Metro. Life Ins. Co. v. Gorman-Hubka, 159 F. Supp. 3d 668

Insurer brought interpleader action against insured’s ex-wife and sisters to determine the rightful beneficiary of benefits of insured’s life insurance policy. Ex-wife and sisters filed cross-claims against each other, and ex-wife filed counterclaim against insurer. Ex-wife and sisters moved for summary judgment on the cross-claims. The Court held that the policy was governed by Virginia law, not ERISA, and that the insured did not substantially comply with policy’s change-of-beneficiary form requirement because he did not do everything to the best of his ability to effect the change. Sisters’ motion granted; ex-wife’s motion denied.