hands of court

The holder of a life insurance policy wants the court to take care of the nearly $40,000 it owes to a minor girl after her aunt died while serving as an on-duty police officer. 

American International Group, formerly known as Chartis, filed a lawsuit Jan. 7 in Jefferson County District Court against Owen Reed-Aguilar and Kimberly Ann Ligda Reed.

In its complaint, American International claims it issued a life insurance policy to former Beaumont Police Officer Lisa Renee Ligda Beaulieu. Under the terms of the policy, American International promised to pay Beaulieu’s designated beneficiary $13,000 upon the event of her accidental death or 200 percent of that if the accident was the result of a felony, according to the complaint.

On April 27, 2007, Beaulieu was called to the site of a motorcycle accident, the suit states. As she was investigating the scene, an allegedly intoxicated driver, Willie McCray, struck her with his car and killed her, the complaint says.

“According to the police report, McCray was driving up on the scene of the accident, took faulty evasive action, and attempted to pass the wreck on the right shoulder of the road,” the suit states.

McCray was later arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter. Because the charge is considered a felony, American International owes Beaulieu’s beneficiary $39,000, the suit claims.

Beaulieu had named minor Raquel Renee Reed as her beneficiary. However, American International is unsure which of Reed’s parents to give the money to because her parents are divorced. In turn, it is unclear who has legal custody of Reed and who is in control of her finances, according to the complaint.

“Interpleader wishes to unconditionally deposit the $39,000 insurance proceeds due and owing under the policy into the registry of the court, for the benefit of the sole beneficiary under the policy, the minor child, Raquel Renee Reed, and allow defendants to establish to the satisfaction of this court the identity of the parent who has guardianship of the minor, Raquel Renee Reed, and has control over her finances,” the suit states.

American International also seeks attorneys’ fees, costs and other relief the court deems just.

Michael W. Stumbaugh, Christopher B. Reed and Steven E. Holden of Holden and Carr in Dallas will be representing it.

The case has been assigned to Judge Bob Wortham, 58th District Court.

Case No. A193-797

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