Hillman v. Maretta, 133 S. Ct. 1943

FEGLIA provides a government-administered life-insurance program with an order of precedence that pays the designated beneficiary first, via a written designation filed with the government.
Virginia §20-111.1(A) revokes a beneficiary designation in a contract that pays a death benefit to a former spouse after divorce or annulment.
Virginia §20-111.1(D) creates a cause of action whereby a former spouse can recover the proceeds if Section A is pre-empted.
Warren Hillman named Judy Maretta as FEGLI beneficiary prior to divorce; Maretta remained the named beneficiary after divorce and remarriage.
Warren died in 2008; Maretta collected the FEGLI proceeds as the named beneficiary.
Hillman sued in Virginia court seeking recovery under Section D; the Virginia Supreme Court held Section D pre-empted by FEGLIA.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Whether Section D is pre-empted by FEGLIA.	Hillman argues federal law requires FEGLIA priority to the named beneficiary and Section D conflicts.	Maretta contends Virginia law should provide recovery under Section D despite FEGLIA.	Section D is pre-empted by FEGLIA.

Wissner v. Wissner, 338 U.S. 655 (1950) (pre-emption of state marital-property rules conflicting with federally designated beneficiary)
Ridgway v. Ridgway, 454 U.S. 46 (1981) (constructive trusts on insurance proceeds; beneficiary designation rules)
Crosby v. National Foreign Trade Council, 530 U.S. 363 (2000) (conflict pre-emption framework for state vs federal law)
Hines v. Davidowitz, 312 U.S. 52 (1941) (conflict pre-emption based on congressional purposes and objectives)