220 F. Supp. 2d 714 | S.D. Tex. | 2002
Scott MAYO, et al., Plaintiffs,
v.
HARTFORD LIFE INSURANCE CO., et al., Defendants.
United States District Court, S.D. Texas, Houston Division.
*715 *716 *717 Scott Monroe Clearman, Michael D. Myers, Robert H. Espey, II, Dwaine Massey, McClanahan & Clearman, LLP, Houston, TX, for Plaintiffs.
Barry A. Chasnoff, Akin Gump et al., San Antonio, TX, Michael M. Wilson, Clements O'Neill et al., Houston, TX, Howard Kleinhendler, Kaye Scholer et al., Myron Kirschbaum, Kaye Scholer LLP, New York City, Daniel M. McClure, Fulbright & Jaworski, Thomas Francis, Hetherington, Bracewell & Patterson, Houston, TX, Paul A. Fischer, Jorden Burt LLP, James F. Jorden, Attorney at Law, Washington, DC, for Defendants.
AMENDED AND SUPPLEMENTAL MEMORANDUM OPINION
ATLAS, District Judge.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. BACKGROUND FACTS ................................................722
II. THE PARTIES' BASIC CONTENTIONS .................................724
*718
III. APPLICABLE LEGAL STANDARDS .................................................725
A. Standard for Motions to Dismiss .........................................726
B. Summary Judgment Standard ...............................................726
C. Texas Insurable Interest Doctrine .......................................727
IV. CHOICE OF LAW ...............................................................728
A. Applicable Contract Choice of Law Principles .............................728
B. Analysis of Restatement ง 6 Considerations in Insurable Interest
Cases ..................................................................731
1. Relevant Policies of the Forum (Texas) ................................731
(a) The Griffin Cases, Other Insurable Interest Decisions and
Texas Public Policy ............................................731
(b) Wal-Mart and Other Defendants' Attack on the Current
Viability of Texas Insurable Interest Doctrine .................733
(c) Wal-Mart's Contention that Texas Public Policy is Not
Implicated .....................................................737
(d) Texas Insurance Code Article 21.42 ..............................738
2. Policies of Other Interested States, and the Relative Interests of
The Various States in the Determination of the Insurable Interest
Issues ................................................................739
(a) Georgia's Interests in Determination of the Issues ................739
(b) Extraterritorial Enforcement of Texas or Georgia Law under
Home Insurance v. Dick ..................................739
3. The Basic Policies Underlying the Particular Field of Law:
Insurance Law .........................................................741
4. Protection of Justified Expectations and the Need for Certainty,
Predictability, and Uniformity of Result ..............................742
5. Needs of Interstate and International Systems and Ease in the
Determination and Application of the Law to be Applied ................743
C. Application of Texas Contract Choice of Law Principles to Defendants'
COLI Contracts .......................................................744
1. Restatement ง 188 Principles for Contract Disputes ...............744
2. Choice of Law Analysis for the Wal-Mart COLI Policies .................745
(a) Features of the Wal-Mart Trust ..................................745
(b) Place of Contracting ............................................747
(c) Place of Negotiation ............................................752
(d) Place of Performance ............................................754
(e) Location of the Subject Matter of the Contract ..................756
(f) Domicile of the Parties .........................................758
(g) Conclusion on the Choice of Law Under Restatement ง 188
& ง 6 ...............................................................758
(h) The Fifth Circuit Baum Decisions .................................759
3. The Camelot COLI Policies ..............................................761
D. Conclusion on Choice of Law ..............................................763
V. CONTENTIONS RELATED TO SIMS ESTATE'S CLAIMS ..................................764
A. ERISA Preemption .........................................................764
1. Standard for ERISA Preemption .........................................764
2. Relatedness to Wal-Mart's ERISA Plan ..................................765
B. Statute of Limitations ...................................................768
1. Length of Limitations Period ..........................................769
2. Accrual of the Sims Estate's Claim ....................................769
C. AIG's Motion to Dismiss ..................................................772
1. Overview and Applicable Legal Standards ...............................772
2. Allegations in the Complaint ..........................................772
3. Analysis ..............................................................773
VI. CAMELOT-RELATED CONTENTIONS .................................................776
A. Ripeness .................................................................776
1. Declaratory Judgment Standards and the Ripeness Doctrine ..............777
*719
2. Defendants' Ripeness Arguments ..................................777
B. The Merits of Camelot Plaintiffs' Claims for Relief .................780
1. Camelot Plaintiffs' Claim for Declaration that Camelot Defendants
Lack an Insurable Interest .......................................780
2. Camelot Plaintiffs' Claim for a Constructive Trust and Ownership
of the COLI Policies .............................................784
(a) COLI Policy Proceeds Upon a Plaintiff's Death ................784
(b) Living Plaintiffs' Remedies ..................................785
VII. CONCLUSION AND ORDER ..............................................791
The parties in this case dispute the validity of corporate-owned life insurance policies purchased by employers on the lives of their employees and former employees. Plaintiffs are Texas citizens suing as representatives of a putative class of individuals, and estates of individuals, who worked for Defendant Camelot Music, Inc. ("Camelot") and Trans World Entertainment Corporation ("Trans World") (collectively, the "Camelot Defendants") and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. ("Wal-Mart"). These companies, collectively referred to as the "Employer Defendants," are named in this action as representatives of a putative class of employers who purchased corporate-owned life insurance policies ("COLI policies") insuring the lives of Texas citizens. The Employer Defendants purchased these life insurance policies from various insurance companies, including Hartford Life Insurance Company ("Hartford") and AIG Life Insurance Company ("AIG").
The Court has before it several motions. The Camelot Defendants move to dismiss Plaintiffs' claims in their entirety.[1] The Camelot Defendants also move for summary judgment.[2] Plaintiffs have cross-moved for partial summary judgment against the Camelot Defendants.[3]*720 Defendant Wal-Mart moves for summary judgment on the claims against it.[4] The Wachovia Bank of Georgia, N.A. ("Wachovia"), as trustee ("Trustee") for Defendant Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Corporation Grantor or Trust ("Wal-Mart Trust"), seeks summary judgment in its favor.[5] Defendant Hartford also moves for summary judgment.[6] Defendant AIG moves to dismiss and for summary judgment.[7] The Court *721 heard argument on these motions on September 7, 2001 and January 11, 2002.[8] The parties submitted supplemental materials after the January 11 Hearing.[9] On March 5, 2002, the Court issued an opinion exhaustively addressing the parties' contentions in the original motions.[10] The Court granted some aspects of certain parties' motions and denied others.
Wal-Mart then filed a motion seeking reconsideration of the March 5th Opinion. Plaintiff Sims Estate has responded,[11] and that Motion is ripe for adjudication. The Court granted Wal-Mart's Reconsideration Motion on August 2, 2002.[12] The Court has reconsidered all the parties' submissions, the entire record, and the applicable authorities, the Court again grants some aspects of certain parties' motions and denies others. This Amended and Supplemental Memorandum Opinion ("Amended Opinion") modifies various rulings in the March 5th Opinion as to both the Wal-Mart Defendants and the Camelot Defendants. This Amended Opinion supersedes the Court's March 5th Opinion, which is withdrawn.
*722 I. BACKGROUND FACTS
This case is an uncertified class action that involves a dispute over the rights to benefits from company-owned life insurance policies. Plaintiffs Scott Mayo, Toribio Rochas, Jr., Tomas Pena, Daniel Garza, and Charles W. Holmes, Jr. are Texas citizens who were employees of Defendant Camelot (collectively, sometimes referred to as the "Camelot Plaintiffs"). Another Plaintiff is the Estate of Douglas Sims ("Sims Estate"), which is represented in this action by Deborah Sims, the independent executrix of the Sims Estate and a Texas citizen. Douglas Sims was a Texas citizen who worked for Defendant Wal-Mart until his death on December 1, 1998.
Defendant Camelot was a Pennsylvania corporation. Camelot was acquired in December 1997 by Defendant Trans World, a New York corporation with its principal place of business in New York. Defendant Wal-Mart is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Arkansas. Defendant Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Corporation Grantor Trust ("Wal-Mart Trust" or the "Trust") was established by Wal-Mart in Georgia and is represented in this action by its trustee, Defendant Wachovia, a bank that was originally located in Georgia.[13] Defendant Hartford is a Connecticut insurance company with its principal place of business in Connecticut. Defendant AIG is a Delaware insurance company with its principal place of business in Delaware.
Camelot employed the Camelot Plaintiffs during the 1980s and 1990s. All Camelot Plaintiffs ceased their employment with Camelot by 1998. Wal-Mart employed Douglas Sims from 1987 until his death in December 1998.
The subject of this case is the validity of COLI policies, insurance policies purchased and owned by the Employer Defendants on the lives of their employees. These policies, respectively, list the employers as the sole beneficiaries. As explained by Hartford, the employers borrowed money from the insurers to pay the COLI policy premiums.[14] The employers claimed the interest paid on these loans as tax deductions. The employers also earned non-taxable interest through the COLI policies. Upon the death of an insured employee, the employer beneficiary used the death benefit it received from the COLI policy to repay the premium loans and cover other expenses, at its option.[15]
On February 16, 1990, Camelot purchased from Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company ("Mutual")[16] COLI policies on the lives of all of its employees who *723 worked more than twenty hours per week.[17] Camelot and/or Trans World is the beneficiary of these policies. Plaintiffs allege that Camelot purchased the policies in secret and did not request permission from its employees. The policies remained in effect until after the Court's March 5th Memorandum Opinion.[18]
On or about December 30, 1993, Wal-Mart bought COLI policies from Hartford for its salaried employees and from AIG on the lives of its hourly employees, including Douglas Sims.[19] The policies were made effective as of December 28, 1993, for administrative convenience.[20] The Wal-Mart Trust received the proceeds of *724 the COLI policies on each insured employee or former employee who died and remitted the proceeds to Wal-Mart.[21]
Plaintiffs allege that Wal-Mart purchased these policies in secret and that Douglas Sims never knowingly consented to the purchase. Wal-Mart asserts that it purchased the COLI policies only on employees who were members of its employee benefit plans. Wal-Mart contends that it gave notice to plan members of the company-owned insurance policies on the members' lives through a written flyer that invited members to opt out if they chose. Wal-Mart argues that its flyer served as formal notice of the existence of the COLI insurance and also constituted Wal-Mart's offer to each employee to pay a "Special Death Benefit" of $5,000 to $10,000 from the COLI policy proceeds to the estates of the employee upon his/her death.[22] The Special Death Benefit was never paid to the Sims Estate because Wal-Mart discontinued that benefit before Sims died.[23]
Wal-Mart surrendered all its COLI policies in January 2000, after Sims died.[24]
It is undisputed that the Insurer Defendants developed the concept and marketed the COLI policies to employers.[25] Plaintiffs contend that the COLI policies were a tax avoidance scheme that was challenged by IRS.[26] On the other hand, Defendants contend that the COLI policies had a legitimate use, to fund employee benefit plans and other employer expenses incurred upon the death of the insured.[27]
II. THE PARTIES' BASIC CONTENTIONS
Plaintiffs' essential contention is that the COLI policies are contrary to Texas public policy because the Employer Defendants do not have an "insurable interest" in their lives. Plaintiffs seek to certify two classes of parties. First, Plaintiffs request certification of a plaintiff class that consists of:
All Texas citizens (or if deceased, the Texas citizen's estate) whose lives are or were insured under a COLI policy issued by AIG Life Insurance Company, Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company or Hartford Life Insurance Company that purportedly named an employer or former employer as the policy's beneficiary or owner, excluding those who are current officers of the named policy beneficiary or owner (or if deceased, those who were officers of the policy beneficiary *725 at their death) and those who designated the policy's beneficiary.
Complaint, at 11. Second, Plaintiffs request certification of an Employer Defendant class of:
[C]ompanies that bought insurance policies written by AIG Life Insurance Company, Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company or Hartford Life Insurance Company, that insure or insured the lives of Texas employees other than corporate officers and name the company as beneficiary or owner.
Id.[28]
As their remedy, Plaintiffs seek ownership and all benefits of the COLI policies. Specifically, Plaintiffs request a declaration, under 28 U.S.C. ง 2201, that (i) the Employer Defendants do not now have and never have had an "insurable interest" in the lives of their employees, as insurable interests are defined by Texas law; (ii) that the Employer Defendants are not the lawful owners of the COLI polices; and (iii) that Plaintiff employees are the "lawful owners" of the COLI policies, with all rights of the "owner" as defined in the policies. Plaintiffs seek a final judgment "providing remedies necessary to give the declarations force and effect," which Plaintiffs define as a final judgment (i) placing the polices and all benefits from the policies in a constructive trust for the benefit of Plaintiffs; (ii) awarding "money identifying the amount held in constructive trust by members of the defendant-employer class for the benefit of the plaintiffs and members of the plaintiff-insured person class"; and (iii) disgorging the "money unjustly had and received by members of the defendant-employer class through the [COLI] policies in issue." Complaint, at 12-13.
Defendants assert numerous defenses to Plaintiffs' claims. First, all Defendants contend that Plaintiffs' claims are founded upon Texas law, but Georgia law governs this case and Plaintiffs cannot state a cause of action under Georgia law. Defendant Wal-Mart also contends that Plaintiffs' claims are preempted by Employee Retirement Income Security Act, 29 U.S.C. ง 1001 et seq. ("ERISA"). Defendant AIG (joined by Wal-Mart) contends that the claims of Plaintiff Sims Estate are time-barred since the COLI policy sold to Wal-Mart on Sims's life was created in December 1993 and Wal-Mart gave Sims notice of the existence of the insurance at about that time. Defendant AIG also argues that the Sims Estate has failed to state a claim under the insurable interest doctrine and moves to dismiss these claims. The Camelot Defendants contend that the Camelot Plaintiffs' claims are not ripe, since these Plaintiffs all are still living, and their causes of action accrue only when the death benefits under the COLI policies are payable. Finally, the Camelot Defendants contend that the Camelot Plaintiffs' claims are not legally viable because the Texas insurable interest doctrine does not provide a remedy to living insureds and does not allow reformation of the insurance contract. Each of these matters will be addressed in turn.
III. APPLICABLE LEGAL STANDARDS
The parties have filed numerous motions to dismiss and motions for summary judgment. The Court notified the parties at the January 11, 2002 conference that if documents or other evidence outside of the pleadings had been submitted in connection with a motion to dismiss, the Court intended to convert the motion, if appropriate, *726 to a motion for summary judgment. See FED.R.CIV.P. 12(b). The Court therefore permitted the parties to make additional submissions.
A. Standard for Motions to Dismiss
A motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure is viewed with disfavor and is rarely granted. Kennedy v. Tangipahoa Parish Library Bd. of Control, 224 F.3d 359, 365 (5th Cir.2000). The complaint must be liberally construed in favor of the plaintiff, and all facts pleaded in the complaint must be taken as true. Zephyr Aviation, L.L.C. v. Dailey, 247 F.3d 565, 573 (5th Cir.2001). The district court may not dismiss a complaint under Rule 12(b)(6) "unless it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief." Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46, 78 S.Ct. 99, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957); Southern Christian Leadership Conf. v. Supreme Court of Louisiana, 252 F.3d 781, 786 (5th Cir. 2001). Thus, the Court must determine whether the complaint states any valid claim for relief in the light most favorable to the plaintiff and with every doubt resolved in the plaintiff's behalf. Lowrey v. Texas A & M Univ. Sys., 117 F.3d 242, 247 (5th Cir.1997). Furthermore, a plaintiff must plead specific facts, not mere conclusory allegations or unwarranted deductions of fact, in order to avoid dismissal for failure to state a claim. Collins v. Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, 224 F.3d 496, 498, (5th Cir.2000).
B. Summary Judgment Standard
In deciding a motion for summary judgment, the Court must determine whether "the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." FED.R.CIV.P. 56(c); Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986); Little v. Liquid Air Corp., 37 F.3d 1069, 1075 (5th Cir. 1994) (en banc); Boze v. Branstetter, 912 F.2d 801, 804 (5th Cir.1990). Material facts are those facts "that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing law." Smith v. Brenoettsy, 158 F.3d 908, 911 (5th Cir.1998). The facts are to be reviewed with all "justifiable inferences" drawn in favor of the party opposing the motion. Morris v. Covan World Wide Moving, Inc., 144 F.3d 377, 380 (5th Cir. 1998). However, factual controversies are resolved in favor of the nonmovant "only when there is an actual controversy โ that is, when both parties have submitted evidence of contradictory facts." Laughlin v. Olszewski, 102 F.3d 190, 193 (5th Cir. 1996).
The party moving for summary judgment has the initial burden of demonstrating the absence of a material fact issue with respect to those issues on which the movant bears the burden of proof at trial. The movant meets this initial burden by showing that the "evidence in the record would not permit the nonmovant to carry its burden of proof at trial." Smith, 158 F.3d at 911.
The burden then shifts to the nonmovant to demonstrate that summary judgment is inappropriate. See Morris, 144 F.3d at 380. This is accomplished by producing "significant probative evidence" that there is an issue of material fact so as to warrant a trial, see Texas Manufactured Hous. Ass'n v. Nederland, 101 F.3d 1095, 1099 (5th Cir.1996); Taylor v. Principal Financial Group, Inc., 93 F.3d 155, 161 (5th Cir.1996); Transamerica Ins. Co. v. Avenell, 66 F.3d 715, 718-19 (5th Cir. 1995); Forsyth v. Barr, 19 F.3d 1527, 1533 (5th Cir.1994), and that is "sufficient to support a jury verdict." Morris, 144 F.3d at 380; Doe v. Dallas Indep. School Dist., *727 153 F.3d 211, 215 (5th Cir.1998). This burden is not met by mere reliance on the allegations or denials in the non-movant's pleadings. E.g., Morris, 144 F.3d at 380. Likewise, "unsubstantiated or conclusory assertions that a fact issue exists" do not meet this burden. Id. Instead, the non-moving party must present specific facts which show "the existence of a `genuine' issue concerning every essential component of its case." Id. Dispute about a material fact is genuine only if evidence is such that reasonable a jury could return a verdict for nonmoving party. Stafford v. True Temper Sports, 123 F.3d 291, 294 (5th Cir.1997); Hanks v. Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corp., 953 F.2d 996, 997 (5th Cir.1992).
In the absence of any proof, the Court will not assume that the nonmovant could or would prove the necessary facts. McCallum Highlands, Ltd. v. Washington Capital Dus, Inc., 66 F.3d 89, 92 (5th Cir.), revised on other grounds upon denial of reh'g, 70 F.3d 26 (5th Cir.1995); Little, 37 F.3d at 1075. Rule 56 mandates the entry of summary judgment, after adequate time for discovery and upon motion, against a party who fails to make a sufficient showing of the existence of an element essential to the party's case, and on which that party will bear the burden at trial. Little, 37 F.3d at 1075.
C. Texas Insurable Interest Doctrine
"[I]t is against the public policy of the State of Texas to allow anyone who has no insurable interest to be the owner of a policy of insurance upon the life of a human being." Griffin v. McCoach, 123 F.2d 550, 551 (5th Cir.1941); see Cheeves v. Anders, 87 Tex. 287, 28 S.W. 274, 275 (1894); Tamez v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, London, International Accident Facilities, Inc., 999 S.W.2d 12, 16-17 (Tex. App. โ Houston [14th Dist.] 1999, pet. denied); accord DeLeon v. Lloyd's London, Certain Underwriters, 259 F.3d 344, 350 (5th Cir.2001). Put another way, the "State of Texas has established a fixed policy with reference to its own citizens, by and through which it refuses to permit one who has no insurable interest in a living person to be and become the beneficiary in an insurance policy written on the life of such living person." Cole v. Browning, 187 S.W.2d 588, 593 (Tex.Civ.App. โ Ft. Worth 1945, writ ref'd w.o.m.) (citing Cheeves v. Anders, 87 Tex. 287, 28 S.W. 274 (1894)). The doctrine has been defined more specifically to provide that a putative beneficiary only has an insurable interest in the life of another where the beneficiary is (1) so closely related by blood or affinity that he wants the other to continue to live, irrespective of the monetary considerations; (2) a creditor; [or] (3) one possessing a reasonable expectation of pecuniary benefit or advantage from the continued life of another. Drane v. Jefferson Standard Life Ins. Co., 139 Tex. 101, 161 S.W.2d 1057, 1058-59 (1942); Tamez, 999 S.W.2d at 17; Stillwagoner v. Travelers Ins. Co., 979 S.W.2d 354, 360-61 (Tex. App. โ Tyler 1998, no pet.); accord DeLeon, 259 F.3d at 350.
Since the mid-1950's, Texas statutory law has permitted an individual to designate his own beneficiary โ even if that beneficiary otherwise lacks an insurable interest under common law. TEX.INS.CODE, art. 3.49-1, งง 1, 2, 3, 5 (eff. Jan. 1, 2000). Long-standing Texas law also allows an employer to obtain death benefit from so-called "key-man" life insurance on an employee crucial to its business. Tamez, 999 S.W.2d at 18 n. 4 (citing TEX.INS.CODE, art. 3.49).[29]
*728 IV. CHOICE OF LAW
Defendants all raise a threshold choice of law issue.[30] Defendants argue that Georgia law โ which Defendants contend does not recognize Plaintiffs' causes of action โ governs this dispute. Alternatively, Defendants (led by Wal-Mart) argue that if Georgia law is not selected, then the law of Arkansas, North Carolina, or Delaware applies. In any event, Defendants contend that Texas has no material connection to the dispute and Texas law does not govern. In response, Plaintiffs argue that Texas state courts would apply the Texas common law insurable interest doctrine to Defendants' COLI policies on the lives of Texas citizens.
A. Applicable Contract Choice of Law Principles
The jurisdiction of this Court is based on diversity of citizenship. 28 U.S.C. ง 1332.[31] In diversity cases, federal courts must apply the conflict of law rules of the state in which they sit. Klaxon v. Stentor Electric Mfg. Co., 313 U.S. 487, 496, 61 S.Ct. 1020, 85 L.Ed. 1477 (1941); Denman by Denman v. Snapper Div., 131 F.3d 546, 548 (5th Cir.1998). Accordingly, this Court will apply the conflict of laws principles followed by Texas state courts.
The Texas Supreme Court has adopted the "most significant contacts" test of the Restatement (Second) of Conflicts of Laws ง 6 ("Restatement") for determining all choice of law issues.[32]Duncan v. Cessna Aircraft Co., 665 S.W.2d 414, 420-21 (Tex. 1984); Minnesota Mining & Mfg. Co. v. Nishika Ltd., 953 S.W.2d 733, 735-36 (Tex. 1997); Maxus Exploration Co. v. Moran Bros., Inc., 817 S.W.2d 50, 53 (Tex.1991).
The Restatement provides that a court must follow, "subject to constitutional restrictions ... a statutory directive of its own state on choice of law." RESTATEMENT ง 6(1); Maxus Exploration, 817 S.W.2d at 54. Neither Plaintiffs nor Defendants assert that a statutory directive governs the outcome of the choice of law issue in this case. In the absence of a statutory directive, the Court is to consider the relevant choice of law principles in the Restatement. Id.
The Restatement's analysis commences with ง 6, which sets forth the pertinent overriding principles applicable in every case:
(a) the needs of the interstate and international systems,
(b) the relevant policies of the forum,
(c) the relevant policies of other interested states and the relative interests *729 of those states in the determination of the particular issue,
(d) the protection of justified expectations,
(e) the basic policies underlying the particular field of law,
(f) certainty, predictability and uniformity of result, and
(g) ease in the determination and application of the law to be applied.
RESTATEMENT ง 6(2).
A more difficult question is what more specific choice of law principles also should be considered. Defendants insist that contract choice of law principles should be applied in this case because Defendants entered into contracts that are the subject of Plaintiffs' claims. Plaintiffs do not supply any recognized alternative approach to the choice of law issue.
This case, as pleaded by Plaintiffs, fundamentally involves the application โ or lack thereof โ of Texas's common law on insurable interests. This doctrine arises in the context of insurance contracts. The claims in this case are not merely claims to enforce or claims for breach of insurance contracts, as in typical contract cases. Plaintiffs are not signatories to the COLI policies. Plaintiffs do not claim that Defendants are liable for breaching the terms of those contracts. Plaintiffs do not seek to enforce rights under the terms of the COLI policy contracts as written. Plaintiffs did not participate in the negotiation for the contracts. Plaintiffs did not receive or give definitive consideration for their involvement in the contracts.[33] Defendants nevertheless contend that the resolution of the choice of law issue is strictly determined by the Texas conflict of law rules relating to contract actions.[34] Defendants, not unexpectedly, view the dispute from their own perspective. Defendants merely want to enforce the insurance contracts that they alone signed. Defendants argue essentially that the interests of Plaintiffs, the insureds, are immaterial to the choice of law analysis. Defendants' argument fails to account for the true nature of Plaintiffs' claims. Defendants' mischaracterization of the claims in dispute results in Defendants' misapplication of pertinent choice of law principles.[35]
As noted, Plaintiffs' role is not the ordinary participant in the formation of a contract and Plaintiffs' causes of action do not fit the typical breach of contract rubric. Plaintiffs' claims arise under the Texas *730 common law insurable interest doctrine with equitable remedies sought under unjust enrichment principles. Accordingly, ง 6 principles are especially important in this case. The Court also considers the factors in a "contract claim" choice of law analysis, adapted to the actual claims and defenses being asserted,[36] because Plaintiffs seek remedies relating to Defendants' insurance contracts, and because contract doctrines are the backdrop for many of the parties' contentions on the merits.
In contract cases, Texas courts examine the ง 6 principles in light of the parties specific "contacts" or factors listed in Restatement ง 188. The pertinent contacts under ง 188 are:
(a) the place of contracting,
(b) the place of negotiation of the contract,
(c) the place of performance,
(d) the location of the subject matter of the contract, and
(e) the domicile, residence, nationality, place of incorporation and place of business of the parties.
RESTATEMENT ง 188(2); Minnesota Mining and Mfg. Co., 953 S.W.2d at 735-36; Maxus Exploration, 817 S.W.2d at 53-54; Houston Casualty Co. v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's London, 51 F.Supp.2d 789, 797 (S.D.Tex.1999). "These contacts are to be evaluated according to their relative importance with respect to the particular issue." RESTATEMENT ง 188(2). In general, it is not the number of contacts with a particular state that is determinative. Duncan, 665 S.W.2d at 421. "Some contacts are more important than others because they implicate state policies underlying the particular substantive issue." Id.
Ultimately, the "selection of the applicable law depends on the qualitative nature of the particular contacts." Id. Once the facts pertaining to the parties' and the dispute's contacts with various states are established, the Court is to decide the choice of law issue as a matter of law. Id.[37]
The Court concludes, after the detailed analysis set forth below, that Texas courts would select Texas law to decide this case. Thus, the Court will apply the Texas insurable interest doctrine. The Court also rejects Wal-Mart's contention that the law of the states of Arkansas, North Carolina and/or Delaware, states with which at least one of the parties is connected, should be applied.
*731 B. Analysis of Restatement ง 6 Considerations in Insurable Interest Cases
The Court addresses the basic Restatement ง 6 principles first, and then considers the ง 188 contacts in context. As noted, the importance of the ง 6 principles is heightened in this case because Plaintiffs' claims are not typical contract disputes. It cannot be ignored that Plaintiffs' relationships with Defendants, the actual contracting parties, are unique in that Plaintiffs did not participate in the creation of the COLI contracts and did not meaningfully agree to the policies' creation.
1. Relevant Policies of the Forum (Texas)
(a) The Griffin Cases, Other Insurable Interest Decisions and Texas Public Policy
Plaintiffs predominantly argue that the choice of law decision in this case is governed by the opinions of the United States Supreme Court in Griffin v. McCoach, 313 U.S. 498, 506, 61 S.Ct. 1023, 85 L.Ed. 1481 (1941), and the Fifth Circuit on remand in Griffin v. McCoach, 123 F.2d 550, 551 (5th Cir.1941). The Court concludes that the Griffin cases do not dispose of the issue presented by Plaintiffs' claims, but the opinions provide valuable insight into the insurable interest doctrine and its importance as law of the State of Texas.
In Griffin, the Supreme Court held that Texas courts have the constitutional authority to "refuse enforcement of an insurance contract where the beneficiaries have no insurable interest on the ground of its interference with local law." 313 U.S. at 506, 61 S.Ct. 1023. The personal representatives of Gordon, a deceased Texas citizen, disputed the entitlement of certain named beneficiaries of a life insurance policy on Gordon's life.[38]Id. at 499-500, 61 S.Ct. 1023. The Supreme Court stated:
*732 It is "rudimentary" that a state "will not lend the aid of its courts to enforce a contract founded upon a foreign law where to do so would be repugnant to good morals, would lead to disturbance and disorganization of the local municipal law, or, in other words, violate the public policy of the state where the enforcement of the foreign contract is sought."
Id. at 506, 61 S.Ct. 1023 (citation omitted). The Supreme Court held that it would be constitutionally permissible for a Texas court to refuse the enforcement of a foreign contract that violated local public policy embodied in the Texas insurable interest doctrine. Id. at 507, 61 S.Ct. 1023. However, the Court explained that Texas only may apply its public policy to foreign contracts that relate to "anything done or to be done within [its] borders." Id. at 507, 61 S.Ct. 1023. The Supreme Court in Griffin did not decide whether Texas courts would apply the Texas insurable interest doctrine to foreign life insurance contracts on the lives of Texas citizens. Id. at 504, 507, 61 S.Ct. 1023. Instead, the court remanded the issue to the Fifth Circuit. Id.
On remand, the Fifth Circuit implicitly concluded that Texas law applied,[39] and interpreted the effect of the Texas insurable interest doctrine on the facts before it. Griffin, 123 F.2d at 551. The Fifth Circuit held that Texas law required the insurance proceeds to be paid to the estate of the insured, rather than the contractual beneficiaries' assignees who lacked an insurable interest in the life of the insured under Texas law. The Court of Appeals gave two reasons for its holding. First, the insurance proceeds were in the custody of the court.[40]Id. Second, the Court of Appeals held that "it is against the public policy of the State of Texas to allow anyone who has no insurable interest to be the owner of a policy of insurance upon the life of a human being." Id. The Court further stated that it had "no reason to think that courts of Texas would permit citizens of other states to speculate upon the death of one of its citizens by means of contracts made without the state when the same is forbidden within its territorial limits." Id.[41]
*733 The Griffin decisions accurately reflect Texas precedent on choice of law and policy. For example, a Texas court in Manhattan Life Ins. Co. v. Cohen, 139 S.W. 51, 57 (Tex.Civ.App. โ San Antonio 1911, writ dism'd), held that an assignment of the beneficial interest in life insurance policies on the life of a Texas citizen to one with no insurable interest was governed by Texas law. The Cohen court emphasized the importance of Texas policy by stating that, even if the assignment were governed by, and valid under, another state's law, "it may be doubted whether, on account of its being contrary to the distinctive policy of the forum in which the suit was brought, such laws would be given effect by the courts of Texas." Id.
In Cole v. Browning, another Texas appellate court held that Texas had a legitimate governmental interest in deciding the rights to an insurance policy's proceeds when the insured died while he and the named beneficiary under the policy were temporarily residing in Texas. 187 S.W.2d 588, 593 (Tex.Civ.App. โ Fort Worth 1945, writ ref'd w.o.m.).[42] The court held that a Texas court will apply Texas insurable interest law to all insurance policies relating to persons residing in Texas, even if these individuals are citizens of states with contrary insurable interest law. Id. at 594. "A state may prohibit the enjoyment by persons within its borders of rights acquired elsewhere which violate its laws or public policy." Id. at 594; accord, Bell v. Phillips, 152 F.2d 188, 190 (5th Cir.1945).
(b) Wal-Mart and Other Defendants' Attack on the Current Viability of Texas Insurable Interest Doctrine
In response to Plaintiffs' Griffin arguments, Defendants characterize Texas policies and the insurable interest doctrine as obsolete. For example, Wal-Mart argues that the public policy of Texas is an "old common law rule that has been heavily weakened by statute."[43]
The State of Texas has retained a commitment to the insurable interest doctrine, although the doctrine has been narrowed over the years by the Texas Legislature. Texas courts have repeatedly refused to follow the majority rule adopted by other states that allows non-creditors and non-family members to have an insurable interest in another's life. E.g., Drane v. Jefferson Standard Life Ins. Co., 139 Tex. 101, *734 105-06, 161 S.W.2d 1057, 1058-59 (1942) (godson had insurable interest in godmother's life only because godson had a reasonable expectation of pecuniary benefit from godmother, who made frequent and substantial gifts to godson during his lifetime); Cheeves, 87 Tex. at 291, 28 S.W. 274 (former partner of insured did not have insurable interest after leaving partnership); Tamez, 999 S.W.2d at 16-17, 19 (employer did not have insurable interest in employees); Stillwagoner, 979 S.W.2d at 360-61 (employer did not have insurable interest in employee); Cole, 187 S.W.2d at 593 (former wife did not have insurable interest in former husband). See DeLeon, 259 F.3d at 350 (employer did not have insurable interest in employee's life); Griffin, 123 F.2d at 551 (assignees of insured's former business partners and life insurance beneficiaries did not have insurable interest). Texas courts thus have reaffirmed a strong public policy requiring the beneficiary of an insurance contract to have an insurable interest in the life of the insured under traditional restrictions, unless the Texas Legislature specifically alters the policy.
Wal-Mart argues that two of the three justices' individual opinions in a recent splintered ruling, Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's London, D.M. v. Smith, 77 S.W.3d 859 (Tex.App. โ Houston [14th Dist.] 2002, no pet.), demonstrate that the Texas insurable interest doctrine has been eviscerated or abandoned, and that earlier case law supporting the doctrine is no longer representative of Texas courts' views or Texas public policy. In Smith, the majority decision adopted the reasoning of Tamez, a ruling by another panel of the same court, and involving the same defendant employer and the same group accidental injury and death COLI policy. In Smith, the justices in the majority were Justice Wanda Fowler, who wrote a detailed opinion, and Chief Judge Scott Brister, who issued a concurrence "reluctantly." Chief Justice Brister acknowledged that stare decisis applied and that Tamez governed the outcome of the case.[44] As in Tamez, the Smith Defendant was National Convenience Stores ("NCS"), which was trying to establish that the company had an insurable interest in the lives of employees insured under a group accidental injury and death policy the company had purchased naming itself as the beneficiary and owner.[45] Ultimately, the Smith ruling is a reaffirmation that Tamez continues to reflects Texas law on the insurable interest doctrine to the extent the dispute does not involve circumstances governed by Texas statutes. The Smith decision was not appealed.
Wal-Mart ignores the obvious fact that the Smith concurrence and the dissent have no precedential value; they represent the individual views of two Texas judges. Wal-Mart's argument that the Smith case represents a binding โ or even representative โ explanation of the insurable interest doctrine is unfounded. If anything, Smith establishes that Texas courts continue to apply that doctrine unless specifically directed by Texas statute that the doctrine does not apply. Wal-Mart's argument, based on Smith, that Texas courts fundamentally *735 have abandoned the insurable interest doctrine is unpersuasive.
Wal-Mart contends that the Texas Legislature's enactment of laws to alter the traditional insurable interest doctrine demonstrates that the doctrine lacks viability. The Legislature's modifications of the common law insurable interest doctrine have been slow and careful. In 1921, the Legislature enacted article 5048 of the Texas Civil Statutes, which was recodified in 1951 as article 3.49 of the Texas Insurance Code. This provision provides that a corporation or other business may be named a beneficiary in any life insurance policy, and these beneficiaries have an insurable interest in the lives of their officers and stockholders. TEX.INS.CODE, art. 3.49 (Vernon 2000). In effect, article 3.49 allows a business to benefit from insurance on the lives of individuals that are deemed most significant to the business. The Legislature explicitly permitted these rights to apply to existing policies that already had designated the enumerated categories of people as beneficiaries.[46] This provision is significant for what it did not address; article 3.49 does not authorize companies and partnerships to be an owner of the policy. This statute is inapplicable in this case because Douglas Sims was not a stockholder, officer or partner of Wal-Mart.
In 1953, the Legislature enacted article 3.49-1 of the Texas Insurance Code.[47] That statute was amended again in 1999. Contrary to prior case law,[48] the Legislature mandated that insureds of new or existing life insurance policies could grant โ in writing โ an insurable interest to any person or entity by naming them as a beneficiary or owner of the life insurance policy.[49] The Legislature set forth its intentions with respect to its new statute and prior case law in two clauses in section 4 of article 3.49-1. Section 4 provided that "provisions of this Act are cumulative of existing law in Texas, statutory and otherwise, on the question of insurable interest," and this "Act shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes, and its provisions are not to be limited or restricted by previous declarations or holdings of the Courts of Texas defining the term insurable interests."
*736 In 1999, the Legislature amended article 3.49-1, to add a significant provision, which was codified as a new section 3 (and renumbered the prior sections 3 and 4 to be sections 4 and 5, respectively).[50] Under new section 3, after January 1, 2000, any adult in Texas may consent in writing to the "purchase" of, or the "application" for, a group or individual life insurance policy on that person's life, which insurance is purchased or applied for by a third party. In addition, the insured may, "in such written document consent to or designate" "any person" or entity as the beneficiary or owner of the policy.[51] Upon such written consent or designation by the insured, the designated beneficiary and/or owner shall "at all times thereafter have an insurable interest in the life of the insured." Finally, in 2001, the Legislature voted to repeal article 3.49-1 effective June 1, 2003, apparently as part of a massive repeal of the Insurance Code.[52]
Thus, the Texas Legislature, after gaining some experience with the broader rights given to Texas insureds in 1953, granted Texas residents the right โ after January 1, 2000 โ to consent in writing to third parties' acquisition of new group insurance on their lives (Id. art. 3.49-1, ง 3), so long as each insured consents to or designates the beneficiary and owner. This provision was not made retroactive.[53] The Legislature thus carefully limited its enlargement of insureds' options. Thus, the new statutorily-based flexibility granted to insureds does not represent, as Wal-Mart suggests, a wholesale rejection of longstanding Texas public policy and case law.
The Court is also unpersuaded for other reasons by Wal-Mart's new arguments, based on the Smith case, that prior Texas public policy on insurable interest was abandoned by the Legislature's 1999 amendment to article 3.49-1. Defendants' conduct in issue occurred long prior to the 1999 amendments, even if the legislation represented a material shift in Texas public policy. Further, the statute since 1953 has provided that the "Act" is to be given "liberal construction." This language dictates that the statute, as written, be given full ("liberal") effect, not that the statutory provisions should be given effect beyond the Legislature's expressed intent. The Legislature limited insureds' right to allow a third party to purchase group insurance to insurance applications and purchases after January 1, 2000.[54] The Legislature was aware of the issues presented by the *737 Texas insurable interest doctrine when applied in a corporate context from the 1998 decision in Stillwagoner and other cases that preceded the 1999 amendments to article 3.49-1. It is not the role of a federal court sitting in diversity to ignore longstanding and consistently applied Texas legal authorities. The Court declines Wal-Mart's invitation, made under the guise of interpreting current Texas public policy, to expand recent legislative enactments beyond their express language.
Accordingly, the Court rejects Defendants' arguments that the traditional Texas insurable interest doctrine is "obsolete."
(c) Wal-Mart's Contention that Texas Public Policy is Not Implicated
Wal-Mart also argues that Texas public policy on insurable interests is not implicated in this case because Wal-Mart's purchase of COLI policies provided no financial incentive to Wal-Mart to take the lives of its employees and thus "the relevant Texas public policy should have no interest in applying the Texas insurable interest rule to COLI insurance contracts made in the other 49 states."[55] Wal-Mart essentially asserts that Wal-Mart had no financial incentive for its insured employees to die quickly.
Wal-Mart's argument that Texas public policy is not implicated fails for two reasons. First, Wal-Mart's argument assumes a favorable ruling on the merits of this case, i.e., that the Wal-Mart COLI policies do not violate Texas insurable interest law. Indeed, Wal-Mart cites no authority for its singularly outcome determinative approach. The Court must consider the nature of the claims Plaintiffs assert in deciding the threshold choice of law issue. Plaintiffs' claims directly implicate the Texas insurable interest doctrine. The Court need not decide the merits of the parties' arguments about application of that doctrine in order to decide the choice of law issue.
Second, the parties' evidence does not support Wal-Mart's position that its COLI policies, as a matter of law, did not create an incentive in Wal-Mart for the death of the insureds. Wal-Mart largely relies on a single paragraph in an affidavit by Lee A. Nystrom, a representative of the insurance broker on the Wal-Mart COLI policies, National Benefits Group, Inc. ("NBG"). The record establishes that the COLI insurance contracts involved intricate financial arrangements that included inter alia loans by the insurers to the Employer Defendants to pay some or all of the insurance premiums, Employers' income tax considerations, and actuarial analyses.[56] The evidence that Wal-Mart and the Camelot Defendants have submitted on the numerous pending motions reveals that the factual issue of the net benefits Wal-Mart hoped to obtain is highly complex. Nystrom, one of Wal-Mart's insurance brokers, gives only tentative testimony; he stated that "[i]t is my belief that the COLI policies provided no financial incentive for the Trust or Wal-Mart to have the insureds die sooner rather than later."[57] Nothing in the record demonstrates *738 that Nystrom was privy to Wal-Mart's proprietary financial matters. Moreover, Wal-Mart has produced from its own corporate ranks no evidence on the financial effects or mechanics of the policies. Wal-Mart's evidence is patently insufficient to establish that Wal-Mart was financially better off paying premiums to the insurer over many years while the insureds were alive than Wal-Mart would have been if it paid only one or two years of premiums and received the full death benefits under the policies. The oversimplified averments on which Wal-Mart relies raise more questions than they answer, and are not probative evidence that the Texas insurable interest doctrine should not apply in the choice of law determination.[58]
(d) Texas Insurance Code Article 21.42
Hartford attacks the applicability of the Texas insurable interest doctrine in a different manner. Hartford argues that article 21.42 of the Texas Insurance Code expresses the state's current policy to limit the extraterritorial application of Texas law. Article 21.42 provides in relevant part:
Any contract of insurance payable to any citizen or inhabitant of this State by any insurance company or corporation doing business within this State shall be held to be a contract made and entered into under and by virtue of the laws of this State relating to insurance.
Hartford argues that "Article 21.42 is designed to ensure only that Texas law will apply to contracts made between Texas citizens and insurance companies doing business in Texas, when and only when those contacts are made in the course of the company's Texas business," and thus the Texas Legislature intended to exclude COLI policies payable to beneficiaries outside Texas.[59] This argument is rejected. First, there is nothing in Article 21.42 to support the inference that the Texas Legislature, in enacting Article 21.42, intended to repeal by implication the longstanding, prophylactic common law insurable interest doctrine. The Texas Legislature by Article 21.42 expressed its intent to expand *739 Texas regulatory authority to foreign entities doing business in Texas, who elect to pay or designate beneficiaries who live in or are citizens of Texas. There is no basis to conclude that this legislative decision represents an intention by Texas to abandon silently the insurable interest doctrine that protects its citizens in a different circumstance, namely, when the insured, rather than the beneficiary, is the Texas resident. The Court therefore rejects Defendants' attempt to discount the Texas insurable interest doctrine as obsolete or as limited by Article 21.42.
2. Policies of Other Interested States, and the Relative Interests of the Various States in the Determination of the Insurable Interest Issues
(a) Georgia's Interests in Determination of the Issues
Defendants argue that Georgia has a stronger interest than Texas in the application of its public policy. Defendants also posit that enforcement of the Texas policy in this case will infringe Georgia's public policy.[60]
These contentions are not persuasive. Nothing in the record establishes that the State of Georgia per se has an interest in enforcing its laws in Texas as to Texas inhabitants. Indeed, Defendants fail to answer meaningfully the question why the Georgia Legislature or Georgia citizens care if an employer (in or outside of Georgia) is prohibited from obtaining insurance on the life of its Texas employees. There is no indication that the State of Georgia intended this result when adopting its insurable interest statutes.
(a) Defendants' analysis, taken to its logical conclusion, is that the state of Georgia unilaterally may authorize any company or person that arbitrarily or artificially creates some connection to that state to abrogate contrary public policy in one or more of the remaining forty-nine states. Under the Employer Defendants' respective theories, in order to impose Georgia's law on other states, an employer need only purchase a COLI policy covering its employees nation-wide, while the employer's representatives signing the documents are physically present in Georgia (as Camelot did), or may simply purchase the insurance through a legal entity created solely for the purpose of invoking Georgia law (as Wal-Mart did). Georgia's Legislature has not exhibited any intent to go so far. Moreover, there is no meaningful public policy that has been articulated on behalf of Georgia that would be advanced by condoning Defendants' actions in this choice of law analysis.
In any event, the United States Supreme Court long ago ruled in Griffin, that a Texas court is not obligated to give effect within the State of Texas to the laws of other states if those laws violate fundamental Texas public policy. A "state is not required to enforce a law obnoxious to its public policy." Griffin, 313 U.S. at 507, 61 S.Ct. 1023.
(b) Extraterritorial Enforcement of Texas or Georgia Law under Home Insurance v. Dick
Defendants alternatively argue, relying on Home Insurance Co. v. Dick, 281 U.S. 397, 50 S.Ct. 338, 74 L.Ed. 926 (1930), that the extraterritorial application of the Texas insurable interest doctrine in *740 the case at bar "raises serious Constitutional questions involving due process".[61] This argument lacks merit. Home Insurance involved a property damage claim for coverage under insurance issued in Mexico by a Mexican underwriter of a tugboat that operated outside the United States. The insurance was owned and negotiated by a person while living and working in Mexico.[62] Neither the insurance contract, the subject-matter of that contract, nor the parties had any meaningful contacts with Texas.[63] The Supreme Court ruled that "[a] state may of course prohibit and declare invalid the making of certain contracts within its borders. Ordinarily, it may prohibit performance within its borders, even of contracts validly made elsewhere, if they are required to be performed within the state and their performance would violate its laws." Home Insurance, 281 U.S. at 407, 50 S.Ct. 338 (emphasis added).[64] The Home Insurance ruling thus, if anything, supports Plaintiffs' position, not Defendants'.[65]
*741 In addition, the Supreme Court decided Home Insurance eleven years before its Griffin decision. In Griffin, as discussed above, the Supreme Court specifically held that it would be constitutionally permissible for Texas to apply its insurable interest doctrine to a foreign contract. See Griffin, 313 U.S. at 507, 61 S.Ct. 1023.
Thus, Defendants have failed to show that Georgia has a stronger interest in the disputed issues than Texas. Giving Georgia law the extraterritorial effect requested by Defendants would encroach on the Texas Legislature's and Texas courts' prerogatives, while not materially advancing Georgia public policy to protect its own citizens. The Court also rejects Defendants' contention that Home Insurance controls this case or limits Texas courts' application of the Texas insurable interest doctrine. Requiring compliance with the Texas insurable interest doctrine is not an improper extraterritorial application of Texas law.
3. The Basic Policies Underlying the Particular Field of Law: Insurance Law
The issues in this case implicate the fundamental purpose of and policies underlying life insurance. Under Texas law, "the essential foundation of a life insurance policy is the life of a human being." Gibralter Colorado Life Co. v. Taylor, 132 Tex. 328, 123 S.W.2d 318, 321 (1939). The primary purpose of life insurance is the "protection of those who would be pecuniarily damaged by the death of the insured." Hildebrandt v. Ames, 27 Tex.Civ. App. 377, 66 S.W. 128, 131 (Tex.Civ.App. 1901, writ ref'd). Texas courts have held generally that "to permit those who would not be so damaged to receive the benefit of the policy would be to defeat the purpose and intent of the contract." Id.; accord, Hansen v. Blackmon, 169 S.W.2d 955, 962 (Tex.Civ.App. โ El Paso 1942), aff'd, 140 Tex. 536, 169 S.W.2d 962 (1943) ("The primary purpose of life insurance is not investment, but protection."). Texas courts follow this principle when applying the insurable interest doctrine:
Bluntly expressed, insurable interest ... is determined by monetary considerations, viewed from the standpoint of the beneficiary. Would [the beneficiary] regard himself as better off from the standpoint of money, would [the beneficiary] enjoy more substantial economic returns should the insured continue to live; or would [the beneficiary] have more, in the form of the proceeds of the policy, should [the insured] die? Therefore, it is said that if the situation is such that [the beneficiary] might be led to conclude that he would profit by [the insured's] death, the policy is void as to him since the public has a controlling concern that no person have an interest in the early death of another, an interest that may give rise to a temptation to destroy [the insured's] life.
Drane, 161 S.W.2d at 1059. Enforcement of the Texas insurable interest doctrine advances Texas policies underlying insurance law.[66]
*742 4. Protection of Justified Expectations and the Need for Certainty, Predictability, and Uniformity of Result
Defendants argue that the protection of justified expectations, as well as the need for certainty, predictability, and uniformity of result, demand enforcement of the COLI policies using Georgia law. Analysis here again differs depending on the party's perspective. Defendants stress that, when they created the COLI policies, they expected that Georgia law would apply to those policies. Defendants acknowledge that there are no choice of law provisions in the COLI policies. Nevertheless, Defendants contend that the choice of law provisions in the Wal-Mart Trust Agreement ("Trust Agreement"), the Wal-Mart Trust's location, and all Defendants' activities in Georgia require that the issues in this case be governed exclusively under Georgia law. Defendants further assert that application of Georgia law nationwide would advance the goal of uniformity and predictability of the result under the COLI policies.
Under the Restatement, reliance by contracting parties on their agreed terms to a contract, including selection of laws, ordinarily is a significant consideration. RESTATEMENT ง 187. The parties' agreed terms, however, do not control in every circumstance under a choice of law analysis.[67] When a person is integral to a contract, such as the insured for an insurance policy, but that person plays no active role in the creation of the contract in issue, there is little reason for the contracting parties' self-serving expectations to control the choice of law determination for the parties' disputes.[68] Indeed, when a person is unaware of the contract, the expectations of the signatories to the contract is substantially less significant in a dispute between a signatory and the non-signatory. Plaintiffs did not negotiate or agree to the COLI contract terms, at least some Plaintiffs were not even aware of the existence of the insurance at all.[69] The Restatement ง 6's goal of the need for certainty, predictability, and uniformity of result is not intended to serve as a vehicle for contracting parties to override the protection that states' public policies afford to non-signatories to the contract.
The Court concludes that Defendants' expectation when entering into the COLI contracts that Georgia law would apply with regard to Texas insureds was not justified. Defendants admittedly set up the COLI policies in Georgia and selected *743 Georgia law in an attempt to avoid contrary public policies in states such as Texas. In doing so, Defendants took the risk that a Texas court would decline to apply Georgia law, as prior Texas cases indicated.[70]
Defendants also fail to demonstrate persuasively how application of Georgia law to Texas insureds advances the need for certainty, predictability, and uniformity of result. Defendants provide no meaningful reason why Texas citizens and residents should not be able to count on enforcement of the longstanding Texas insurable interests doctrine (except as expressly altered after public debate and final enactment of statute by the Texas Legislature). The Court rejects Defendants' attempts in the choice of law context to impose their self-serving expectations on non-signatories to the insurance contracts in issue under the artificial circumstances in this case. The goals of certainty, predictability, and of uniformity are served in the case at bar by the consistent application of Texas law to Texas citizens, not by the application of Georgia law at Defendants' behest.[71]
5. Needs of Interstate and International Systems and Ease in the Determination and Application of the Law to be Applied.
Defendants contend that it would serve the interstate system for courts to permit parties to make contracts involving residents of other states. While the principle of consistency in interstate systems and ease of determination of applicable law clearly have general merit, Defendants' requested application of these concepts is *744 flawed. First, these aspirational goals are not immutable. They are to be balanced when the contracts in issue flout an established public policy of another state and the contracting parties have attempted to manipulate the choice of law considerations. See Griffin, 123 F.2d at 551 ("[W]e have no reason to think that the courts of Texas would permit citizens of other states to speculate upon the death of one of its citizens by means of contracts made without the state when the same is forbidden within its territorial limits.").
Interstate or international systems are advanced by each jurisdiction having easily ascertainable, certain, uniform, and predictable law governing disputes in that jurisdiction. The application of Texas law to insurance contracts on the lives of Texas residents and citizens is an easily ascertainable rule that respects each jurisdiction's choices and priorities. The application of Texas insurable interest law is not difficult. As set forth above, the doctrine is well established in Texas and has been uniformly applied.[72]
It is common that, in matters a state has authority to regulate, the state's courts consistently will apply that state's law to disputes involving its citizens. Pearson v. Northeast Airlines Inc., 309 F.2d 553, 559 (2d Cir.1962); see Caton v. Leach Corp., 896 F.2d 939, 943 (5th Cir.1990); Stobaugh v. Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd., 5 S.W.3d 232 (Tex.App. โ Houston [14th Dist.] 1999) (citing Caton). Defendants' insistence that private contracting parties be able to impose on non-signatories the state law the contracting parties select, despite the impact of that law on other state's citizens, undermines the uniformity of Texas law, thereby interfering with goal of promotion of ease of determination and application of the law to be applied. The choice of law factors of the needs of interstate system and the ease of determination of the law to be applied are advanced by application in this case of Texas, not Georgia law.
C. Application of Texas Contract Choice of Law Principles to Defendants' COLI Contracts
1. Restatement ง 188 Principles for Contract Disputes
As discussed above, the choice of law analysis in contract cases focuses on the parties' contacts with a jurisdiction in the following respects:
(a) the place of contracting,
(b) the place of negotiation of the contract,
(c) the place of performance,
(d) the location of the subject matter of the contract, and
(e) the domicile, residence, nationality, place of incorporation and place of business of the parties.
RESTATEMENT ง 188(2); Minnesota Mining and Mfg. Co., 953 S.W.2d at 735-36; Maxus Exploration, 817 S.W.2d at 53-54; Houston Casualty Co. v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's London, 51 F.Supp.2d 789, 797 (S.D.Tex.1999). The choice of law analysis must be performed under ง 188(2) for each disputed issue. "Some contacts are more important than others because they implicate state policies underlying the particular substantive issue." Duncan v. Cessna Aircraft Co., 665 S.W.2d 414, 421 (Tex.1984).[73] The comments to the Restatement *745 further teach that "[s]tanding alone, the place of contracting is a relatively insignificant contact." RESTATEMENT ง 188 cmt. e. Ultimately, the selection of the applicable law depends on the qualitative nature of the parties' particular contacts with the respective jurisdictions. Duncan, 665 S.W.2d at 421.
2. Choice of Law Analysis for the Wal-Mart COLI Policies
In this case, the Wal-Mart Defendants contend that the Wal-Mart COLI policies have the most significant contacts with the state of Georgia and that Wal-Mart intended Georgia's law to apply. On reconsideration, the Wal-Mart Defendants contend in the alternative that, "if Georgia law does not apply, then the law of Arkansas, Delaware, or North Carolina would apply to the insurable interest issue because those states have more significant contacts than Texas does."[74] Wal-Mart contends that all of these states other than Texas "would recognize that Wal-Mart had an insurable interest in the lives of its employees."[75]
(a) Features of the Wal-Mart Trust
The Wal-Mart Defendants have demonstrated without contradiction that the Wal-Mart Trust was created in Georgia for the sole purpose of advancing Wal-Mart's goal of purchasing the COLI policies.[76] Choice of Georgia as the situs of the Trust was for Wal-Mart's administrative convenience and to attempt to enjoy Georgia's favorable insurable interest law.[77]
The Trust is nothing but an administrative arm of Wal-Mart through which the company hoped to ease its administrative burdens for the COLI policies and shield itself from disadvantageous insurable interest doctrines in several states. The Trust Agreement states that Wal-Mart "will effectuate insurance on the Insureds [Wal-Mart employees] through this Trust" and the "Trust is for the sole and exclusive benefit of [Wal-Mart] and Trustee.... No other person ... shall be entitled to rely on or enforce any provision of this Trust."[78] The Trust Agreement provided that the purposes of the Trust were:
(i) to hold one or more policies of insurance on the life or lives of any or all of the present employees and future employees of the Grantor and its subsidiaries (the "Insureds"); (ii) to receive the proceeds of any such policy as and when such proceeds become payable; and (iii) to pay the Grantor from the cash assets (including the cash value of any insurance *746 policies) of the Trust such amount or amounts as Grantor may from time to time direct.[79]
It is clear from the face of the Wal-Mart Trust Agreement that the Trust was solely a vehicle through which Wal-Mart directed its investment in the COLI policies. The Trust Agreement states that Wal-Mart "will effectuate insurance on the Insureds [i.e., Wal-Mart employees] through this Trust."[80] The Trust was to purchase and hold COLI policies "at the direction of [Wal-Mart]."[81] Also, the Trust was to receive the proceeds of the policies.[82] The Trust was to handle all Trust property, including proceeds from the COLI policies, to Wal-Mart at Wal-Mart's sole direction.[83] The Trust was not responsible for the collection of life insurance proceeds.[84] Instead, the Trustee merely was to receive, hold, and use whatever benefits were paid by the insurance companies, at Wal-Mart's direction.[85] Wal-Mart itself, not the Trust, was responsible for notifying the insurers of claims, providing proof of death of an insured, or pursuing collection of benefits.[86] The Trust Agreement further states: "The Trustee shall not be responsible for the administration and distribution hereunder of such proceeds until they are actually paid to the Trustee."[87]
The Wal-Mart Trust Agreement named Wachovia, a bank doing business in Georgia, as the Trustee and established Georgia as the situs of the Wal-Mart Trust.[88] Wal-Mart, through the Wal-Mart Trust, directed the purchase of the COLI policies between December 1993 and sometime in 1995. Raymond H. Sapp, a trust officer of Wachovia who served as the Wal-Mart Trust's Trustee and was involved with creation of the Wal-Mart Trust, attests that: (i) Wal-Mart applied for and was issued the COLI policies in the state of Georgia, (ii) premium payments were made by the Wal-Mart Trust by wire transfer from Georgia to the offices of AIG and Hartford, and (iii) none of the COLI policies were made, issued, received, paid, or performed in Texas.[89] Wal-Mart established the Wal-Mart Trust and "structured its COLI program in this way to take advantage of favorable Georgia law on `insurable interest.'"[90]
Based on these facts, Wal-Mart and the Insurer Defendants argue that all of the contacts listed in Restatement ง 188 favor *747 the application of Georgia law.[91] After consideration of all the parties' contacts with various states, in light of the contacts' relative importance to the insurable interest issue, this Court holds that the Restatement's ง 188 factors, to the extent pertinent suggest that Texas insurance law should apply to Plaintiffs' claims. The detailed analysis follows.
(b) Place of Contracting
Defendant Wal-Mart contends that its evidence establishes that the COLI policies were applied for and issued in Georgia. Wal-Mart argues that many of the steps in creation of the COLI policies were performed in Georgia, and the place where the last step necessary to making the contract is dispositive. Wal-Mart also contends that "[n]one of the COLI policies it purchased was made, issued, received, paid for, or performed in Texas."[92] Wal-Mart asserts that no "individual health information" was required with respect to any of the insureds before the AIG or Hartford COLI policies were issued.[93]
There is authority for the proposition that the place a contract is made is deemed to be the place of performance of the final act necessary to complete the contract to make it binding on the parties. See Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Greene, 93 S.W.2d 1241, 1245-46 (Tex.Ct.App. โ El Paso 1936, no writ).[94] The Greene case held that group insurance policies issued and delivered in New York were New York contracts, as between the employer-purchaser and the insurer, but the law of the state of delivery of the certificates of insurance (either California or Arizona) would govern a dispute between the employee-insured and the insurer over coverage. At best, therefore, Wal-Mart's authority establishes that the state whose law applies to a dispute between the insurer and the employer that purchases a group insurance policy will not necessarily be the same as the state's whose law governs a dispute between the employee-insured and the insurer. Moreover, Greene establishes that the particular provisions of the insurance contracts and the location of the insured are material to the choice of law determination.
Wal-Mart relies on evidence that representatives of Wal-Mart, AIG, Hartford and the Trust (through Wachovia's employee, Sapp) signed Wal-Mart's original AIG and Hartford COLI policy applications and handed them to AIG and Hartford's agents in Atlanta on December 30, 1993.[95] Wal-Mart used the standard Georgia-approved form of life insurance *748 policy.[96] Wal-Mart also asserts that the contract for purchase of insurance was "complete" when Sapp signed the Letter of Understanding on behalf of the Trust on December 30, 1993.[97] Wal-Mart also points to the AIG Letter of Understanding,[98] which was signed on December 28, 1993 by AIG in an unspecified location, presumably outside Georgia, but was signed and accepted by Sapp for the Trust on December 30, in Atlanta. Second Sapp. Aff., ถ 3.[99] Wal-Mart further contends that the policies were "issued" in Georgia because that is what the AIG Letter of Understanding (setting forth the detailed terms of the relationship between Wal-Mart and AIG) provided,[100] because the initial annual premiums were transmitted by and from the Trust from Atlanta to either AIG or Hartford, and then "the insurance policies were then issued by AIG and Hartford and delivered back to the Trust in Atlanta, Georgia, and accepted by the Trust in Atlanta, Georgia."[101] Wal-Mart contends that "[a]ll subsequent blocks of polices[ ] were issued to and received by the Trust in Atlanta, Georgia."[102] Finally, Sapp also explains that the first block of policies (including the one on Sims's life) were received and "accepted" by the Trust in Atlanta on March 10, 1994.[103]
*749 Many of these averments are merely legal conclusions (e.g., the policies were "issued" and "accepted") that the Court need not and does not accept as conclusive. While Wal-Mart provides important evidence that various actions regarding creation of the COLI policies occurred in Georgia, there also is other important evidence establishing significant contacts with other states.
For instance, the place that policy premiums were to be paid before the insurer deemed them "received" is material. While Sapp states that the Trust paid for the policies by wire transfer from Atlanta,[104] he implicitly acknowledges that receipt of these payments by the insurers was at AIG's office in Delaware and Hartford's office in Connecticut.[105] The Sims COLI Policy states that payment under the contract was not deemed made until received in the insurer's home office.[106]
In connection with the place of contracting, if one relies on the very last step before the insurance contracts became binding on the purchaser, then that step is the examination during the twenty day rejection period. During that time, the Trust, Wal-Mart and the broker, were permitted to examine the policies and to return them if desired for a full refund. Sapp avers that the "Trust did not thereafter exercise the right to return the policies within 20 days for a full refund of the premiums."[107] While Sapp's testimony is intended to suggest that this examination occurred in Georgia, this testimony is obviously incomplete. Copies of the policies were retained by the Trustee in Georgia and by the broker, presumably in Minnesota.[108] The Trust Agreement required that all notices be sent to Wal-Mart in Arkansas,[109] and thus copies of the COLI policies likely were sent there for Wal-Mart's review, since Wal-Mart was responsible to make all decisions pertaining to the Trust.[110] Nothing suggests that any work by NBG, the broker, or Wal-Mart pertaining to the Trust's creation was done in Georgia. Wal-Mart's evidence on this factor thus is inconclusive. Thus, if the truly last step before a contract is binding is significant in this case even though Plaintiffs did not sign the contracts and were not involved in their creation, then the Court concludes that the final acts before the COLI contracts became binding took place in several states, of which Georgia was only one. The Court is unpersuaded the last step before the COLI contracts were accepted as final took place in Georgia.
The COLI policy contains a provision immediately above the contracting parties' signatures that "[n]o policy will take effect unless and until, while the Insured is living, the application is approved, the full initial premium is paid, the policy is delivered *750 and accepted by the owner, and answers and statements in this application continue to be complete and true at the time of such payment and acceptance."[111] This provision requires that the insureds be alive when the insurance became effective, and that they have not declined the coverage (by declining the special death benefit).[112] Wal-Mart or some contracting party was required to make this determination where the insureds were located, as indicated by the Emerick Memorandum directed to the Location Managers, and the attached December 1993 flyer, announcing the special death benefits. This verification was to occur after the insurer signed the policy and received payment, but before delivery of the policy to the owner. Wal-Mart's argument that the policies did not require any health evaluation does not ameliorate the concern by the carriers that the insured be alive on the effective date of the policies. This requirement could be satisfied only by Wal-Mart checking on its employees at their places of employment, which for Texas employees, was in Texas.
It also is notable that the AIG Letter of Understanding, which was made a part of the Wal-Mart/AIG COLI policy contracts, provides that the parties' agreement to purchase insurance does not take effect unless, inter alia, AIG receives the total first year premium.[113] AIG declared in various places in the parties' contract documents that payments must be received in Delaware at the AIG administrative office.[114] This significant contact with Delaware also undermines Defendants' arguments that Georgia was the "place of contracting."
Wal-Mart's evidence also invites comment on another aspect of the parties' relationships. Each of the ง 188 factors must be evaluated with reference to the claims and facts of each case. Since Plaintiffs seek rulings on the effect of the insurable interest doctrine, and there is no dispute as to the meaning of the express terms of the COLI polices, the place of contracting factor must include consideration of where and when the Wal-Mart employees accepted or, in Wal-Mart's rubric, approved Wal-Mart's inclusion of the employees in, the COLI insurance program.[115]
Insurance on Sims's life was purchased in the first block of policies sold by AIG to Wal-Mart.[116] At the outset of the program, in December 1993, Wal-Mart informed its employees then enrolled in the Wal-Mart Plan that the company would pay for a new Special Death Benefit.[117] The flyer was distributed through Wal-Mart "Location Managers" to all employees, *751 presumably at the employees' work-places,[118] which for Sims was in Texas. Thus, Sims's conversations, his receipt of information (if any), and his act or decision (if any) not to decline the Special Death Benefit occurred in Texas. Wal-Mart argues that notification to employees about the Special Death Benefit served as notice about, and acceptance or approval of, Wal-Mart's purchase of COLI policies on the employees' lives. To the extent that Sims made his decision based on the flyer distributed in late December 1993, Sims did so in Texas.[119]
Thus, Wal-Mart's argument that the COLI policies were applied for and accepted in Georgia is a gross oversimplification of the actual events.
Wal-Mart's evidence does not demonstrate that the "place of contracting" is a significant ง 188 factor in this case. In addition to the fact that important events necessary to the creation of the COLI contracts occurred in several states, including Texas, the claims Plaintiffs assert must be considered closely. Plaintiffs' claims present the issue of whether Wal-Mart had an insurable interest in Plaintiffs' (or their decedents') lives. Each of the choice of law factors must be evaluated "according to their relative importance with respect to the particular issue." RESTATEMENT ง 188(2). Thus, even if Georgia were found to be the state with the most numerous contacts under the "place of contracting" factor, it is inescapable that these contacts all are based on the artificial constructs of either the Wal-Mart Trust or a meeting set up by the Camelot Defendants to sign the paperwork in Georgia, each done for the express purpose of taking advantage of favorable Georgia law on insurable *752 interests, and without any other meaningful connection to that state.[120] Additionally, the location of these devices occurred without any input from the insureds, including Plaintiffs, Texas residents. In view of the policy considerations involved in that doctrine, which must be considered under Restatement ง 6, the Court accords the "place of contracting" factor (regarding the creation of the COLI policies per se) little weight in the choice of law analysis in this case.
(c) Place of Negotiation
Defendants argue that the "place of negotiation" factor favors the application of Georgia law to the Wal-Mart COLI policies. Defendants' sole evidence for this assertion originally was the superficial testimony of Sapp.[121] Wal-Mart later submitted additional evidence from Sapp and an affidavit from Nystrom, one of the broker's representatives. Nystrom avers that "negotiations related to the COLI policies took place in Arkansas and Georgia," and not in Texas.[122] Nystrom further states that he "was involved in meetings in late 1993" with "Wal-Mart in Arkansas and the [Trust] in Georgia relating to the purchase by the Trust of [COLI] policies insuring Wal-Mart employees."[123] Nystrom, however, did not sign the policy applications; they were signed by Winer, the person to whom Nystrom reported.[124] Wal-Mart also points to the use of the Georgia standard form of insurance.[125]
Wal-Mart again misses the mark. Its evidence does not address explicitly the location of all the negotiations, or even the meaningful ones.[126] Nystrom simply states vaguely that he "knows of no negotiation related to the purchase of the COLI policies" other than in Arkansas and Georgia.[127]
*753 Wal-Mart's evidence fails to point to any single state as the state with significant contacts regarding negotiations of the contracts in issue. One event provides a contact with Texas. Wal-Mart contends in other contexts that Sims approved the purchase of the COLI policy on his life through his failure to decline the Special Death Benefit in December 1993.[128] The Court assumes, for the purposes of the pending motions, that Sims received and acted on Wal-Mart's request in the December 1993 flyer Wal-Mart distributed through Location Managers at each store. If Wal-Mart's Location Manager handed Wal-Mart's request to Sims and discussed it with him, then these acts occurred in Texas. Under Wal-Mart's construction of the events, these actions comprise negotiations on the COLI contracts, and reflect a potentially significant contact with Texas as to the Sims Estate's claim.[129]
Wal-Mart's evidence as to contacts with Georgia (and other states) is significant for what is not included. Nystrom does not state that he attended all meetings or negotiation sessions. He does not mention how many meetings that he attended were in Arkansas as compared to Georgia or the insurers' home offices in Delaware and Connecticut.[130] Wal-Mart submits no affidavit from Winer, president of NBG, who likely was involved in some meetings in light of the enormity of Wal-Mart's COLI transaction. Nystrom's affidavit suggests that NBG's principal place of business, consistent with the contact information on one of the application forms, was in Minnesota.[131] Some of the broker's communications likely were conducted or initiated from there. Wal-Mart submits no evidence about the identity of the representatives who negotiated for the Insurer Defendants, no evidence about the location of these people's offices, and no evidence as to when or how the material terms of the COLI policies, such as the size of the premiums, were agreed to. It is inconceivable that no negotiations took place in the states in which the insurers' home offices are located. There is no evidence about who gathered crucial data about the identities of the insureds or how the information was amassed for consideration by the Insurer Defendants in connection with the COLI policies. Even more striking, Wal-Mart does not include in any affidavit or other evidence from its own representatives non-conclusory factual information about the negotiations for the COLI policies, even though Wal-Mart is the sole beneficiary of the insurance policies in issue and controls all the Trust's activities.[132] Nor does Sapp, the Trustee's officer, include any comments about his own pre-contract negotiations. It is inconceivable that detailed analysis and negotiations among representatives of each of the signatories to the COLI contract documents did not occur before the final terms were reached.
Accordingly, Wal-Mart's evidence fails to demonstrate that Georgia was the primary place of negotiation.[133] If anything, *754 the supplemental evidence weakens Wal-Mart's position that Georgia was the "place of negotiation" for choice of law purposes.
Wal-Mart, implicitly acknowledging this result, argues in the alternative that the place of negotiation was possibly in various states, but not in Texas. This argument does not advance Wal-Mart's cause. Wal-Mart's evidence, when considered with the absence of proof on pertinent subjects, leads the Court to find that the place of negotiation does not establish meaningful contacts with any one state.
In any event, to the extent Plaintiffs were not involved in creation of the COLI contracts, this factor is not material in the case at bar. Accordingly, Defendants have failed to establish Georgia in particular as the "place of negotiations" for the Wal-Mart policies. Further, because the parties' locations and places of negotiations were so widely dispersed, the Court gives the "place of negotiation" factor no weight in its choice of law analysis.
(d) Place of Performance
Defendants argue that the "place of performance" factor in the ง 188 choice of law analysis favors application of Georgia law in this case and, in any event, does not support reliance on Texas law. Defendants contend that the Wal-Mart Trust was located in Georgia, and that all premiums were paid from, and policy proceeds were paid to, the Trust in Georgia.[134] Further, Wal-Mart contends that no performance occurred in Texas. Wal-Mart contends that the death of an insured is "merely a condition precedent to payment."[135] Defendants' analysis is superficial and accordingly is not persuasive. The Court finds that the place of performance is an important factor in the ง 188 analysis, and that the evidence establishes strong contacts with the state of Texas. Moreover, Wal-Mart's putative contacts with Georgia are not significant when the realities of the parties' relationships are analyzed.
The Wal-Mart COLI policies issued by AIG require that all required written notice and requests be sent to the insurer's Delaware office.[136] Payment of proceeds under those policies occurred only when "proof is received at our [insured's] administrative office [in Delaware] of [the] Insured's death."[137] Nystrom avers that NBG prepared the Death of Insured Notification Forms in Minnesota for execution by Wal-Mart and the Trust. Generally, NBG prepared the death notices after "receiving notice of an employee's death either from the Wal-Mart benefits department in Arkansas or through computerized sweeps by NBG of national Social Security Administration computerized records."[138] NBG forwarded the notices for the both the AIG and Hartford policies to a Wal-Mart representative in Arkansas for signature. The Hartford forms also were signed by a Trust representative in Georgia for awhile and later in North Carolina.[139] Some of the Trust's administrative functions were performed by Wachovia in North Carolina starting in or about 1997,[140] but "to [Nystrom's] knowledge," none of the forms were signed in Texas.[141] Nystrom states that Wal-Mart *755 and the Trust specifically chose one state, Georgia, as the "site for the COLI policies" in order to "provide administrative and legal predictability and uniformity for all of the policies."[142]
Wal-Mart focuses on the fact that the insurers paid all policy proceeds to Georgia to the Trust, which forwarded them to Wal-Mart in Arkansas, or otherwise acted at Wal-Mart's direction.[143] Wal-Mart also includes two conclusory assertions: The "Trust performed under the policies by paying annual policy premiums on the COLI policies[; and] AIG and Hartford performed under the polices by paying death benefits to the Trust."[144] The Sims AIG policy and proof of Sims's death was handled in this fashion.[145]
The Court has considered the fact that the nominal owner of the policies, the Trust, was located in Georgia and that all monies relating to the policies passed through that entity.[146] However, it is clear that all monies paid by the Trust were obtained from Wal-Mart, the Wal-Mart Trust's activities were conducted at the express direction of Wal-Mart, all funds received by the Trust were forwarded to Wal-Mart, or handled at the express direction of Wal-Mart. The Trust was created for the sole purpose of serving, and in fact served, as a mere conduit in Georgia for the funds paid by Wal-Mart. The Trust had purely ministerial administrative functions and its existence was solely for the purpose of siting the COLI policies in Georgia. Thus, Defendants establish only that there are superficial contacts with Georgia under the ง 188 place of performance factor.
On the other hand, there is evidence that performance under the Wal-Mart COLI policies involved contacts with several other states. For instance, all premium payments were "received" by AIG and thus were effective only when the payments reached the AIG headquarters in Delaware.[147] If an insurance contract specifies that premium payments are to be made at the insurance company's home office, the general Texas rule is that the place of performance of the contract is the state in which the insurer's home office is located.[148]Seiders v. Merchants' Life Ass'n, 93 Tex. 194, 54 S.W. 753, 754 (1900) (holding that place of performance of a life insurance contract was the state where premiums were made payable, even if the contract was made in another state). Accord New York Life Ins. Co. v. Baum, 700 F.2d 928, 933 (5th Cir.1983); see generally Hull & Co., Inc. v. Chandler, 889 S.W.2d 513, 517-18 (Tex.App. โ Houston [14 Dist.], 1994); American National Insurance Co. v. Huckleberry, 638 F.Supp. 233, 235 (N.D.Tex.1986).
*756 Another fact is that Wal-Mart, doing business nationwide, and headquartered in Arkansas, was the named beneficiary of the COLI policies.[149] The "Company Name to Appear on Policy" was "Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.," with an Arkansas address. Only the "Billing Address" was Wachovia Bank of Georgia, N.A. in Atlanta. None of these aspects of the contract support Georgia as the place of performance.
Finally, Wal-Mart discounts a critical component of the performance of the COLI polices, establishment of right to payment by the insurer of the benefits upon death of the insured. It is immaterial whether the proof of an insured's death is called a "condition precedent" (as Wal-Mart argues) or a material part of performance of the insurance contract. The parties agreed that the Insurer Defendants must receive definitive proof of death of an insured before the insurers will pay any policy benefits. This proof, for Texas residents, originates in Texas. Whether NBG obtains notice of an insured's death from Wal-Mart's benefits department or the Social Security database, the original source of that information is the records of the state of Texas. Activities in Texas thus are central to performance of payment of proceeds under the COLI policies and Georgia has no connection to this aspect of performance.
Moreover, an incontrovertible corollary relating to performance of the COLI contracts is that the owner's payment of premiums is due on an insured only during the life of the insured. To determine the status of the Texas resident insured, communication with Texas is necessary.
The Court concludes the place of performance of the contracts is an important factor in the ง 188 analysis in this case. The Court, however, finds that the location of the Wal-Mart Trust and other facts on which Wal-Mart relies are not dispositive on this factor. After considering all the evidence of contacts of the parties regarding performance of the COLI policies generally and the Sims Policy specifically, it is apparent that Georgia has only a contrived and superficial connection to these insurance policies with respect to the "place of performance." In contrast, Texas has a significant relationship to "performance of the contract" insofar as creation of the insurance coverage (the need for the insured to be alive at the inception of the policy) and payment of policy benefits (death of the insured) are concerned. These considerations tip this important factor heavily in favor of Texas.[150]
(e) Location of the Subject Matter of the Contract
Defendant Wal-Mart asserts that the location of the subject matter of the COLI policies favors the application of Georgia law. The Insurer Defendants paid COLI policy proceeds on deceased insureds to the Wal-Mart Trust in Georgia, or possibly *757 in North Carolina (where administration of the Trust was transferred in 1997). The only contact with Texas for a named party relating to Wal-Mart is the place of residence of employee Douglas Sims, a Texas resident. Wal-Mart also contends, apparently focusing solely on its own goals, that the subject matter of the COLI contracts is payment of insurance proceeds, not the life of the insured. Wal-Mart ignores the existence of the responsibilities, risks, and rewards to the insurance carriers and to Wal-Mart during the life of the insureds under the COLI policies. Wal-Mart was obligated to pay premium payments to the Insurer Defendants during each insured's life.[151] The fact that an insured is alive when the premium is paid is crucial to Defendants. Each COLI policy involved different monetary duties depending upon whether the insured was alive or dead. The evidence of the insured's status is derived through periodic scrutiny of Wal-Mart records generated in each insured's home state. If an insured leaves Wal-Mart's employ, then the task of determining if and when the insured has died becomes more complicated, but contact with the insured's state of residence is required. For Texas residents, the obligation to pay proceeds arises only as a result of an event in Texas, the death of an insured.[152]
It thus is the insured's life that is the subject matter of the COLI policy. Since Sims and the other Plaintiffs in this suit are (or were) citizens or residents of Texas, the location of the subject matter of the COLI policies is Texas. This result is consistent with Texas law. Texas courts have held that the subject matter of a life insurance policy is the life of the insured. Specifically, a life insurance policy that lapsed before the insured died cannot be reinstated after the insured's death because the insured's life โ the subject matter of the policy โ no longer exists. Gibralter Colorado Life Co. v. Taylor, 132 Tex. 328, 123 S.W.2d 318, 321 (1939); Baker v. Penn Mut. Life Ins. Co., 617 S.W.2d 814, 815-816 (Tex.Civ.App. โ Houston [14th Dist.] 1981, n.w.h.). "The essential foundation of a life insurance policy is the life of a human being." Gibralter, 123 S.W.2d at 321.
The Restatement provides that "[t]he state where the [subject of the contract] is located will have a natural interest in transactions affecting it." RESTATEMENT ง 188, cmt. e. Accordingly, the location of the subject matter of the Sims Policy and the other COLI policies insuring the lives of Texas citizens or residents is Texas.
Public policy considerations prompt the Court in this case to give the "subject matter of the contract" factor great significance in the choice of law analysis. The Texas insurable interest doctrine exists to protect the lives of Texas citizens. Cheeves, 28 S.W. at 275 ("It is against the public policy of this state to allow any one who has no insurable interest to be the owner of a policy of insurance upon the life of a human being."); Griffin v. McCoach, 123 F.2d at 551 ("The [insurable interest] rule in Texas is for the protection of the *758 lives of its citizens."). This Texas public policy is integrally intertwined with the "subject matter of the contracts" in issue, The Texas contacts make this factor weigh heavily in favor of Texas application of Texas law.
(f) Domicile of the Parties
Defendants argue that the domicile of the parties to the COLI policies favors the application of Georgia law, or the law of several states other than Texas. In support of this argument, Defendant Wal-Mart asserts that the Wal-Mart Trust is located in Georgia.[153] However, as discussed above, the Wal-Mart Trust is an entity entirely controlled and funded by Wal-Mart; the Trust exists merely to perform ministerial functions at Wal-Mart's direction and to serve Wal-Mart interests in attempting artificially to obtain the protection of Georgia law as to the COLI policies. Accordingly, Wal-Mart's placement of the Wal-Mart Trust in Georgia (i.e., the Trust's domicile) does not dictate the application of Georgia law.
It is undisputed that none of the other parties to the contract are domiciled, incorporated, or have their principal places of business in Georgia. The Insurer Defendants are domiciled in Delaware and Connecticut, respectively. Wal-Mart is domiciled in Arkansas. The domicile of Wachovia Bank was Georgia and then North Carolina.[154] The insureds, whom Defendants contend are parties to the COLI contracts, were domiciled in Texas when the policies were purchased.[155]
The "domicile of the parties" factor therefore is splintered, making that factor inconclusive. Georgia law has no greater interest in the claims in this suit than the states where the insurers, Wal-Mart or the Texas Plaintiff-insureds are domiciled. Accordingly, Texas has at least as strong a connection as Georgia to this dispute under this choice of law factor.
(g) Conclusion on the Choice of Law Under Restatement ง 188 and ง 6
Analysis of the Restatement ง 188 factors for contract disputes fails to reveal one single state with clearly the "most significant contacts" to this unique dispute. As between Georgia and Texas, however, Texas has far stronger contacts than Georgia. Texas is the place of Sims's and the other insureds' domiciles, the place of the subject-matter of the COLI policies, and the place of the most significant aspects of performance of the contracts. Evidence on the places of contracting and negotiation demonstrates that several states each have limited contacts. These factors accordingly are entitled to little weight.
Even if Defendants are deemed to have shown that important steps in entering into the COLI contracts occurred in Georgia, or that some unspecified negotiations occurred in Georgia, or that certain steps in performing the contracts were performed there, these contacts do not justify application of Georgia law to Plaintiffs' insurable interest claims against Wal-Mart under all the facts of this case. Defendants *759 contrived the connection to Georgia, which otherwise had no relationship to Defendants, by situating the Trust there and performing certain acts there on the thousands of COLI policies covering employees nationwide. To the extent ง 188 factors are pertinent, they suggest that Texas has the most significant contacts with the claims in issue.
The Restatement ง 6 factors, which must be considered in all cases, point strongly to Texas as the place with the most significant contacts. The purpose of insurance, the need for certainty, predictability and uniformity of result, as well as other factors, all point to Texas as the state with the most significant interest in the application of its law and public policies to this dispute. When the ง 188 factors are considered in light of the ง 6 considerations, as the Restatement directs, Texas choice of law principles mandate that Texas law be applied in this case.
(h) The Fifth Circuit Baum Decisions
Defendants contend that New York Life Ins. Co. v. Baum, 700 F.2d 928 (5th Cir. 1983) ("Baum II"), dictates that Georgia law be applied in this case because that state has the most contacts to the COLI policies in issue. Baum, however, is inapposite.[156] In Baum, the insurer, New York Life, filed an interpleader action in a Texas federal court, seeking a declaratory judgment that the policy was void for lack of an insurable interest, and that no beneficiary should receive the proceeds of the policy. New York Life Ins. Co. v. Baum, 617 F.2d 1201, 1203 (5th Cir.1980) ("Baum I"). The district court granted summary judgment to New York Life, holding that Louisiana law applied to the life insurance contract, and that under Louisiana law, the contract was void ab initio because neither of the contesting beneficiaries had an insurable interest. Id.[157] The Fifth Circuit *760 reversed, holding there was a material question of fact as to the circumstances of the creation of the insurance policy and designation of beneficiaries. Id. at 1204-05.
On remand, the district court again held that Louisiana law controlled, and that none of the contestants had an insurable interest in Cook's life. Baum, 700 F.2d at 929-30, 934-35. The Fifth Circuit reversed a second time, and directed the district court to pay the proceeds to Baum. Id. at 935. The court of appeals held that Texas contract choice of law analysis applied, and that it favored the application of New York law. Id. at 932.[158] Ultimately, on rehearing, the court vacated its own grant of summary judgment awarding the insurance proceeds to Baum. New York Life Ins. Co. v. Baum ("Baum III"), 707 F.2d 870, 871-72 (5th Cir.1983). The court of appeals adhered to its choice of law ruling reversing the district court on all issues concerning New York Life, but concluded that there were material fact questions that precluded summary judgment for Baum over a Texas shell company controlled by Baum's former business partners, because there was evidence that Baum may have been aware of the incorporation of that entity. Id.[159]
Baum II's holding as to choice of law is not inconsistent with the result the Court reaches in this case. Baum involved a typical contract dispute. The insurer sought to avoid payment of death benefits to parties associated with the two potential beneficiaries of the insurance contract, who were or claimed to be affiliated in business with the insured. In Baum, the insured (Cook) was aware of and consented to the owner's (Baum's or Media's) creation of the life insurance policy in connection with a creditor/debtor relationship among the insured, the owner, and the named beneficiary. See Baum III, 707 F.2d at 872. All the real parties in interest participated actively in creation of the contract. The court of appeals employed a traditional contract choice of law analysis, which dictated that the places of contracting and performance were the most significant factors under the facts of the case.
Resolution of insurable interest cases is highly fact specific. The Baum circumstances are materially different from Plaintiffs' dispute with Defendants. In the instant case, the insured Plaintiffs were not active participants in creation of the COLI policies. Many Plaintiffs did not even know the insurance had been created.[160] Thus, the place of contracting and payment, the central factors for the Fifth Circuit in Baum II, are not dispositive *761 here.[161] Moreover, despite the Baum court's detailed rulings, there was no analysis of the numerous other factors important to a full choice of law analysis under the Restatement. Thus, the Baum cases do not serve as a helpful guide to this Court, and those rulings do not alter the Court's analysis.
3. The Camelot COLI Policies
Hartford and the Camelot Defendants contend that Georgia law applies to the COLI policies that the Camelot Defendants purchased from Mutual, which Hartford acquired. In support of this contention, Defendant Hartford proffers a sparse affidavit of James Van Etten stating that (i) Camelot intended for Georgia to be the situs of its COLI policies, (ii) Camelot intended for Georgia law to govern its COLI policies, (iii) Mutual used forms for the policies authorized for use in Georgia, and (iv) the COLI policies were administered by a third-party administrator in Georgia.[162] Hartford further asserts:
No part of the negotiations related to the Wal-Mart or Camelot COLI policies took place in Texas. No insurance policies were delivered in Texas, no premiums were paid from Texas, no beneficiaries were Texas residents, and no policy benefits were paid in Texas.[163]
Defendant Hartford proffers no other evidence to establish the Camelot COLI policies' contacts with Georgia. The Camelot Defendants introduce no independent evidence.[164]
In response, Plaintiffs have submitted materials from a tax case related to the Camelot COLI policies, In re CM Holdings, Inc., 254 B.R. 578 (D.Del.2000).[165] Camelot's insurance broker testified in that proceeding that the COLI policies had closer ties to Ohio then Georgia.[166] Plaintiffs *762 also have provided evidence that some activity related to the administration of the Camelot COLI policies occurred in Texas, namely, the Camelot Defendants obtained death certificates in Texas when Texas resident insureds died.[167]
The testimony and evidence in CM Holdings are not probative on the question of whether Camelot's COLI policies were issued or delivered in Georgia. At issue in CM Holdings was whether Camelot's COLI policy scheme was a sham transaction for tax purposes.[168] The Delaware district court did not address the choice of law question, nor was the question relevant. Plaintiffs were not parties to those proceedings. The issues before that court were materially different from those raised here. The statements and testimony on which Plaintiffs rely were not necessary to and did not form any part of the district court's holding in CM Holdings. Thus, neither Plaintiffs nor Defendants have demonstrated that estoppel should be imposed through application of the Delaware district court's ruling. The Court has broad discretion to determine whether collateral estoppel should be applied to preclude litigation of an issue. Copeland v. Merrill, Lynch & Co., 47 F.3d 1415, 1423 (5th Cir.1995); J.M. Muniz, Inc. v. Mercantile Texas Credit Corp., 833 F.2d 541, 543 (5th Cir.1987). Collateral estoppel bars the relitigation of an issue of ultimate fact by the party against whom the issue has been determined by a valid and final judgment. Hibernia Nat'l Bank v. United States, 740 F.2d 382, 387 (5th Cir.1984). While mutuality of parties is not required, collateral estoppel can only be applied against parties who have had a prior full and fair opportunity to litigate their claims.[169]Hardy v. Johns-Manville Sales Corp., 681 F.2d 334, 338 (5th Cir. 1982) (explaining Parklane Hosiery Co. v. Shore, 439 U.S. 322, 99 S.Ct. 645, 58 L.Ed.2d 552 (1979)).
The Court engages in an independent choice of law analysis for the Camelot COLI policies and uses the available factual record. The Court finds that virtually no factually specific evidence establishes meaningful contacts between the State of Georgia and Plaintiffs' claims against the Camelot Defendants and Hartford. Nothing in the sample Camelot COLI insurance policy reveals any connection with the State of Georgia. The insurer, Mutual, is *763 listed as having a New Jersey address and other connections to that state as well as Missouri.[170] Premiums paid by the Camelot Defendants were payable at Mutual's home office in New Jersey.[171] Under the heading "Statement of Policy Cost and Benefit Information" the insurance agent is listed with a Florida address.[172] Camelot was a Pennsylvania corporation that was acquired in December 1997 by Trans World, a New York corporation with its principal place of business in New York. Hartford is a Connecticut insurance company with its principal place of business in Connecticut.
The Court also concludes that the State of Texas has a substantial interest and several important contacts with the dispute concerning the Camelot COLI policies. The Court incorporates, to the extent relevant to the Camelot parties, the foregoing analysis of the Restatement ง 6 and ง 188(2) factors discussed with respect to Wal-Mart. The Camelot Defendants set up a COLI policy administrator in Georgia that serves a function comparable to the Wal-Mart Trust.[173] The choice of law analysis on the Camelot Plaintiffs' claims therefore is the same as for the Wal-Mart parties' contacts with the State of Texas.
The Restatement ง 6 and ง 188(2) factors as to the Camelot COLI policies point to Texas as the state with the most significant contacts to the dispute. Although Georgia and the states in which the parties (other than the insureds) are domiciled may have some interest in the dispute, these states' interests pale by comparison to Texas. The Camelot Plaintiffs are or were Texas residents and/or citizens. Their lives are the subject matter of the COLI policies. Material aspects of the performance under those contracts is in Texas. The Texas contacts with this dispute are stronger than the connection of any other state.
Accordingly, the Court holds that the Camelot Defendants' and Hartford's motions for summary judgment are denied insofar as these parties seek to apply Georgia law to Plaintiffs' claims concerning the Camelot COLI policies. The Court further holds that Texas law should apply to the Camelot Plaintiffs' claims against the Camelot Defendants and Hartford.
D. Conclusion on Choice of Law
Having considered all the parties' arguments regarding the choice of law issue, the Court concludes that Georgia law does not apply. Based on the available record, this case is governed by Texas law, including its insurable interest doctrine.[174]
*764 V. CONTENTIONS RELATED TO SIMS ESTATE'S CLAIMS
A. ERISA Preemption
Defendant Wal-Mart seeks dismissal of Plaintiff Sims Estate's claim for the COLI death benefits because the claim relates to an ERISA plan and is therefore preempted by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, 29 U.S.C. ง 1001 et seq. ("ERISA").[175] Wal-Mart relies on the proposition that its COLI policies formed part of its employee benefit plan ("Wal-Mart Plan"). Plaintiffs respond that the COLI policies are unrelated to any part of the Wal-Mart Plan. Plaintiffs further argue that even if the COLI policies were related to the Wal-Mart Plan, the Sims Estate's claim is not preempted under the ERISA "savings clause."[176] Alternatively, Plaintiffs contend that they have insufficient factual information on the COLI policies and the Wal-Mart Plan to respond to Wal-Mart's ERISA arguments, and move under Rule 56(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for a continuance to pursue additional discovery.[177]
Wal-Mart has failed to demonstrate that the Sims Estate's claim for COLI policy benefits, which became payable after Wal-Mart terminated the Special Death Benefit, is related to Wal-Mart's ERISA plan. The Sims Estate's claim therefore is not preempted.
1. Standard for ERISA Preemption
To determine whether a particular plan qualifies as an ERISA plan, the Fifth Circuit asks whether the plan "(1) exists; (2) falls within the safe harbor exclusion established by the Department of Labor; and (3) meets the ERISA requirement of establishment or maintenance by an employer for the purpose of benefitting the plan participants." McNeil v. Time Ins. *765 Co., 205 F.3d 179, 189 (5th Cir.2000); Meredith v. Time Ins. Co., 980 F.2d 352, 355 (5th Cir.1993).[178]
ERISA preempts "any and all State laws insofar as they now or hereafter relate to an employee benefit plan." 29 U.S.C. ง 1144(a). The Supreme Court has held that the term "relate to" should be expansively construed. FMC Corp. v. Holliday, 498 U.S. 52, 57-58, 111 S.Ct. 403, 112 L.Ed.2d 356 (1990) ("The preemption clause is conspicuous for its breadth. It establishes as an area of exclusive federal concern the subject of every state law that `relates to' an employee benefit plan governed by ERISA.").
Applying these principles, the Fifth Circuit has found generally that ERISA preempts state law claims in two situations: "(1) the claim addresses areas of exclusive federal concern, such as the right to receive benefits under the terms of an ERISA plan; and (2) the claim directly affects the relationship among the traditional ERISA entities โ i.e., the employer, plan administrators, fiduciaries, participants, and beneficiaries." Bullock v. The Equitable Life Assurance Society, 259 F.3d 395, 399 (5th Cir.2001); Cypress Fairbanks Med. Ctr., Inc. v. Pan-American Life Ins. Co., 110 F.3d 280, 283 (5th Cir.1997).
However, some state law claims may affect an ERISA plan in a manner that is too tenuous, remote, or peripheral to warrant a finding that the law "relates to" the plan. Nickel v. Estate of Estes, 122 F.3d 294, 297 (5th Cir.1997). For example, in certain circumstances a plaintiff may refer to plan benefits as a measure of damages without invoking ERISA preemption. Rozzell v. Security Serv., Inc., 38 F.3d 819, 822 (5th Cir.1994). In order to determine whether a state law claim is preempted by ERISA, the Court must look past the words in the complaint and consider the substance of the claim alleged. Id. The Fifth Circuit takes a fact-sensitive approach when making a preemption determination. E.g., Memorial Hosp. Sys. v. Northbrook Life Ins. Co., 904 F.2d 236, 246 (5th Cir.1990) (examining the "commercial realities" of plaintiff's position as part of ERISA preemption analysis).
2. Relatedness to Wal-Mart's ERISA Plan
Starting in December 1993, Wal-Mart offered a $5,000 Special Death Benefit to all employees covered by a Wal-Mart medical plan during 1994 to 1995.[179] The Special Death Benefits were payable to the same beneficiary as the employee selected under non-COLI life insurance policies that Wal-Mart bought for its employees through the Wal-Mart Plan.[180] The Special *766 Death Benefits were described in the Summary Plan Descriptions ("Summaries") issued by Wal-Mart to its employees for the years 1994 and 1995.[181] The section regarding the Special Death Benefits in each of the Summaries makes no reference to the COLI policies. Instead, each says that the "special death benefit is fully paid by Wal-Mart."[182] Wal-Mart nevertheless asserts, on the basis of the affidavit of Tom Emerick, Wal-Mart's Vice President of Benefits, that the Special Death Benefits were "funded" by the COLI policies.[183] Besides Emerick's conclusory statement, the sole evidence submitted in support of this assertion is a memorandum dated December 14, 1993 ("Benefits Memorandum") and the accompanying brochure ("flyer") announcing the initiation of the Special Death Benefit program in December 1993.[184] Neither of these documents was a formal ERISA-mandated document among the "controlling Wal-Mart Plan documents."[185]
The flyer stated that the "new benefit is being implemented because of financial benefits associated with a Wal-Mart owned life insurance program which is explained in the enclosed [flyer]."[186] The flyer also stated:
Wal-Mart is providing these new death benefits as a result of financial gains from life insurance policies Wal-Mart will purchase which will cover the lives of associates who participate in the group health plan. That Wal-Mart owned life insurance will result in the financial benefits for the corporation. Any net life insurance proceeds payable to Wal-Mart from this life insurance as *767 a result of the death of an active associate will be contributed to the profit sharing plan.[187]
The flyer established, at best, that the "Wal-Mart owned life insurance" is "payable to Wal-Mart,"[188] and that Wal-Mart elected to pay the Special Death Benefit as part of the Wal-Mart Plan.[189] Thus, there is no documentary evidence that demonstrates that the proceeds of the COLI policies per se were paid to beneficiaries of the Wal-Mart Plan. At best, Wal-Mart's evidence establishes that Wal-Mart received some of the proceeds from the COLI policies, that Wal-Mart self-funded the Wal-Mart Plan,[190] and elected to pay from its general revenues the Special Death Benefit.[191]
If the Court, nevertheless, assumes that Wal-Mart's commitment to pay the Special Death Benefit causes the COLI policies to be a part of the Wal-Mart Plan, Wal-Mart's ERISA preemption contentions about the Sims Estate's claim still fail. First and foremost, the Sims Estate does not seek recovery of the Special Death Benefits or any other Wal-Mart Plan benefits. The Sims Estate seeks to recover the COLI policy proceeds as the lawful beneficiary under Texas insurable interest doctrine.[192] The Sims Estate's claim has no bearing on the Plan or its administration.[193] The Sims Estate's claim does not *768 relate to the Wal-Mart's Plan and is not preempted by ERISA.[194]
This result is bolstered by the cases on which Wal-Mart relies. In Lee v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Co., 894 F.2d 755 (5th Cir.1990), the plaintiffs sought "to recover benefits defined by their former employer's ERISA plan, benefits to which they would have become entitled but for an alleged misrepresentation by their employer, during their employment, on which they relied to their detriment." Lee, 894 F.2d at 757. Plaintiffs alleged state law claims of fraud and negligent misrepresentation for which they sought to recover specifically the additional monthly retirement benefits they would have received if they had retired under the new retirement program. Id. at 756. The Fifth Circuit held preemption applied since the plaintiffs' putative state law fraud claims "relate[] to their former employer's pension plan and interfere[] with the exclusively federal regulatory scheme." Id. at 758.[195] The Court of Appeals in Lee relied on Cefalu v. B.F. Goodrich Co., 871 F.2d 1290 (5th Cir.1989), also cited by Wal-Mart. In Cefalu, a former employee sued to recover additional plan benefits based on an alleged oral contract. 871 F.2d at 1291. The Fifth Circuit held that the plaintiffs' claim was related to an ERISA plan and preempted because plaintiff's damages "would consist of the pension benefits he would have received had he been employed [by the successor entity]." Id. at 1294.
The Lee and Cefalu cases are clearly distinguishable from the matters at bar. In each case, the plaintiffs plainly sought policy benefits to which they would have been entitled but for their reliance on their respective employer's alleged misrepresentations. These were claims to recover benefits under an ERISA plan. In the case at bar, however, the Sims Estate seeks to recover nothing under the terms of the Wal-Mart Plan. Indeed, the Special Death Benefit is entirely irrelevant to the Sims Estate's claim relating to the COLI policy insuring Douglas Sims. The COLI policy was owned and its benefits were payable to Wal-Mart through the Wal-Mart Trust, not the Wal-Mart plan.
Wal-Mart's arguments regarding ERISA preemption therefore fail. The Sims Estate's claims for the COLI policy benefits are not related to an ERISA plan. Therefore, the Court need not reach the parties' arguments regarding the ERISA savings clause. Wal-Mart's Summary Judgment Motion claiming ERISA preemption is denied.
B. Statute of Limitations
Defendant AIG argues that the Sims Estate's claim is barred by the statute of limitations.[196] In response, the Sims Estate argues that its claim is not barred *769 because that claim did not accrue until death benefits were paid from the Wal-Mart COLI policy on Sims's life. After reviewing the pertinent authorities,[197] the Court concludes that the Sims Estate's claim is timely.
1. Length of Limitations Period
AIG argues that the longest possible limitations period applicable to the Sims Estate's claim is four years, since the Sims Estate seeks a constructive trust. AIG argues that the majority rule in Texas is to apply the residual four year limitations period to claims for a constructive trust. TEX.CIV.PRAC. & REM.CODE, ง 16.051 ("Every action for which there is no express limitations period, except an action for the recovery of real property, must be brought not later than four years after the day the cause of action accrues."). The minority rule, according to AIG, is that courts apply the limitations period of the underlying claim in actions for a constructive trust. Under the latter rule, the limitations period would be either two or four years, depending on how the Sims state's claim is characterized.[198]
The Court concludes that the applicable limitations period is four years, whether ง 16.051 governs or the limitations period governing the underlying claim applies. All Defendants in this action, including AIG, which incorporates the other Defendants' arguments by reference, characterize this case as a contract action for choice of law purposes. In Texas, the limitations period for contract actions is four years. TEX.CIV.PRAC. & REM.CODE ง 16.004(a)(3) (Vernon Supp.2001); Morriss v. Enron Oil & Gas Co., 948 S.W.2d 858, 869 (Tex. App. โ San Antonio 1997, no writ). Alternatively, Wal-Mart characterizes this case as one for unjust enrichment in its ERISA preemption argument. The Texas statute of limitations for unjust enrichment action is four years. TEX.CIV.PRAC. & REM.CODE, ง 16.004(a)(3) (Vernon Supp.2001); Amoco Production Co. v. Smith, 946 S.W.2d 162, 164-65 (Tex.App. โ El Paso 1997, no pet.).[199]
Accordingly, the Court holds that the Sims Estate's claims are subject to a four year statute of limitations.
2. Accrual of the Sims Estate's Claim
AIG argues that the four year limitations period began when the Sims Policy was issued in 1993, more than four years before commencement of this lawsuit, and thus the Sims Estate's claim is *770 time-barred. AIG contends that the Sims Estate concedes through its allegations in the Complaint, that its claims for constructive trust accrued when the COLI policies were issued. In response, the Sims Estate attempts to distinguish its claim from those of the Camelot Plaintiffs, who are live individual insureds seeking ownership of the COLI policies currently in force. The Sims Estate argues that it seeks a constructive trust on the death benefits of the COLI policy on Sims's life, a cause of action that did not accrue until Sims died. Furthermore, the Sims Estate argues that it could not have brought that claim until Sims died since the estate did not exist until Sims death.
The Court is persuaded by the Sims Estate's arguments.[200] Unlike the Camelot Plaintiffs (who seek declarations that the Employer Defendants lack an insurable interest in their lives and that Plaintiffs are the "lawful owners of the ... COLI policies insuring their lives" while they are alive), the Sims Estate pursues a claim that Wal-Mart has violated the Texas insurable interest doctrine and requests both a declaration of its rights and the equitable remedy that a constructive trust be imposed on the death benefits AIG paid to the Trust for Wal-Mart.[201] In order to determine the timeliness of the Sims Estate's case, the Court first must determine when decedent Sims's substantive cause of action alleging violation of Texas law accrued. The fact that the estate of a deceased individual may seek both a declaration of rights and the additional relief of a constructive trust on death benefits does not alter the underpinning of all that plaintiff's claims. If Sims's individual claim that Texas law was violated was time barred while he was alive, then his estate's claim on the same theory would also be barred. Russell v. Ingersoll-Rand Co., 841 S.W.2d 343, 345 (Tex.1992).
The Court concludes that a claim alleging the absence of Wal-Mart's insurable interest in Sim's life accrued each day that the questioned COLI policy insuring the insured was in force. The "State of Texas has established a fixed policy with reference to its own citizens, by and through which it refuses to permit one who has no insurable interest in a living person to be and become the beneficiary in an insurance policy written on the life of such living person." Cole, 187 S.W.2d at 593 (citing Cheeves, 87 Tex. 287, 28 S.W. 274). The violation of this Texas legal doctrine is not restricted to the day Wal-Mart contracted for or obtained its interest as the beneficiary of a COLI policy.[202] It would make no sense to restrict the doctrine in this *771 manner with respect to an insurable interest claim with solely a request for declaratory relief. The insurable interest doctrine is designed to avoid the incentive for murder, an incentive that pertains each day the insured is alive and the insurance violating the insurable interest doctrine exists. Thus, the Court concludes that the cause of action complaining of a violation of the Texas insurable interest doctrine accrues each day a beneficiary who lacks an insurable interest is named in an insurance contract and the insured is alive.
The Sims Estate filed its claim challenging Wal-Mart's interest in the Sims COLI policy within four years of Wal-Mart's termination of that insurance policy. Thus, the Sims Estate's claim concerning the Texas insurable interest doctrine is not time barred to the extent the Sims Estate seeks declaratory relief.[203]
The Sims Estate's claim for constructive trust requires a slightly different analysis. A plaintiff's claim for relief of a constructive trust under the insurable interest doctrine due to designation of invalid beneficiaries accrues only when there is a designation that offends the Texas insurable interest doctrine and the insured dies while the insurance policy with that designation is in force. A claim under the insurable interest doctrine for constructive trust cannot accrue prior to an insured's death, as discussed infra in Section VI(B) this Opinion. The Sims Estate filed its claim for violation of the insurable interest doctrine and sought the relief of a constructive trust within four years of Sims's death and within four years of payment of the Sims Policy death benefits. Thus, the Sims Estate's request for the remedy of a constructive trust is also timely.[204]
*772 C. AIG's Motion to Dismiss
1. Overview and Applicable Legal Standards
AIG seeks dismissal of Plaintiff Sims Estate's claim pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure on the ground that the Sims Estate has failed in the Complaint to state a claim against it upon which relief may be granted.[205] This motion is granted without prejudice to Plaintiffs to replead, since there has been no discovery in this case and the authorities on which the Sims Estate and other Plaintiffs base their claim require a fact specific analysis. From the Complaint, it appears that the Sims Estate's claim is primarily against Wal-Mart, an Employer Defendant. The Complaint contains no specific allegations of wrongful or inequitable conduct by AIG against Sims or his estate in particular.
In reviewing a Rule 12(b)(6) motion, the Court must accept as true all well-pled allegations, resolving all doubts in favor of the complainants. Tanglewood East Homeowners v. Charles-Thomas, Inc., 849 F.2d 1568, 1572 (5th Cir.1988). Motions "to dismiss for failure to state a claim [are] viewed with disfavor, and [are] rarely granted." Southern Christian Leadership Conference v. Supreme Court of State of La., 252 F.3d 781, 786 (5th Cir.2001) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). The Court must construe pleadings in an expansive and deferential way at this stage of a suit. Id. The Court may dismiss the Sims Estate's claim against AIG only if it has shown "beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitled him to relief." Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46, 78 S.Ct. 99, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957); Southern Christian Leadership Conf., 252 F.3d at 786.
2. Allegations in the Complaint
Plaintiffs allege that Wal-Mart purchased approximately 278,558 COLI policies from AIG, pursuant to a "scheme" by which Wal-Mart insured the lives of its employees, including many Texas citizens.[206] Plaintiffs allege generally that certain employers "bought COLI policies, not to insure against the loss of a key employee, which was a lawful and well-established practice in the insurance industry, but as an investment and as a means to improperly avoid federal income tax liability."[207] According to Plaintiffs,
the corporate employer insured the lives of a vast number of its employees without its employees' knowledge or consent. Generally, the corporate employer borrowed money from the insurer to pay the premiums, claiming a tax deduction for the often exorbitant interest it paid. Upon the death of a covered employee, the insurer paid the corporate employer the death benefit, which the corporate employer claimed as tax-free. The corporate employer would then use some of the death benefit to repay the premium loans.[208]
*773 Plaintiffs further allege that Douglas Sims was employed by Wal-Mart from 1987 until 1998, when he died.[209] He was insured by one of the COLI policies purchased by Wal-Mart from AIG, and he allegedly never consented to this insurance or to the designation of Wal-Mart as the policy beneficiary.[210] Plaintiffs, on behalf of the Sims Estate, allege that Wal-Mart never had an insurable interest in Sims's life,[211] but AIG paid Wal-Mart the death benefits under the COLI policy after Sims's death.[212] On the basis of these factual allegations, Plaintiffs claim generally that the Employer Defendants hold the COLI policies and all their benefits in constructive trust for the benefit of the Texas citizen-insureds,[213] that the Employer Defendants have been unjustly enriched,[214] and that the Employers that bought COLI policies have unclean hands.[215]
3. Analysis
Initially, the Court finds that Plaintiffs have failed in their Complaint specifically to allege that AIG has committed a wrong against the Sims Estate or has been unjustly enriched by the sale of the Sims Policy to Wal-Mart. Thus, AIG's motion has merit and will be granted. However, Plaintiffs are granted leave to amend the Sims Estate's claim, should they insist on doing so. This result is in the interest of justice since Plaintiffs describe in oral argument one or more theories against AIG that are not specifically pleaded.[216]
Leave to amend also is necessary because the Court cannot conclude definitively, as a matter of law, that the Sims Estate cannot state a claim on which relief can be granted against AIG. AIG in support of its Motion to Dismiss argues that the Sims Estate's claim is unsustainable because the rule articulated in DeLeon v. Lloyd's London, Certain Underwriters, 259 F.3d 344, 350-53 (5th Cir.2001), prohibits double recovery from insurers under the insurable interest doctrine. According to AIG, DeLeon stands for the proposition that an insurer is relieved from all liability once it pays death benefits to the named beneficiary, and thus the appropriate remedy is for the estate to seek the death benefits from the beneficiary through a constructive trust. In addition, AIG argues that the Sims Estate cannot state a claim against it for unjust enrichment and that it was not unjustly enriched at the expense of the Sims Estate.
The Sims Estate responds by citing several cases in which Texas courts allowed a deceased insured's estate to recover death benefits from an insurer which already had paid death benefits to a beneficiary. See Manhattan Life Ins. Co. v. Cohen, 139 S.W. 51 (Tex.Civ.App. โ San Antonio 1911, writ ref'd); National Life & Accident Ins. Co. v. French, 144 S.W.2d 653 (Tex.Civ. App. โ Amarillo 1940, no writ). While it is highly unlikely that the Sims Estate can prevail on any claim based on these cases, the Court cannot conclude as a matter of *774 law that the Sims Estate has no legal claim against AIG.[217]
The first of these cases, Cohen, involved unique circumstances that made rote application of other Texas authority inappropriate. In Cohen, the estate of the deceased insured sued the insurance company that paid death benefits to an assignee who did not have an insurable interest in the life of the insured.[218] The trial court awarded death benefits to the estate. The court of civil appeals affirmed. In doing so, the appeals court focused on two facts as justifying an exception to the general rule: (i) the insurer's knowledge of the estate's claim at the time it paid the death benefits to Hilsman, and (ii) the indemnity bond given by Hilsman to the insurer.[219] The court's reliance on the insurer's indemnification agreement with Hilsman, the original recipient of the benefits, suggests that the court did not intend the insurer to have to bear the expense of the benefits twice. It is noted that Cohen, which was decided long before seminal insurable interest cases in Texas,[220] has been cited only once for the proposition on which Plaintiffs attempt to rely. Specifically, in Stillwagoner, the Tyler Court of Appeals stated in dicta without any analysis: "If the insurance company with knowledge of the estate's adverse claim and the reasons therefore pays proceeds benefits to a beneficiary without an insurable interest this can afford no defense to the action by the estate of the insured for the entire amount due on the policies." Stillwagoner v. Travelers Ins. Co., 979 S.W.2d 354, 358 (Tex.App. โ Tyler 1998, no pet.).
Plaintiffs also rely on French, 144 S.W.2d 653 (Tex.Civ.App. โ Amarillo 1940, no writ), a case decided in 1940, in which the Amarillo Court of Civil Appeals affirmed the trial court's holding that an insurer was liable to a deceased insured's estate for $125 in death benefits after the insurer already had paid these benefits to the named beneficiary who did not have an insurable interest in the insured's life under Texas law. It appears that the insurer did not have notice of the estate's claim when it originally paid the death benefits. However, significantly, there is no indication that the insurer raised the prior payment as a defense. Also, in French, the *775 named beneficiary paid many of the premiums (which were a mere twenty-five cents per month), and thus had some equitable claim to at least some of the death benefits.[221] Moreover, the French decision has not been cited by any Texas or other courts as reliable precedent.
At best, the cited cases demonstrate that Texas courts might, in certain highly unusual situations, when necessary to do equity, hold an insurer liable for death benefits to the estate of an insured even if the insurer already has paid the benefits to the named beneficiary.[222] It is far from clear that Plaintiffs can allege the necessary circumstances in this case. Wal-Mart appears to be financially viable, there is no indication of any indemnification agreement between Wal-Mart and AIG, and there is no evidence or allegation that AIG knew of the Sims Estate's claim to the policy proceeds when it paid them to Wal-Mart.[223] In sum, the Sims Estate's claim against AIG rests on an exceedingly slim reed.
Nevertheless, at this early stage in the proceedings, the Court is constrained to permit an amendment of the Complaint, if the Sims Estate insists, in light of the fact-sensitive inquiry required by Cohen. It is not "beyond doubt" that the Sims Estate can prove no set of facts in support of its claim which would entitle it to relief. Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46, 78 S.Ct. 99, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957); Southern Christian *776 Leadership Conf. v. Supreme Court of Louisiana, 252 F.3d 781, 786 (5th Cir. 2001). Therefore, the Court grants the Sims Estate the opportunity to replead its claim against AIG, subject to the admonishment that Plaintiffs are not to reargue matters addressed comprehensively in this Opinion. See also infra Section VI.B.2.[224]
The Court has considered AIG's other arguments on this issue and finds them unpersuasive. Therefore, AIG's motion to dismiss is granted without prejudice to Plaintiff Sims Estate's right to replead. If the Sims Estate intends to pursue its claims against AIG, the Sims Estate shall file a Third Amended Complaint within ten (10) business days of entry of this Opinion.[225]
VI. CAMELOT-RELATED CONTENTIONS
A. Ripeness
The Camelot Plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment that (i) the Camelot Defendants never have had an insurable interest in the lives of the Camelot Plaintiffs, (ii) the Employer Defendants are not the legal owners of the COLI policies on the Camelot Plaintiffs' lives, and (iii) under Texas law, the employees are the "lawful owners" of the COLI policies, with all rights of the "owner" as defined in the policies. The Camelot Plaintiffs also seek a judicial determination of the value of a constructive trust and damages arising from Defendants' wrongs.
The Camelot Defendants and Hartford strenuously argue that Plaintiffs' claims are not ripe and thus not justiciable.[226]*777 For the reasons explained below, the Court holds that the Camelot Plaintiffs' claims are ripe for adjudication.
1. Declaratory Judgment Standards and the Ripeness Doctrine
In support of their request for a declaratory judgment, the Camelot Plaintiffs rely on 28 U.S.C. ง 2201(a), which provides in pertinent part: "In the case of actual controversy within its jurisdiction ... any court of the United States, upon the filing of an appropriate pleading, may declare the rights and other legal relations of any interested party seeking such declaration, whether or not further relief is or could be sought." Parties may seek declaratory judgment before a completed "injury-in-fact" has occurred. United Transportation Union, 205 F.3d at 857.
Nevertheless, to be ripe, a declaratory judgment claim must be based upon an "actual controversy." Id.; Orix Credit Alliance, Inc. v. Wolfe, 212 F.3d 891, 896 (5th Cir.2000).[227] An "actual controversy exists where `a substantial controversy of sufficient immediacy and reality [exists] between parties having adverse legal interests.'" Id. (citation omitted). "A court should dismiss a case for lack of ripeness when the case is abstract or hypothetical." New Orleans Public Service, Inc. v. Council of New Orleans, 833 F.2d 583, 586 (5th Cir.1987); Orix Credit, 212 F.3d at 895-96; United Transportation Union v. Foster, 205 F.3d 851, 857 (5th Cir.2000).
"The [ripeness] key considerations are `the fitness of the issues for judicial decision and the hardship to the parties of withholding court consideration.' ... A case is generally ripe if any remaining questions are purely legal ones; conversely, a case is not ripe if further factual development is required." New Orleans Pub. Serv., Inc., 833 F.2d at 586-87 (citations omitted) (quoting Abbott Labs. v. Gardner, 387 U.S. 136, 149, 87 S.Ct. 1507, 18 L.Ed.2d 681 (1967), modified on other grounds by Califano v. Sanders, 430 U.S. 99, 97 S.Ct. 980, 51 L.Ed.2d 192 (1977)); accord Groome Resources Ltd., L.L.C. v. Parish of Jefferson, 234 F.3d 192, 199 (5th Cir.2000).
2. Defendants' Ripeness Arguments
All the Camelot Plaintiffs are alive. Under the express terms of the COLI policies, the Employer Defendants are allowed to change the named beneficiaries or to surrender the policies while the insureds, Plaintiffs, are alive. The Camelot Defendants and Hartford accordingly argue that these Plaintiffs' claims are too contingent to be ripe. Defendants argue that there "is no justiciable controversy ... because any `rights' that [Camelot Plaintiffs'] estates may be entitled to in the future depend on events which have not occurred and, in some cases, likely never will occur." Camelot Defendants' Motion to Dismiss, at 12.
The Court must consider each cause of action specifically asserted by the Camelot Plaintiffs to determine whether there is an actual controversy on that claim. Defendants' contentions fail to appreciate these Plaintiffs' first two fundamental claims for relief, namely, a request for a declaration that the Employer Defendants now lack (and in the past, lacked) an insurable interest *778 in Plaintiffs' lives, and a declaration that the Employer Defendants are not (and have not been) the lawful owners of the COLI policies. The fact that the Employer Defendants may someday decide to surrender a policy or that these Defendants may change the beneficiaries in the future does not resolve the ripeness issues as to the Camelot Plaintiffs' claims, which challenge present circumstances. As discussed above, under the Texas insurable interest doctrine, only specified categories of people or entities may own insurance on another's life. Two public policy concerns underlie this doctrine: (i) the prevention of murder, and (ii) the prevention of improper wagering on human life. E.g., Stillwagoner, 979 S.W.2d at 358. The Camelot Plaintiffs' claims raise the immediate questions of whether the mere existence of the Camelot COLI policies violates Texas law, and whether the Employer Defendants are now the legal owners of the COLI policies on Plaintiffs' lives. Plaintiffs' claims thus satisfy the first of the Fifth Circuit's two ripeness factors, i.e., that there is an actual controversy that is fit for judicial review. See New Orleans Public Service, 833 F.2d at 586-87.
As to the second ripeness factor, the Court finds that each Camelot Plaintiff would suffer hardship cognizable under Texas law, if a ruling in this case were delayed until that Plaintiff died. To withhold decision in a case would unnecessarily permit the potential violation to continue, thereby prolonging the very harms the insurable interest doctrine was designed to discourage, particularly the wagering on the insured's life. Thus, determination of the issue of whether the violation exists should not have to wait for the death of the insured. The insurable interest doctrine is prophylactic. There is no reason to delay a ruling on the declaratory relief the Camelot Plaintiffs seek.
Defendants' opposition focuses on the 1951 decision of the Dallas Court of Civil Appeals in Roberts v. Southwestern Life Ins. Co., 244 S.W.2d 302, 308 (Tex.Civ. App. โ Dallas 1951, writ ref'd n.r.e.). In Roberts, the court held that T.P. Roberts, owner of several insurance policies, was estopped from asserting a right that he claimed under the Texas insurable interest doctrine to change the beneficiaries in life insurance policies without the consent of his former wife, Allene Roberts, one of the named beneficiaries on the policies. The Roberts court assumed for its ruling that Allene lacked an insurable interest in T.P.'s life after entry of their final divorce judgment. The Roberts court reasoned at several points in its opinion that T.P. was estopped from disturbing the final agreed divorce judgment entered years earlier by a court of competent jurisdiction, both because that judgment was final and because the judgment was based on the parties' agreed property settlement.[228] The court, *779 at the end of the opinion, noted that a determination of insurable interest in the case was not necessary until T.P. died, because the named beneficiaries might predecease T.P., thereby mooting the issues.[229]Id. at 308-09. The Roberts decision is sui generis. The language on which Defendants rely was arguably dicta, and certainly was language designed merely to bolster an already clear and well supported result.
The precedential value of these comments by the Roberts court is sharply limited by the unique circumstances before that court. In any event, the Roberts ripeness ruling has been severely undermined by the Texas Supreme Court's decision in Empire Life Ins. Co. v. Moody, 584 S.W.2d 855 (Tex.1979).[230] In that case, the Supreme Court directed the lower courts to determine an insurable interest issue, at the request of the insured prior to his death.[231] The Empire court thus recognized *780 that the insurable interest issue was ripe for adjudication. Empire, 584 S.W.2d at 858. The Roberts ruling is limited to the unique facts of that case, and is not a persuasive precedent on the ripeness issue presented here.[232]
The Court concludes that, under Texas law, the Camelot Plaintiffs' insurable interest claims are ripe and justiciable during their lives. If these Plaintiffs' claims are valid, then there is no reason to allow improper insurance contracts to continue without judicial declaration of the parties' rights. The Court therefore holds that there is a present and actual controversy raised by the Camelot Plaintiffs in this case, and their claims are ripe for adjudication.
B. The Merits of Camelot Plaintiffs' Claims for Relief
The Camelot Plaintiffs have moved for summary judgment on their request for a declaration that the Camelot Defendants have no insurable interest in their lives.[233] The Camelot Defendants and Defendant Hartford move for summary judgment dismissing the Camelot Plaintiffs claims as a matter of law.[234] After careful consideration of the parties' submissions, the record, and the applicable authority, the Court grants the Camelot Plaintiffs' motion. The Court denies in part and grants in part the Camelot Defendants' and Hartford's summary judgment motions on these matters.
1. Camelot Plaintiffs' Claim for Declaration that Camelot Defendants Lack an Insurable Interest
The Camelot Plaintiffs claim that the Camelot Defendants lack an insurable interest in the Camelot Plaintiffs' lives. These Plaintiffs argue that Texas law recognizes three forms of insurable interest: the beneficiary must be (i) related by blood or affinity, (ii) a creditor for the insured, (iii) or "one having a reasonable expectation of pecuniary benefit or advantage from the continued life of another." Drane, 161 S.W.2d at 1058-59.[235] It is *781 undisputed that the first two categories are inapplicable to this case. The Camelot Plaintiffs argue that the third category also does not apply in this case.[236]
The Camelot Plaintiffs are correct. The Camelot Defendants fail to demonstrate that they presently have any expectation of pecuniary benefits or advantage from Camelot Plaintiffs apart from the COLI policies on these Plaintiffs' lives. Each Camelot Plaintiff's employment with the Camelot Defendants terminated in or prior to 1998.[237] Thus, at the present time the Camelot Defendants have no relationship with the Camelot Plaintiffs outside the COLI policies.
In response to the Camelot Plaintiffs' motion, Hartford contends that it needs a continuance under Rule 56(f) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to allow for discovery to determine whether the "key man" concept applies.[238] The Court denies this request since Hartford has failed to meet its burden to show entitlement to such delay.
"In order to obtain a continuance of a motion for summary judgment for discovery purposes, a party must set forth some statement to the court indicating why additional discovery is necessary and `how additional discovery will create a genuine issue of material fact.'" Canady v. Bossier Parish School Bd., 240 F.3d 437, 445 (5th Cir.2001) (citing Leatherman v. Tarrant County Narcotics Intelligence and Coordination Unit, 28 F.3d 1388, 1395 (5th Cir.1994)); Stearns Airport Equip. Co. v. FMC Corp., 170 F.3d 518, 535 (5th Cir.1999). A party "may not simply rely on vague assertions that additional discovery will produce needed, but unspecified facts." Krim v. BancTexas Group, Inc., 989 F.2d 1435, 1442 (5th Cir.1993) (internal citations omitted). Contrary to these legal requirements, Hartford has provided nothing except a vague suggestion that there may be a "key man" issue.
Texas law provides, by statute, that businesses may have an insurable interest in their personnel significant to the business, i.e., officers, stockholders and partners (in partnerships). TEX.INS.CODE. art. 3.49; see, e.g., Stillwagoner, 979 S.W.2d at 361. Article 3.49 has been interpreted narrowly to grant an insurable interest "only to the lives of officers and stockholders `to whom the other stockholders looked primarily for the success of the business' or `on whose services the corporation depends for its prosperity, and whose death *782 will be the cause of a substantial loss to it.'" Stillwagoner, 979 S.W.2d at 361 (quoting McBride v. Clayton, 140 Tex. 71, 166 S.W.2d 125, 128-29 (1942)). The "mere existence of an employer/employee relationship is never sufficient to give the employer an insurable interest in the life of the employee." Id.; see Tamez, 999 S.W.2d at 17-19. See also Drane, 161 S.W.2d at 1058-59; accord, DeLeon, 259 F.3d at 350. No insurable interest exists if the loss arises "from the cessation of ordinary service." McBride, 166 S.W.2d at 129 (emphasis in original). In any event, once a "key man" leaves the company's employ, the need for "key man" insurance disappears, unless one of the other bases for insurable interest exists. See, e.g., Cheeves, 28 S.W. at 276 ("The want of an insurable interest is just as absolute where it has ceased as where it never existed, and the inducement to destroy the life insured for gain is just as strong in the one case as in the other.").
Hartford has failed to identify any specific individual to whom the "key man" concept might apply. Hartford has known the identity of the named Plaintiffs for a substantial period of time and has had continuous access to its own records on these individuals.[239] Hartford issued insurance on the lives of 1430 Camelot employees, who were retail store managers or district supervisors. There is no indication that any of the named Plaintiffs, or any of the insureds, fits the stringent Texas "key man" requirements. Thus, Hartford has failed to meet its Rule 56(f) burden to entitle it to a continuance or discovery.
The Camelot Defendants and Hartford also fail to meet their nonmovant summary judgment burden to raise a fact issue that any Camelot Plaintiff is or was a "key man" with the Camelot Defendants.[240] Thus, the Court holds that the Camelot Defendants currently lack, and have lacked in the past, an insurable interest in the Camelot Plaintiffs' lives.
The Camelot Defendants and Hartford, apparently recognizing the uphill battle they face in light of Texas law on this point, assert several dubious arguments. The Court discusses each below.[241]
Hartford contends, expressly contrary to Texas law,[242] that Plaintiffs lack standing to assert their claims because only insurers may state a claim for a lack of insurable interest. Hartford urges the Court to adopt the law of other states, since "Texas law on this subject is the anomaly, not the rule."[243] The Court is bound to apply Texas law for the reasons set forth in detail in prior sections of this Opinion. Accordingly, this argument is rejected.
*783 Hartford further argues that the Camelot Plaintiffs are required under Texas law to show that Defendants have no insurable interest in their lives both at the time the policy was issued and at the time Plaintiffs' die.[244] Hartford's premise is based solely on a misconstruction of the two citations it provides. See Insurance Contracts and Coverage, 45 TEX.JUR.3D ง 217 (1995); Roberts v. Southwestern Life Ins. Co., 244 S.W.2d 302, 308 (Tex.Civ.App. โ Dallas 1951, writ ref'd n.r.e.)
Hartford relies on the sentence in Roberts that: "In major respects, a policy of insurance, like a will, speaks at the time of death." Id. at 308. The Court has already addressed Roberts above, finding it inapplicable to this case and undermined, if not overruled in this respect, by the Texas Supreme Court in Empire Life Ins. Co. v. Moody, 584 S.W.2d 855, 858 (Tex. 1979). More importantly for present purposes, the quote on which Hartford relies does not address the issue at bar. Roberts contains nothing to support Hartford's argument.
The Texas treatise cited by Hartford merely sets forth the rule applied by Texas courts in determining who is entitled to death benefits when the benefits become payable. This rule is that the "beneficiary must have an insurable interest both at the time when the policy is issued and when the benefits are payable." Insurance Contracts and Coverage, 45 TEX.JUR.3D ง 217 (1995).[245] This well established principle means that if the named beneficiary lacks an insurable interest at either time, that beneficiary may not retain the death benefits from the life insurance policy. Hartford attempts to create a new rule. Hartford contends that the Camelot Plaintiffs, who are alive, cannot show that the Camelot Defendants lack an insurable interest because these Plaintiffs cannot negate the existence of an insurable interest at the second of the two required points in time, i.e., at Plaintiffs' death. Hartford's argument amounts to the proposition that the existence or absence of the insurable interest during the insured's life is immaterial. This argument falls of its own weight. First, under black letter Texas law, the absence of an insurable interest at either pertinent time requires denial of the death benefits. In this case, the Camelot Defendants cannot qualify for the death benefits on the Camelot Plaintiffs since Defendants lacked an insurable interest when the COLI policies were created.
Second, Hartford's reliance on the cited treatise is misplaced since that provision is relevant only to the award of death benefits, which are payable only after the insured *784 dies. The Camelot Plaintiffs do not seek payment of death benefits at this time. Plaintiffs seek a declaration that the Camelot Defendants do not now have an insurable interest in their lives. The inquiry about the existence of an insurable interest at an insured's death in the future (and the proper remedy for any violation of the Texas doctrine) is separate from the determination of a beneficiary's present insurable interest on the insured while alive.
Hartford's argument, on close analysis, is essentially a reworked ripeness argument. As the Court held in the preceding section of this Opinion, the Camelot Plaintiffs' claim for a declaration as to the existence of a current insurable interest is ripe, and the Camelot Plaintiffs are entitled at this time to seek a ruling in this case as to whether the Camelot Defendants have a legally cognizable insurable interest.
On the merits, Hartford and the Camelot Defendants have failed to raise a genuine fact issue in response to the Camelot Plaintiffs' motion seeking a declaration that the Camelot Defendants lack an insurable interest in Plaintiffs' lives. Therefore, the Camelot Plaintiffs' prayer for a declaration that the Camelot Defendants lack an insurable interest in the Camelot Plaintiffs' lives is granted. The Hartford and Camelot Defendants' motions for summary judgment to dismiss this claim are denied.[246]
2. Camelot Plaintiffs' Claim for a Constructive Trust and Ownership of the COLI Policies
In the Complaint, Plaintiffs seek a declaration that they are the owners of all existing COLI policies on their lives.[247] Plaintiffs further seek a "final judgment concluding that the policies, policy benefits, and any residual or resulting benefits from the policies are held in a constructive trust by [Defendants]." Complaint, at 12. The Camelot Defendants and Hartford move to dismiss these claims.[248] The Court grants these aspects of Defendants' motions.[249] These rulings apply to Camelot Plaintiffs, who all are still alive, where no death benefits are due or have been paid under the Camelot COLI policies.
(a) COLI Policy Proceeds Upon a Plaintiff's Death
Courts applying the Texas insurable interest doctrine consistently have held, in the event that the beneficiary lacks an insurable interest, that the insurance policy is to be enforced as written except that a constructive trust is imposed in favor of the insured's estate on the death benefits that are paid.[250] In most *785 reported cases, the insured has died.[251] The insurable interest doctrine precludes the Camelot Defendants from retaining death benefits from a COLI policy on the life of a Camelot Plaintiff, if the COLI policy is still owned by the Camelot Defendants at the time the Camelot Plaintiff insured dies and if, at that time, the policy designates a Camelot Defendant as the beneficiary. See, e.g., Insurance Contracts and Coverage, 45 TEX.JUR.3D ง 217 (1995). However, for the reasons explained below, Texas law does not justify imposition of immediate constructive trusts on contingent death benefits nor justify the granting to Plaintiffs of other rights under the COLI policies while the insureds are still alive.
(b) Living Plaintiffs' Available Remedies
The Camelot Plaintiffs, the living insureds under COLI policies, seek to obtain ownership of the insurance policies per se, as well as a judgment imposing a constructive trust on "the policies, policy benefits, and any residual or resulting benefits from the policies."[252] Each Plaintiff thus seeks control over the policy on his own life, as well as all benefits available to the owner under the policy during Plaintiff's lifetime and thereafter.[253] Plaintiffs' request for an immediate constructive trust on the COLI policies would require Defendants to handle the policies as fiduciaries, giving Plaintiffs substantial authority over the disposition of the policies and their proceeds. Establishment of constructive trusts during Plaintiffs' lives, as Plaintiffs request, would be analogous to transfer of ownership of the policies to *786 Plaintiffs. Therefore, the Court will address Plaintiffs' claims for ownership and for a constructive trust together.
After considering the parties' arguments and the authorities applying the insurable interest doctrine, the Court finds no probative support in Texas law for the far-reaching remedies Plaintiffs request. The Camelot Plaintiffs attempt to obtain remedies well beyond relief any Texas court previously has ordered under the insurable interest doctrine in circumstances even remotely similar to those here. The Court declines this invitation. Texas courts would not provide for the transfer of legal or beneficial ownership of the COLI policies during the insured's lifetime to remedy a violation of the insurable interest doctrine.
The Fifth Circuit recently addressed the remedies available under the insurable interest doctrine in DeLeon v. Lloyd's London, Certain Underwriters, 259 F.3d 344 (5th Cir.2001). The Court was faced with claims of a deceased insured's estate, and not, as in the instant case, the claims of living insureds. Nevertheless, the DeLeon opinion is instructive.
In DeLeon, the estate of a deceased insured brought suit against the insurer that had issued an "accidental death" life insurance policy to the insured's employer. Id. at 346. The employer was the beneficiary and owner of the policy. The employer had purchased the policy in lieu of participation in the worker's compensation program. The insured died in the course of employment, and the insurer paid death benefits to the employer. The insured's estate sued the employer in state court. Those parties settled; the employer compensated the estate in exchange for a comprehensive release from liability. Id. at 347. At the time it settled with the employer, the estate was unaware of the existence of the employer-owned accidental death policy. After learning of the policy, the estate sued the insurer and the insurance broker. The insurer asserted a third-party claim against the employer. Ultimately the case proceeded in federal court on only the claims of the estate against the insurer. Id.
The estate in DeLeon sought to reform the insurance contract to name itself as the lawful beneficiary of the policy.[254] 259 F.3d at 350. The district court granted summary judgment to the insurer. Id. at 347. The court of appeals held that (i) the employer did not have an insurable interest in the insured's life and (ii) the employer held the policy proceeds, which the insurer previously had paid to the employer, in constructive trust for the benefit of the estate. Id. at 349. The court of appeals, however, refused to reform the insurance contract to substitute the estate as beneficiary. Id. at 353.
In reaching its decision, the Fifth Circuit recognized the traditional remedy under the insurable interest doctrine was to create a constructive trust on the policy proceeds consisting of the death benefits. Id. at 350-51.[255] The court of appeals *787 noted that the purpose of the insurable interest doctrine is not to impose a penalty on the insurer, and held that the traditional remedy was sufficient to vindicate the insurable interest doctrine. Id. at 351.[256]
Plaintiffs here seek the transfer of legal and beneficial ownership of insurance policies to themselves. This prayer amounts to a request for reformation of the insurance contract, a remedy the DeLeon court specifically denied. This Court similarly is refuses to grant reformation of the COLI policy contracts. This extraordinary relief is not necessary to vindicate the goals of the insurable interest doctrine for living Plaintiffs. Plaintiffs concede that they cite no cases granting the remedy of assignment to an insured of the ownership of a policy in circumstances remotely analogous to this case. The Court's declaration that the Camelot Defendants lack an insurable interest in the Camelot Plaintiffs' lives is sufficient to eliminate these Defendants' theoretical incentive to commit murder or to wager on the life of the insured. The remedial purpose of the insurable interest doctrine is satisfied by the Employer Defendants' knowledge that a constructive trust on death benefits will be imposed, if necessary, after an insured's death.
Plaintiffs resist this result, first, by arguing that it logically follows from the insurable interest doctrine that they are the "owners" of the COLI policies. Plaintiffs' argument appears to be that, first, Texas law forbids a person owning a life insurance policy without an insurable interest in the life of the insured; second, Texas law will not invalidate the insurance contract itself; and, therefore, the insured necessarily must become the owner of such a policy that continues to exist.[257] Plaintiffs' reasoning is faulty. Plaintiffs assume that the Camelot COLI policies must continue in force as presently written. There is no reason, however, under the insurable interest doctrine that a COLI policy must continue in its present form. Any step that eliminates the improper incentives the insurable interest doctrine is designed to address is sufficient to satisfy Texas public policy. Subject to the written terms of each COLI policy, the owner may elect among various options: change the beneficiary to a person with an insurable interest[258]; change the insured so the owner obtains an insurable interest; surrender the policy; or merely let the policy lapse. The choice belongs to the owner of the contract, the Camelot Defendants. This Court sees no reason to interfere with these Defendants' decisions as to how the COLI policies' violations of Texas law should be corrected.
*788 Plaintiffs next point out that various Texas courts have stated that "the public policy of this state forbids allowing one to own an insurance policy on the life of another in whom he has no insurable interest." E.g., Shoemaker, 48 S.W.2d at 614. These types of comments, however, do not address the relief of imposition of an immediate constructive trust or transfer of ownership, as Plaintiffs seek. These comments simply establish that the violation must be cured. These courts give no indication that the insured, while alive, is entitled to a financial benefit from Defendants in the process of effecting the cure.
Plaintiffs also attempt to generalize from several appellate court rulings in divorce cases. Plaintiffs contend that "Texas courts have been called upon in other similar circumstances to adjust ownership rights under insurance policies while the insured person is living."[259] Plaintiffs contend that the divorce cases provide more pertinent guidance than the Stillwagoner,[260]Tamez,[261] and DeLeon[262] line of cases, which Plaintiffs distinguish as involving deceased insureds who died without awareness of their employers' ownership of COLI policies on their lives. Plaintiffs are correct that the Stillwagoner line of cases does not specifically address the rights of living insureds, and the divorce cases do. However, the Court does not find the divorce cases persuasive authority for Plaintiffs' positions. Indeed, these cases implicitly support the result reached by this Court.
Plaintiffs, in reliance upon divorce cases, posit that Texas courts have approved practical solutions to solve insurable interest violations. In these cases, the courts seek to compensate the former wife for her contribution during her marriage deemed made under community property laws in connection with premium payments for an insurance policy on the life of her husband. See Shoemaker v. Am. Nat'l Ins. Co., 48 S.W.2d 612, 613-14 (Tex.Comm'n App. 1932, jdgm't adopted)[263]; Berdoll v. Berdoll, 145 S.W.2d 227, 230-31 (Tex.Civ. *789 App. โ Austin 1940, writ dism'd).[264] After a divorce, one former spouse has no insurable interest in the other spouse's life. One former spouse named as the policy beneficiary may not receive death benefits post-divorce from an insurance policy on the other former spouse. The Berdoll court held that one of the insurance policies in issue had to be surrendered for its cash value, which was to be paid to the former wife. In Shoemaker, the court granted the beneficiary who lacked an insurable interest the choice of surrendering the policy and obtaining the surrender value during the insured's life. Berdoll and Shoemaker demonstrate that Texas courts will exercise equitable powers to grant a beneficiary without an insurable interest a right to the surrender value of the policy, essentially to reimburse that beneficiary for costs or monies deemed paid in connection with the purchase of the policy. E.g., Shoemaker, 48 S.W.2d at 614. However, this result does not dictate the outcome for the Camelot Plaintiffs' claims. Texas courts have characterized the surrender value as a "debt against the insurance company" that does not invoke the insurable interest doctrine. Id. In fact, contrary to Plaintiffs' position, the appeals court in Shoemaker found that an interest in the surrender value gives its holder an interest in preserving the life of the insured, at least until the holder can claim the surrender value. Shoemaker, 48 S.W.2d at 615. Plaintiffs' request for ownership of, or immediate constructive trust on, the Camelot COLI policies extends much farther than the remedies imposed in the cases on which Plaintiffs rely. Berdoll and Shoemaker therefore do not support Plaintiffs' requests for relief.
Plaintiffs also argue, this time without any viable legal support, that Texas law makes no meaningful distinction between ownership of policy benefits after death and the ownership of the policy during life, and that there is only a "technical distinction" between the remedy available to the Plaintiffs' estates upon their deaths and COLI policy ownership during Plaintiffs' lives. This argument is rejected. In the single case cited by Plaintiffs, Little v. X-Pert Corp., 867 S.W.2d 15 (Tex.1993), there was no issue of a lack of an insurable interest. Id. at 17.[265] In fact, the corporation *790 that owned the policy indisputably had an insurable interest in the life of the insured even after he sold his shares in the corporation. Id. This case is inapplicable and Plaintiffs' argument is rejected.
Plaintiffs also invoke basic principles of equity to support their argument for ownership of or an immediate constructive trust on the COLI policies. Plaintiffs request that the Court exercise its inherent equitable powers to adjust globally the ownership rights of the COLI policies. Plaintiffs contend that they should recover financially from these policies (through the transfer of ownership or constructive control over the policies) because Defendants violated the law and Plaintiffs have been, and continue to be, at risk as insureds. This argument is unavailing. Plaintiffs contributed nothing of value for the COLI policies, unlike the former wives in Berdoll and Shoemaker, who under the Texas community property laws were deemed to have paid part of the premiums for the insurance on their former husbands' lives. Plaintiffs point to no physical or financial harm to themselves arising from the policies. It is the Camelot Plaintiffs who would receive a windfall if their requested relief were granted. The Camelot Plaintiffs' requests for ownership of or a constructive trust over the COLI policies are denied.
As the last arrow in their quiver, Plaintiffs seek to impose a constructive trust on all policy benefits, including the surrender value,[266] because, Defendants allegedly have been unjustly enriched by the COLI policies. Plaintiffs contend that Defendants exploited them for the purpose of Defendants' profits. Plaintiffs present no probative legal authority to support the relief sought. In Texas, a "party may recover under the unjust enrichment theory when one person has obtained a benefit from another by fraud, duress, or the taking of an undue advantage." Heldenfels Bros., Inc. v. City of Corpus Christi, 832 S.W.2d 39, 41 (Tex.1992); Academy Corp. v. Interior Buildout & Turnkey Constr., Inc., 21 S.W.3d 732, 741 (Tex.App. โ Houston [14th Dist.] 2000, n. pet. h.). "Unjust enrichment, however, is not a proper remedy merely because ... the benefits to the person sought to be charged amount to a windfall." Heldenfels, 832 S.W.2d at 41-42; Academy Corp., 21 S.W.3d at 741.
Plaintiffs essentially base their request for relief on the concept that the Camelot Defendants will experience a "windfall" if they are allowed to retain the surrender value. Plaintiffs also apparently contend that Hartford will obtain (and may have obtained already) an unjust benefit because the policies generate premiums and *791 interest on the loans to cover the premiums. These matters are insufficient to justify equitable relief that grants Plaintiffs a financial windfall.
Furthermore, in seeking the surrender value, Plaintiffs essentially seek reformation of the insurance contracts so they become the owners. This result has been rejected repeatedly by Texas courts and the Fifth Circuit. The Texas insurable interest violation alone does not warrant reformation of the insurance contract. Plaintiffs' alternative relief, the imposition of a constructive trust during Plaintiffs' lives, would do largely the same thing. As a practical matter, the constructive trust is designed either to force the Camelot Defendants to surrender the policies and pay the Camelot Plaintiffs the surrender value, or to require these Defendants to maintain the policies until the Camelot Plaintiffs' deaths and then to pay the proceeds to Plaintiffs. The extreme remedy of a constructive trust over the COLI policies during Plaintiffs' lives is not necessary to correct the identified violations of Texas law. As noted previously, Plaintiffs have not shown they have suffered any financial or physical losses as a result of Defendants' actions. Hartford entered into private contracts for insurance with the Camelot Defendants. As among these parties, the Court will not interfere with these agreements. The workings of the premium payments and loans to cover these costs do not directly involve Plaintiffs. Therefore, the Court holds that Plaintiffs may not recover a financial benefit through a contract reformation or constructive trust that provides Plaintiffs the recovery of the policies' surrender values, per se or net of the related loans.
In sum, the Court is unpersuaded by the merits of Plaintiffs' equitable arguments. The Court therefore exercises its discretion to deny the novel, extraordinary remedies Plaintiffs request for Defendants' violations of the insurable interest doctrine. Under this doctrine, Plaintiffs' and the Court's only valid concern is to remove the incentive for Defendants to take Plaintiffs' lives or to improperly wager on them. This goal is accomplished by informing the parties now that the Camelot Defendants lack an insurable interest that allows them to retain COLI policy death benefits on Plaintiffs' lives. Defendants may not be innocent players in the drama they assisted in setting in motion. However, in the absence of any actual physical or economic harm suffered as a result of the policies, the Court sees no reason to impose unprecedented remedies.
Accordingly, the Court denies the Camelot Plaintiffs' request for ownership of the Camelot COLI polices on their lives, and denies these Plaintiffs' request for constructive trusts over the policies and the resulting rights and benefits. The Court grants Defendants' motions to dismiss the Camelot Plaintiffs' prayers for a declaration of ownership and for imposition of a constructive trust over the COLI policies during Plaintiffs' lifetimes.[267]
VII. CONCLUSION AND ORDER
Summary of Rulings. After detailed consideration of the parties' myriad motions, the voluminous record, and all applicable authorities, the Court concludes the following:
*792 The Texas law of insurable interest governs this case. The Court is convinced that a Texas courts would apply Texas insurable interest law to the COLI policies on Plaintiffs' lives.
Defendants' arguments for dismissal of the Sims Estate's claim are without legal merit. The Sims Estate's claim is not preempted by ERISA, as Wal-Mart has argued, because it does not relate to an ERISA plan. Further, the Sims Estate's claim was timely filed within the applicable four-year statute of limitations. Defendant AIG's motion for dismissal of the Sims Estate's claim against it is granted, but the Sims Estate is granted leave to replead if it deems necessary.
The Court denies in part and grants in part Defendants' motions to dismiss or for summary judgment on the Camelot Plaintiffs' claims. The Camelot Plaintiffs present a ripe and justiciable controversy. The insurable interest doctrine is a prophylactic rule intended to eliminate the incentive to wager on or take the life of another. The Camelot COLI policies on Plaintiffs' lives are still in effect and thus the Camelot Plaintiffs have an actual controversy with the Camelot Defendants.
On the merits of the Camelot Plaintiffs' declaratory judgment claim, the Camelot Defendants lack an insurable interest under Texas law in the death benefit from the COLI life insurance policies on Texas Plaintiffs' lives.
The Camelot Plaintiffs' requests for equitable relief are denied. Although the Camelot Defendants cannot retain any death benefits under the offending COLI policies, Texas law grants the remedy of a constructive trust on the policy benefits only at the insured's death, if the offending policy still exists in its current form at that time. The Camelot Plaintiffs' request to be declared the owners of the COLI policies in lieu of the Camelot Defendants and the Plaintiffs' request for reformation on the policies are unwarranted extensions of Texas law. The Camelot Defendants remain the owners of the COLI policies. Furthermore, Plaintiffs are not entitled to an immediate constructive trust covering the COLI policies on their lives, the death benefits, the surrender value or any other residual rights under these policies.
Certification for Interlocutory Appeal. The Court finds that its rulings on Wal-Mart and the Trust's motions for summary judgment [Docs. # 19, 58, 113-2][268] on the questions of choice of law and statute of limitations involve controlling questions of law as to which there is substantial ground for difference of opinion and that an immediate appeal from this Opinion may materially advance the ultimate termination of this litigation. The details of the Court's reasoning will be set forth in a separate order.
It is therefore
ORDERED that the Motions of Defendants Camelot Music, Inc. and Trans World Entertainment Corp. to Dismiss the Complaint [Docs. # 15, 36] are GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART with prejudice. The Camelot Plaintiffs' claims for ownership of, and for a constructive *793 trust on, the Camelot COLI policies are DISMISSED. It is further
ORDERED that the Motion of Defendants' Camelot Music, Inc. and Trans World Entertainment Corporation for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 30] is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part, with prejudice. It is further
ORDERED that the Camelot Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [Doc. # 17] is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part. The Court DECLARES pursuant to 28 U.S.C. ง 2201(a) that Defendants Camelot Music, Inc. and Trans World Entertainment Corporation lack an insurable interest in the lives of Plaintiffs Scott Mayo, Toribio Rochas, Jr., Tomas Pena, Daniel Garza, and Charles W. Holmes, Jr. It is further
ORDERED that the Defendant Wal-Mart's Motion for Summary Judgment and Brief in Support [Doc. # 19] is DENIED with prejudice. It is further
ORDERED that the Motion for Summary Judgment of Defendant Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Corporation Grantor Trust, Through its Trustee, the Wachovia Bank of Georgia, N.A. [Doc. # 58] is DENIED with prejudice. It is further
ORDERED that Hartford Life Insurance Company's Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 24] is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART with prejudice. It is further
ORDERED that Defendant AIG Life Insurance Company's Motion to Dismiss and Memorandum in Support Thereof [Doc. # 59] is GRANTED without prejudice to Plaintiff Sims Estate's filing a third amended complaint within ten (10) days from entry of this Order. It is further
ORDERED that Defendant AIG Life Insurance Company's Motion and Memorandum in Support of Summary Judgment on Plaintiffs' Second Amended Complaint [Doc. # 60] is DENIED with prejudice. It is further
ORDERED that Plaintiffs' requests pursuant to FED.R.CIV.P. 56(f) for continuance are DENIED. It is further
ORDERED that Defendant Wal-Mart's Objections to Declaration of Seth J. Chandler [Doc. # 56], Defendants Camelot Music, Inc. and Trans World Entertainment Corporation Motion to Strike the Declaration of Seth J. Chandler [Doc. # 54], and Hartford Life Insurance Company's Objection to the Declaration of Seth J. Chandler [Doc. # 55] each are DENIED. It is further
ORDERED that Hartford Life Insurance Company's request for a continuance pursuant to FED.R.CIV.P 56(f) is DENIED. It is further
ORDERED that Plaintiffs' Motion to Strike, Response to Wal-Mart's Supplemental Brief in Support of Motions for Summary Judgment, Supplemental Motion for Continuance and Leave to Depose Tom Emerick [Docs. # 85, see Doc. # 91] is DENIED. It is further
ORDERED that Plaintiffs' Response to Camelot's and Hartford's Submissions Concerning Policy Loans, Motion for Continuance and Leave to Depose Christine Repasy or, in the Alternative, to Strike her Affidavit [Doc. # 86] is DENIED. It is further
ORDERED that Wal-Mart's Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 113-2] is DENIED.
The Clerk shall provide a copy of this Order to all parties.
NOTES
[1] See Motion of Defendants Camelot Music, Inc. and Trans World Entertainment Corp. to Dismiss Complaint [Doc. # 15] ("Camelot Defendants' Motion to Dismiss"). The Camelot Defendants have also moved to dismiss the Second Amended Complaint, see Motion of Defendants Camelot Music, Inc. and Trans World Entertainment Corp. to Dismiss the Second Amended Class Action Complaint [Doc. # 36], and incorporate by reference the arguments they make in their first motion to dismiss. Defendants also filed a Memorandum of Defendants Camelot Music Inc., and Trans World Entertainment Corp. in Support of Motion to Dismiss Complaint [Doc. # 16] ("Camelot Memorandum"). Plaintiffs responded. See Camelot Plaintiffs' Response to Camelot's Motion to Dismiss [Doc. # 28]. Defendants replied. See Reply of Defendants Camelot Music and Trans World Entertainment Corporation in Further Support of Motion to Dismiss Complaint [Doc. # 37]. Plaintiffs submitted a sur-reply. See Camelot Plaintiffs' Sur-Reply to Camelot's Motion to Dismiss [Doc. # 41].
[2] See Motion of Defendants' Camelot Music, Inc and Trans World Entertainment Corporation for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 30] ("Camelot Defendants' Summary Judgment Motion"). Plaintiffs responded to this motion. See Plaintiffs' Response to Camelot's Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 33]. The Camelot Defendants replied. See Reply of Defendants Camelot Music, Inc. and Trans World Entertainment Corporation in Further Support of Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 45]. Plaintiffs submitted a sur-reply. See Plaintiffs Sur-Reply concerning Camelot Music, Inc. and Trans World Entertainment Corporation's Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 50]. In this latter submission, Plaintiffs address issues raised in several pending motions. The Court will refer to this generally as "Plaintiff's November 2, 2001 Submission."
[3] See Camelot Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [Doc. # 17] ("Camelot Plaintiffs' Summary Judgment Motion"). Defendants responded in opposition. See Hartford Life Insurance Company's Response to Camelot Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [Doc. # 39]; Response of Defendants Camelot Music, Inc., and Trans World Entertainment Corporation to Camelot Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [Doc. # 40]. Plaintiffs replied. See Camelot Plaintiffs' Reply Concerning Their Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [Doc. # 50]. Defendants submitted sur-replies. See Sur-Reply of Defendants Camelot Music, Inc. and Trans World Entertainment Corporation in Opposition to Camelot Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [Doc. # 54]; Hartford Life Insurance Company's Sur-Reply to Camelot Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and Objections to the Declaration of Seth J. Chandler [Doc. # 55].
[4] See Defendant Wal-Mart's Motion for Summary Judgment and Brief in Support [Doc. # 19] ("Wal-Mart's Summary Judgment Motion"). Wal-Mart also submitted supporting documents. See Exhibits in Support of Defendant Wal-Mart's Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 20] ("Wal-Mart's Exhibits"); Supplemental Exhibits in Support of Defendant Wal-Mart's Motion for Summary Judgment and Brief in Support (Pages Omitted from Original Exhibits 2 and 3) [Doc. # 31]; Supplemental Exhibits in Support of Defendant Wal-Mart's Motion for Summary Judgment and Brief in Support [Doc. # 44] ("Wal-Mart's Supplemental Exhibits"); Notice of Additional Authority in Support of the Motions for Summary Judgment of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Corporation Grantor Trust [Doc. # 66]; Affidavit of Tom Emerick [Doc. # 23] ("Emerick Aff.") Supp. Affidavit of Tom Emerick [Doc. # 49] ("Supp. Emerick Aff."). Plaintiffs responded. See The Estate of Douglas Sims' Response to Wal-Mart's Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 32]. Wal-Mart replied. See Defendant Wal-Mart's Reply to the Estate of Douglas Sims' Response to Wal-Mart's Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 43]. Plaintiffs submitted a sur-reply. See Plaintiffs' Sur-Reply Concerning Wal-Mart's Stores, Inc.'s Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 50]. Plaintiffs also contend that summary judgment is improper since discovery is necessary to determine if genuine fact questions exist. See Declaration of Scott M. Clearman in Support of Request for Denial or Continuance of Summary Judgment (Fed.R.Civ.P.56(f)), ถถ 30-36 ("Clearman Decl."). This Rule 56(f) motion is denied as moot.
Wal-Mart also objected to evidence submitted by Plaintiffs. See Defendant Wal-Mart's Objections to Declaration of Seth J. Chandler [Doc. # 56]. These objections are denied as moot. The Court has not considered the Declaration in its rulings.
[5] See Motion for Summary Judgment of Defendant Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Corporation Grantor Trust, Through its Trustee, the Wachovia Bank of Georgia, N.A. [Doc. # 58] ("Wal-Mart Trust's Summary Judgment Motion"). Plaintiffs submitted Plaintiffs' Response to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Corporation Grantor Trust's Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 62].
[6] See Hartford Life Insurance Company's Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 24] ("Hartford's Summary Judgment Motion"). Plaintiffs responded in opposition. See Camelot Plaintiffs' Response to Hartford's Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 33]. Hartford replied in support of its motion. See Hartford Life Insurance Company's Reply in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 45] ("Hartford's Reply"). Plaintiffs submitted a sur-reply. See Plaintiffs' Sur-Reply Concerning Hartford Life Insurance Company's Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 50].
[7] See Defendant AIG Life Insurance Company's Motion to Dismiss and Memorandum in Support Thereof [Doc. # 59] ("AIG's Motion to Dismiss"); Defendant AIG Life Insurance Company's Motion and Memorandum in Support of Summary Judgment on Plaintiffs' Second Amended Complaint [Doc. # 60] ("AIG's Summary Judgment Motion"). Plaintiffs submitted the following in opposition to these motions: The Estate of Douglas Sims' Response to AIG Life Insurance Company's Motion to Dismiss [Doc. # 64] ("Sims Estate's Response to AIG's Motion to Dismiss") and The Estate of Douglas Sims' Response to AIG Life Insurance Company's Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 65]. AIG replied. See Defendant AIG Life Insurance Company's Reply in Further Support of its Motion to Dismiss the Second Amended Complaint [Doc. # 73] ("AIG's Reply in Support of its Motion to Dismiss"); Defendant AIG Life Insurance Company's Reply in Further Support of Its Motion for Summary Judgment on the Second Amended Complaint [Doc. # 72].
[8] See Transcript of Proceedings of Scheduling Conference, September 7, 2001 [Doc. # 26] ("Sept. 7, 2001 Transcript"); Transcript of Hearing, January 11, 2002 [Doc. # 88] ("Jan. 11, 2002 Transcript").
[9] See Letter of Scott Clearman (Plaintiffs' attorney) to Judge Atlas (Jan. 15, 2002) [no Doc. #] Affidavit of Christine Hayer Repasy [Doc. # 76] ("Repasy Aff."); Supplemental Memorandum in Further Support of Motion to Dismiss the Complaint by Defendants Camelot Music, Inc. and Trans Word Entertainment Corporation [Doc. # 78] ("Camelot Defendants' Supplement"); Wal-Mart's Supplemental Brief in Support of Motions for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 79]; Second Supplement Affidavit of Tom Emerick [Doc. # 80] ("Second Supp. Emerick Aff."); Plaintiffs' Motion to Strike, Response to Wal-Mart's Supplemental Brief in Support of Motions for Summary Judgment, Supplemental Motion for Continuance and Leave to Depose Tom Emerick [Doc. # 85]; Plaintiffs' Response to Camelot's and Hartford's Submissions Concerning Policy Loans, Motion for Continuance and Leave to Depose Christine Repasy or, in the Alternative, to Strike Her Affidavit [Doc. # 86]; Response of Defendants Camelot Music, Inc. and Trans World Entertainment Corporation to Camelot Plaintiffs' Motion for a Continuance Pursuant to FRCP 56(f) [Doc. # 87]; Wal-Mart's Response in Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion to Strike, Plaintiffs' Response to Wal-Mart's Supplemental Brief in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment, and Plaintiffs' Supplemental Motion for Continuance and Leave to Depose Tom Emerick [Doc. # 89]; Hartford Life Insurance Company's Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Continuance and Leave to Depose Christine Repasy or to Strike in her Affidavit [Doc. # 90]; Reply by Estate of Douglas Sims in Support of its Motion to Strike Wal-Mart's Supplemental Brief [Doc. # 91].
[10] Memorandum Opinion ("March 5th Opinion") [Doc. # 92].
[11] Wal-Mart Defendants' Motion to Reconsider and Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment ("Reconsideration Motion") [Doc. # 113-1 & 113-2]; Wal-Mart Defendants' Supplemental Brief in Support of Wal-Mart Defendants' Motion to Reconsider and Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment ("Wal-Mart's Supplemental Brief") [Doc. # 118]; The Sims Estate's Response to Wal-Mart's "Motion to Reconsider and Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment" ("Sims Estate's Response") [Doc. # 123].
[12] Order Granting Wal-Mart Defendants' Motion to Reconsider March 5th Ruling [Doc. # 136].
[13] See Affidavit of Raymond H. Sapp ("Sapp Aff.") (Exhibit B to Wal-Mart's Exhibits), at 1, ถ 1; Second Affidavit of Raymond H. Sapp ("Second Sapp Aff.") (on behalf of the Wal-Mart Trust), Exhibit M to Wal-Mart Reconsideration Motion, ถ 9. Wachovia's citizenship (state of incorporation or principal place of business) is not definitively established in the record.
[14] Sept. 7, 2001 Transcript, at 11-13. Hartford submitted the Repasy Affidavit, which provides additional details on the policy loan arrangement between Hartford and the Camelot Defendants. Repasy attests that the surrender value of the Camelot COLI policies will be reduced by "any loan balance" outstanding on the policy. Repasy Aff., ถ 3 (emphasis added); Sept. 7, 2001 Transcript, at 11-13. Plaintiffs move to strike this affidavit as untimely and improper expert testimony. See Plaintiffs Response to Camelot's and Hartford's Submissions Concerning Policy Loans, Motion for Continuance and Leave to Depose Christine Repasy or, in the Alternative, to Strike her Affidavit [Doc. # 86]. This motion is denied. The Repasy Affidavit is not improper expert testimony; it merely presents the factual framework of the Camelot COLI policy loans and the calculations under the contracts of the policy's surrender value.
[15] The Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") disputes Defendants Camelot and Wal-Mart's deductions and the tax implications of the COLI policies. See Sept. 7, 2001 Transcript, at 7-8, 40-41.
[16] Mutual was one of the major underwriters of COLI policies. Van Etten Aff., ถ 6. Hartford acquired Mutual's COLI line of business in November 1992. Id.
[17] The fact that there are COLI policies on the lives of the Camelot Plaintiffs is not disputed. The Camelot Defendants admit that they are the "sole owner and beneficiary" of COLI policies on the Camelot Plaintiffs' lives. Camelot Memorandum, at 4. Hartford has submitted the Repasy Aff., to describe the terms of the Camelot COLI policy regarding the effect that outstanding loans have on the policy and the policy's surrender value. Repasy Aff., ถถ 1-3. However, the specific terms and conditions of the policies are less certain. While no party has provided the Court with authenticated copies of the actual COLI policies on the Camelot Plaintiffs, a sample policy is attached to the Complaint. See Plaintiffs' Second Amended Class Action Complaint [Doc. # 29] ("Complaint"). Plaintiffs allege that Exhibit A to the Complaint is a COLI policy that Camelot purchased from Mutual. Id. The pages in Exhibit A are not consecutively numbered, but bear Bates stamped nos. "DE-CMH00457" through "DE-CMH00491." Exhibit A does not name any Camelot Plaintiff as the insured, but appears to be a specimen policy. See Exhibit A, at DE-CMH00457; Id. at DE-CMH00489 "Statement of Policy Cost and Benefit Information." Exhibit A refers to the name of insured in the application pages to "Schedule A," Id. at DE-CMH00488, which appears to refer to Exhibit B to the Complaint, titled "Camelot Enterprises, Inc. MB211 Schedule A Insured Name Sequence," which shows only the names of the Camelot Plaintiffs, and is a redacted list of Camelot employees insured under the COLI policies.
[18] Sept. 7, 2001 Transcript, at 7-8. As counsel for Camelot suggested might happen, Camelot surrendered the policies after the Court's initial ruling in this case. Counsel for Hartford stated that the policies continue to be subject to "tremendous indebtedness" by the Employer Defendants. Id. at 11-12. The Camelot Defendants describe the loan arrangement regarding their COLI policies in their supplemental submission. See Camelot Defendants' Supplement, at 1-3; see also Repasy Aff., ถ 3. As described supra, an Employer Defendant borrowed from the COLI policy issuer, an Insurer Defendant, to pay the COLI policy Premiums.
[19] See Emerick Aff., ถถ 7-10, and Exhibit 10; Sapp Aff., Exhibits 13 and 14. The Sims Policy (Policy No. 147539) had a face amount of $64,504. See Emerick Affidavit, Exhibit 10 ("Sims Policy"), at 3. The owner of the policy is listed as the Trust. Id. The Sims Policy refers to another document, the AIG Letter of Understanding (Exhibit 12 to Sapp Aff.), which is incorporated by reference, and contains terms inter alia regarding fees and costs of the COLI policies as well as projections regarding the growth of the value of the Policy. See Exhibit C to the AIG Letter of Understanding.
[20] Wal-Mart has submitted additional evidence since the Court's March 5th Opinion, consisting of the Affidavit of Lee Nystrom ("Nystrom Affidavit") (for the insurance broker), Exhibit L to Wal-Mart Reconsideration Motion; Second Affidavit of Raymond H. Sapp ("Second Sapp Affidavit") (on behalf of the Wal-Mart Trust), Exhibit M to Wal-Mart Reconsideration Motion; the Letter of Understanding between AIG and Sapp, Exhibit 12 to Wal-Mart's Reconsideration Motion; the Life Insurance Application relating to the Letter of Understanding, Exhibit 13 to Wal-Mart's Reconsideration Motion; Life Insurance Application to Hartford for COLI policies purchased by Wal-Mart, Exhibit 14 to Wal-Mart's Reconsideration Motion; AIG Policy Delivery Receipt, Exhibit 18 to Wal-Mart's Reconsideration Motion; Hartford COLI Policy Delivery Receipt, Exhibit 19 to Wal-Mart's Reconsideration Motion; and copies of pertinent provisions of Arkansas, North Carolina and Delaware law on insurable interests, Exhibits N, O, and P to Wal-Mart Reconsideration Motion.
[21] The COLI policies benefits were paid to the Wal-Mart Trust, which remitted the funds to Wal-Mart. Emerick Aff., ถ 10.
[22] Emerick Aff., ถถ 4-5.
[23] Id. ถถ 6-7.
[24] Nystrom Aff., ถ 3; Sept. 7, 2001 Transcript, at 6.
[25] Affidavit of James Van Etten, ถถ 5-6 (Attachment A to Appendix for Hartford's Summary Judgment Motion) ("Van Etten Aff.") James Van Etten is an Assistant Vice President of Hartford, Id. ถ 1. He assisted with the development of the COLI policies at Hartford and at Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company, and managed the COLI policies for Defendants Camelot and Wal-Mart. Id. ถถ 2-5.
[26] Defendant Hartford concedes that the COLI policies provided tax advantages to the corporations that purchased them. Van Etten Aff., ถ 6; Sept. 7, 2001 Transcript, at 11-13. Counsel for Defendants Camelot and Wal-Mart admit that their clients are currently in dispute with the IRS over the COLI polices. Sept. 7, 2001 Transcript, at 7-8, 40-41.
[27] Van Etten Aff., ถถ 5-6; Emerick Aff., ถ 5; Camelot Memorandum, at 4. See generally Nystrom Aff., ถ 10; Affidavit of Tom Emerick, executed April 30, 2002 [Doc. # 115] (submitted in support of Wal-Mart's Response to the Estate of Douglas Sims' Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 110]).
[28] Plaintiffs moved for class certification after the March 5th Memorandum Opinion. That Motion is sub judice.
[29] See infra pages 734-37. Defendants contend that Georgia's insurable interest law contrasts with the Texas doctrine in various ways. Georgia gives employers an insurable interest in the lives of their employees. GA. CODE ANN. ง 33-24-3 (1990) ("A corporation has an insurable interest ... in the life ... of any of its directors, officers, or employees ... or any other person whose death ... might cause financial loss to the corporation.")
[30] See Camelot Defendants' Summary Judgment Motion; Defendant Wal-Mart's Motion for Summary Judgment; Motion for Summary Judgment of Defendant Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Corporation Grantor Trust, Through its Trustee, the Wachovia Bank of Georgia, N.A.; Hartford's Summary Judgment Motion; AIG's Summary Judgment Motion. See also Wal-Mart's Reconsideration Motion, renewing its arguments on this issue.
[31] The Court is satisfied, from its review of the record, that complete diversity exists and that the amount in controversy for each named Plaintiff exceeds $75,000. Defendant Wal-Mart asserts complete ERISA preemption, and relies on federal question jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. ง 1331. The ERISA contentions are rejected, as explained infra in Section V(A).
[32] This test does not apply to contract cases in which the parties have a valid choice of law clause in the contract. Duncan, 665 S.W.2d at 421. The COLI policies do not contain a choice of law clause. Accordingly, the Court applies the Restatement's fact-based analysis.
[33] Wal-Mart contends that it gave its employees a Special Death Benefit in connection with those employees' participation in the Wal-Mart Employee benefits plan. The Special Death Benefit was offered solely in Wal-Mart's discretion, and was a contingent right that in fact was cancelled by Wal-Mart several years later. The Court does not decide if this benefit constitutes consideration to the employee, as opposed to a gift from Wal-Mart.
[34] For example, Defendant Hartford argues that "[b]ecause life insurance policies are contracts, the Court should apply the choice of law principles that govern contractual disputes." Hartford's Summary Judgment Motion, at 8. Defendant Wal-Mart argues that the principles of the Restatement (Second) of Conflicts of Laws ง 188(2) โ the section dealing with contract disputes โ should be applied "when deciding which state's law should govern the construction of contractual rights." Wal-Mart's Summary Judgment Motion [Doc. # 19], at 11.
[35] The decision as to what state's law applies must be made for each disputed claim separately. It is possible that the state whose law applies to the COLI policies in a dispute between the signatories to the policy contract may differ from the state whose law applies to issues regarding a non-signatory's claim about the absence of an insurable interest.
[36] The parties have cited and the Court is aware of no Texas authority that employs contract choice of law principles in an action that involves purely the insurable interest doctrine. This case accordingly raises a choice of law issue of first impression. Cf. RESTATEMENT, ง 196.
[37] Wal-Mart argues in its Reconsideration Motion that the Court should not take a summary judgment approach to the choice of law issue. Upon reflection, the Court agrees, and modifies its Memorandum Opinion accordingly. The facts on which choice-of-law rulings depend must be determined by the Court after considering the affidavits, depositions, and other matters submitted by the parties. Nunez v. Hunter Fan Co., 920 F.Supp. 716, 717-18 (S.D.Tex.1996) (citations omitted); Perez v. Alcoa Fujikura, Ltd., 969 F.Supp. 991, 1003 (W.D.Tex.1997); see also Woodfield v. Bowman, 193 F.3d 354, 358 (5th Cir.1999) (choice of law is a question of law for the court); Williamson v. Tucker, 645 F.2d 404, 414 (5th Cir.) (with jurisdictional issues, court "may hear conflicting written and oral evidence and decide for itself the factual issues"), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 897, 102 S.Ct. 396, 70 L.Ed.2d 212 (1981); but see Orr v. Sasseman, 239 F.2d 182, 186 (5th Cir.1956) (proper for jury to decide question of where loss of consortium occurred for purposes of applying Georgia or Illinois law). The Sims Estate does not respond directly to this argument, except to request a continuance under Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(f), if the Court on the current record is inclined to rule in Wal-Mart's favor on the choice of law issue. The Court concludes that additional evidence is not necessary on the choice of law question.
[38] In Griffin, Gordon's personal representatives filed suit in Texas federal court against the insurance company that issued the life insurance policy. 313 U.S. at 499-500, 61 S.Ct. 1023. The insurance company under the federal interpleader statute joined all named beneficiaries under the policy and deposited the policy benefits into a court fund. Id. Thereafter, the insurance company was dismissed from the action.
The genesis of the insurance policy on Gordon's life was Gordon's business venture with several New York investors (the "syndicate"). Id. As consideration for money lent by the syndicate to Gordon, Gordon agreed to the purchase of a life insurance policy on his life with the syndicate as beneficiary. Id. The syndicate paid the policy premiums. Id. Later, the individual members of the syndicate were made the beneficiaries. Id. At some point, Gordon agreed to release his right to determine the beneficiaries of the policy in exchange for a one-eighth share of the policy proceeds made payable to his wife. Id. Thereafter, the members of the syndicate separately assigned their interests to other individuals not involved with the syndicate. Id. Most of the actions relevant to obtaining the policy occurred in New York or New Jersey, although Gordon lived in Texas. Id. at 501, 61 S.Ct. 1023.
The district court found the policy to be a New York contract. Id. The district court and the Fifth Circuit held that New York law governed, and that the assignees of the syndicate had insurable interests under New York law. Id. at 501-02, 61 S.Ct. 1023. Accordingly, both the district court and court of appeals held that the assignees were entitled to receive their shares of the policy benefits. Id. at 501-03, 61 S.Ct. 1023. The court of appeals, applying federal choice of law principles, held that the application of Texas insurable interest law โ under which the assignees did not have an insurable interest โ would be an improper extraterritorial application of Texas law to a New York contract. Id. at 502-03, 61 S.Ct. 1023. In an opinion issued the same day as Klaxon v. Stentor, 313 U.S. 487, 61 S.Ct. 1020, 85 L.Ed. 1477 (1941), the Supreme Court reversed, holding that it would not be unconstitutional for a Texas court to refuse the enforcement of a foreign contract that violated local public policy embodied in the Texas insurable interest doctrine. Id. at 506-07, 61 S.Ct. 1020. The Supreme Court remanded the case and directed the court of appeals to determine whether a Texas court would apply Texas insurable interest law. Id. at 507, 61 S.Ct. 1020.
[39] Defendants argue (somewhat presumptuously) that the Fifth Circuit did not address the choice of law issue, as directed by the Supreme Court. While the Court of Appeals did not present any analysis, it is clear that the court made a choice of law decision. This Court presumes that the Court of Appeals followed the directive of the Supreme Court despite the absence of any explicit discussion on the threshold choice of law issue.
[40] The Fifth Circuit does not cite authority to justify this part of its holding. Defendants attempt to distinguish Griffin because there are no funds on deposit with this Court (or in any court) for any of the Plaintiffs. Other Texas cases establish, however, that the policy proceeds do not have to be located in Texas for the insurable interest doctrine to apply. The doctrine serves to protect the lives of Texas citizens irrespective of the vagaries of the location of the policy proceeds. See Cheeves, 28 S.W. at 275 (holding that the primary justification of insurable interest doctrine was that the public "has an interest that no inducement shall be offered to one man to take the life of another."); Tamez, 999 S.W.2d at 15 ("[I]t is against public policy to enforce a contract which makes it in the interest of a person to bring about the death of another.") (citing Wilke v. Finn, 39 S.W.2d 836, 838 (Tex.Comm.App. 1931)). It would be anomalous to permit insurers to control the choice of law decision after an insured's death simply by placing the insurance proceeds in a jurisdiction with law contrary to Texas policy.
[41] Despite the Supreme Court's holding in Griffin, Defendants argue that application of the Texas insurable interest doctrine to Defendants' COLI policies on the lives of Texas citizens is an improper extraterritorial application of Texas law. This argument is rejected. The Supreme Court in Griffin held that Texas courts may constitutionally apply the Texas insurable interest doctrine to foreign contracts that insure the lives of Texas citizens. 313 U.S. at 506, 61 S.Ct. 1023.
[42] In Cole, Ruby Browning was the beneficiary of an insurance policy on the life of her former husband, Bryan Watson Browning, and sought recovery of the policy proceeds after Bryan's death. Id. at 590. Both Ruby and Bryan were temporarily in Texas (for independent reasons) at the time Bryan died, having each been there for only a few months. See id. at 590, 593. Bryan purchased the policy in Indiana and it was delivered there by the New York insurance carrier. Id. at 589. In connection with their divorce, Ruby and Bryan agreed to release all claims against the other and their property. Id. at 590. After the divorce, Ruby claimed to be a citizen of Missouri, a jurisdiction in which the law gave her an insurable interest in Bryan's life. Id. at 590, 591. The Texas court held that Texas law would apply, since both Ruby and Bryan were living โ albeit temporarily โ in Texas, a Texas temporary administrator of Bryan's estate had been appointed, the administrator had brought suit and completed proper service on Ruby, Ruby and the insurer had submitted to the Texas courts, the insurance proceeds had been paid into the court registry, and the parties had agreed to proceed to resolve the matter only in the Texas court. The court concluded that under Texas law, a former wife did not have an insurable interest in the life of her former husband. Id. at 593-94.
[43] Wal-Mart's Reply, at 5.
[44] It is noted that the Texas Supreme Court had declined to review the Tamez decision. It also is interesting that the Texas Court of Appeals issued its ruling on April 25, 2002, five or more days after being notified that the parties had settled the dispute and that all that remained was a hearing to approve the settlement as to a minor. Further, the Smith decisions have not been published formally by the court in the West Publishing Reports, despite the passage of more than three months since the ruling.
[45] Coincidentally, Justice Brister was the trial judge who granted summary judgment against the Tamez plaintiffs and was reversed by the Texas Fourteenth Court of Appeals.
[46] TEX.INS.CODE, art. 3.49.
[47] Acts of 1953, 53d Leg., p. 400, ch. 113. Article 3.49-1 was enacted two years after original passage of the Texas Insurance Code.
[48] American Transitional Care Centers of Texas, Inc. v. Palacios, 46 S.W.3d 873, 878 (Tex. 2001) (citing McBride v. Clayton, 140 Tex. 71, 166 S.W.2d 125, 128 (1942) ("All statutes are presumed to be enacted by the legislature with full knowledge of the existing condition of the law and with reference to it.")); Phillips v. Beaber, 995 S.W.2d 655, 658 (Tex. 1999).
[49] More specifically, since 1953, article 3.49-1 of the Texas Insurance Code, has provided in pertinent part in section 1, that any person may apply for life insurance and designate in writing any other person or entity as the beneficiary and/or owner of the policy, and the person or entity so designated has an enforceable insurable interest under Texas law. Since 1953, Section 2 has provided that a person whose life is insured under any existing or future life insurance policy may (in the manner and to the extent permitted by the policy) grant an insurable interest to any person or entity that the insured designates in writing to be the beneficiary of the policy. This section also provides that the insured also may transfer or assign in writing (in any manner permitted under the insurance policy) "any such policy or any interest, benefit, right or title therein" to any person or entity of the insured's choosing. Section 3, which is not relevant to this case, originally prohibited a person engaged in the "business of burying the dead" from having an insurable interest in the life of any person otherwise permitted under article 3.49-1. Section 4 in the 1953 version of article 3.49-1 addressed court decisions (past and future), as discussed in the text.
[50] TEX.INS.CODE, art. 3.49-1, ง 3, as amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 438, ง 1.
[51] Id.
[52] Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1419, งง 31(b)(3) (repeal), 33 (effective date). The legislative history contains no explanation for the repeal of this provision. It appears, however, to be part of a wholesale repeal of the Insurance Code.
[53] "This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and applies only to an insurance policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2000. A policy delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed before January 1, 2000, is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose." Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 438, ง 3. The parties do not dispute that the 1999 amendment does not apply in this case since the amendment does not authorize pre-2000 purchases of group insurance by third parties.
[54] The 1999 amendment to article 3.49-1 also included a provision in which the Legislature attempted to put its enactment in context.
Sec. 2. The purpose of this Act is to clarify existing law and practice as it relates to consent to the ownership of, or status as a beneficiary under a life insurance policy. This Act is not intended to alter or modify the meaning of, or law relating to, former Section 4 [stating that the Act was "cumulative of existing law ... on insurable interest" and "the Act shall be liberally construed"], ... as that section existed immediately before the effective date of this Act. Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 438, ง 2. The Legislature thus took care to reiterate its prior philosophy regarding the statutory modifications of the traditional insurable interest requirements.
[55] Reconsideration Motion, at 14, and 14-17.
[56] See, e.g., Van Etten Aff., ถ 8; IRS v. CM Holdings, Inc., No. 97-695 (D.Del.2000); Repasy Aff., ถ 3; Sept. 7, 2001 Transcript, at 11-13.
[57] Nystrom Aff., ถ 10 (emphasis added). Nystrom's comments constitute expert opinions. See FED.R.EV. 702. Wal-Mart fails however to supply any evidence about Nystrom's qualifications to give an opinion on the highly sophisticated issue of the COLI policies' net financial benefit to Wal-Mart, if any. Id.; see Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael, 526 U.S. 137, 156-57, 119 S.Ct. 1167, 143 L.Ed.2d 238 (1999); Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579, 589, 113 S.Ct. 2786, 125 L.Ed.2d 469 (1993); Tanner v. Westbrook, 174 F.3d 542, 548 (5th Cir.1999). Nor does Nystrom provide any basis for his opinion. See FED.R.EV. 704. Among other things, the testimony must be reliable and relevant. Pipitone v. Biomatrix, 288 F.3d 239, 243-45 (5th Cir.2002); Rodriguez v. Riddell Sports, Inc., 242 F.3d 567, 580-81 (5th Cir.2001); Tanner, 174 F.3d at 546. Munoz v. Orr, 200 F.3d 291, 301 (5th Cir.2000) (upholding district court's exclusion of plaintiff's statistical expert in disparate impact case). Nystrom mentions the "Claims Stabilization Reserve" ("CSR") aspect of AIG's, Wal-Mart and the Trust's COLI policy financial relationship, but his explanation is obviously incomplete on the Wal-Mart's primary thesis that it lacked incentives the insurable interest doctrine is designed to address.
[58] Wal-Mart also contends that the COLI policies are not a form of wagering on the lives of the insureds, other than the actuarial risks ordinarily taken by the parties to an insurance contract, and thus the COLI policies do not violate Texas public policy at all. Reconsideration Motion, at 15 n. 4. This argument is a rationale for overturning the Texas insurable interest doctrine, and assumes implicitly a favorable determination of ultimate legal and factual issues in the case. Further, the argument begs the question of whether the COLI policies implicate the insurable interest doctrine. This argument is rejected.
[59] Hartford's Reply, at 11 (emphasis in original). There is no dispute that, on its face, Article 21.42 does not apply in this case. Defendants' COLI policy provisions by design are not "payable" to Texas citizen Plaintiffs. See New York Life Ins. Co. v. Baum, 700 F.2d 928, 933 (5th Cir.1983) (article 21.42 of the Texas Insurance Code has been interpreted to apply "when and only when [the life insurance contracts] are made in the course of the [insurance] company's Texas business" (citing Howell v. American Live Stock Ins. Co., 483 F.2d 1354, 1359 (5th Cir.1973) (internal citations omitted))).
[60] Wal-Mart argues, for example, that "Georgia has a statutorily-created policy to allow corporations to site COLI policies in Georgia that would be fully enforceable. Georgia's public policy would be thwarted if Texas' antiquated common law were to control." Wal-Mart's Summary Judgment Motion [Doc. # 19], at 17.
[61] Wal-Mart's Reply, at 9.
[62] Dick, a citizen of Texas, brought an action in a Texas court on a fire insurance policy for property damage to a tugboat issued by a Mexican insurance company. Home Insurance, 281 U.S. at 402, 50 S.Ct. 338. Because the state court did not have jurisdiction over the Mexican insurer, Dick asserted in rem jurisdiction against two American reinsurance companies ("garnishees") that reinsured parts of the underlying policy. Id. The garnishees raised as a defense a provision in the underlying policy with the Mexican insurer that imposed a one-year statute of limitations on actions for the collection of any claim under the policy. Id. at 403, 50 S.Ct. 338. This provision was consistent with Mexican law, but it violated a Texas statute that prohibited agreements to limit the applicable limitations period to shorter than two years. Id. at 404-05, 50 S.Ct. 338. The trial, appeals, and supreme courts of Texas held that the Texas law applied and that the action could not be barred by the one-year limitation bar in the agreement. Id. at 405, 50 S.Ct. 338. The United States Supreme Court reversed on the ground that the Texas statute deprived the garnishees of property without due process. Id. at 407, 50 S.Ct. 338.
[63] The Court focused on the fact that "nothing in any way relating to the policy sued on or to the contracts of reinsurance [giving rise to the res allegedly subject to garnishment], was ever done or required to be done in Texas," Id. at 408, 50 S.Ct. 338, and that "[a]t all times here material [Dick] was physically present and acting in Mexico [thus outside Texas,] Texas was therefore without power to affect the terms of the contracts so made." Id.
[64] It is noted that the Supreme Court did not discuss the only potential relationships between Texas and the dispute, which were that Texas technically was Dick's permanent residence (although he was never present there) and that another payee of the policy proceeds "Texas & Gulf Steamship Company" (whose involvement was never explained) had some connection to that state. Id. at 408, 50 S.Ct. 338.
[65] In contrast to Home, the insurance purchased by Defendants at bar had material connections to Texas. Defendants chose to insure the lives of employees who, at the inception of the policies in issue, lived and worked in Texas. At the time the insurance was created, Defendants needed, at a minimum, confirmation that the proposed insureds still were employed and thus were insurable under the terms of the COLI polices. The ultimate source of this information was Texas. See Certificate of Employee Census, ถถ 2, 3 (Exhibit B to AIG Letter of Understanding (Second Sapp Aff., Exhibit 12)). Furthermore, as Wal-Mart acknowledges, it was necessary to have contact with the proposed insureds, and Wal-Mart did so at their local places of business. Before the COLI policies were purchased in December 1993, the Wal-Mart "Location Managers" were required to communicate with their local employees to ascertain if the employees wanted to opt out of the Special Death Benefit, which was offered only if the employee agreed not to opt out of the insurance. See Emerick Aff., ถ 4 and Exhibit 7. The insurable risk was hinged on the life of the insured, which also involved the insured's physical location (i.e., for Texas insureds was the State of Texas). Furthermore, when insureds residing in Texas die, information must be obtained from this state (directly or indirectly). These contacts with Texas concerning the dispute and the disputants are materially different from the circumstances in Home Insurance.
[66] The parties also debate issues regarding the COLI policies' surrender value. Thus, the public policy underlying insurance policies' surrender value is pertinent. Texas courts have protected Texas inhabitants' rights to the surrender value of a life insurance policy, in ways different from the doctrines applicable to the death benefits from that insurance. In contrast to the primary purpose of insurance generally, the surrender value is "a debt against the insurance company, and the insured may assign it for a valuable consideration, and pass title thereto, and confer upon the assignee the right to collect the debt at its maturity, although such assignee has no insurable interest." Shoemaker v. American Nat'l Ins. Co., 48 S.W.2d 612, 614 (Tex. Comm'n App.1932, jdgm't adopted). Texas courts (at least in the context of insurable interests) treat the surrender value of an insurance policy differently from death benefits for the purposes of former spouses. A former spouse has an enforceable right to collect the surrender value of a life insurance policy, at least to the extent that the beneficiary made (or is deemed to have made) contributions towards premium payments for the insurance. Shoemaker, 48 S.W.2d at 614; Berdoll v. Berdoll, 145 S.W.2d 227, 230 (Tex.Civ. App.โAustin 1940, writ dism'd). Thus, for purposes of the choice of law analysis, Texas has a public policy that deserves recognition as to surrender values of insurance contracts.
[67] Cf. Restatement ง 188 cmt. b ("Protection of justified expectations plays a less significant role in the choice-of-law process with respect to issues that involve the nature of the obligations imposed by a contract upon the parties rather than the validity of the contract or of some provision thereof.").
[68] Id. The expectations of the signatories to the contract still may be a factor to consider, but they are not entitled to the same importance vis a vis the non-signatory as they would be in a dispute among the signatories.
[69] The Camelot Plaintiffs had no knowledge of the COLI contracts. The Wal-Mart employees may have been given a form of notice but the receipt and adequacy of the notice is hotly disputed.
[70] The risk was known to Wal-Mart. In the Certification of Employee Census, ถ 4, to the AIG Letter of Understanding (Second Sapp. Aff., Exhibit 12), Wachovia acknowledged that "Client [the Wal-Mart Trust and/or Wal-Mart] understands and agrees that AIG Life neither warrants nor represents that insurable interest exists."
[71] Wal-Mart argues in its Reconsideration Motion, in response to the Court's March 5 Opinion, that because some unspecified number of Wal-Mart employees inevitably move from state to state each year, see Nystrom Aff., ถ 9, selection of Texas law based "on the residence of the insured" is flawed because there is no "certainty, predictability and uniformity of result." Wal-Mart references administrative difficulties faced in determining the validity in different states of nationwide COLI policies. See Reconsideration Motion, at 17-18. Wal-Mart contends that it is simply unworkable to apply different states' laws in the context of nationwide COLI policies, and that Wal-Mart and the insurers believed that their approach would result in the application of Georgia law everywhere. Wal-Mart concludes with the apocryphal statement that employers may decide not to purchase COLI policies on Texas residents, or will cancel them when an employee moves to Texas. Id. The Court has not ignored the administrative difficulties Wal-Mart describes; the Court merely finds this concern insufficient to justify application of Georgia law in the face of the strong ง 6 factors favoring Texas law in the current dispute. First, as to the future, Texas law is no longer an issue; article 3.49-1 of the Texas Insurance Code was amended in 1999 to permit the employee-insureds to agree (in writing) to their employers' purchase of COLI insurance in the future. Second, Wal-Mart knowingly took the risk of being held responsible under Texas law for Texas resident-insureds. Thus, the ruling here should not be a genuine surprise. Third, Wal-Mart states that only a handful of states any longer require the traditional insurable interest. If this is true, then the administrative difficulties are a red herring. Wal-Mart has not explained why eliminating these states from their COLI program is a problem. Fourth, inequities Wal-Mart suffers, if any, from the application of Texas law may be addressed in the remedies, if any, that Plaintiffs obtain if they prevail on the merits. Last, there is no inherent right for Wal-Mart or any employer to purchase nationwide (or any other) COLI policies on the lives of their employees. In sum, Wal-Mart's putative administrative inconvenience is insufficient to outweigh the other goals and policies addressed by the Restatement and choice of law analyses.
[72] Indeed, it may be for that reason AIG declined to warrant or represent that Wal-Mart or the Trust had an insurable interest in the insureds covered by the COLI policies. See Certification of Employee Census, ถ 4, to the AIG Letter of Understanding (Second Sapp. Aff., Exhibit 12)
[73] Accord, Minnesota Mining and Mfg. Co. v. Nishika Ltd., 955 S.W.2d 853, 856 (Tex.1996) ("We evaluate state contacts not by their number, but by their quality."); Gutierrez v. Collins, 583 S.W.2d 312, 319 (Tex.1979) ("[W]e would emphasize that application of the `most significant relationship' analysis should not turn on the number of contacts, but more importantly on the qualitative nature of those contacts as affected by the policy factors enumerated in Section 6."). See Duncan, 665 S.W.2d at 421 ("[S]election of the applicable law depends on the qualitative nature of the particular contacts.").
[74] Wal-Mart Reconsideration Motion, at 6.
[75] Id.
[76] Emerick Aff., ถ 8; Trust Agreement, art. 1 (Exhibit 11 to Emerick Aff.).
[77] See Nystrom Aff., ถ 7. Nystrom, a representative of the National Benefits Group, Inc. ("NBG"), Wal-Mart's insurance broker, adds:
To my knowledge, employers who purchase COLI policies on employees residing nationwide typically purchase all of the policies in a single state. In my experience, I have witnessed other corporations establish trusts in a single state, such as Georgia or Delaware, for the purchase of all of their COLI policies to provide administrative and legal predictability and uniformity for all of the policies.
These vague comments are based on hearsay and largely speculation. To the extent these comments are offered as expert testimony, they fail to satisfy the standards of Fed.R.Ev. 702 and 704. Nystrom provides no explanation of his qualifications, the bases of his knowledge, or the facts on which he relies for his opinions. These comments are entitled to little weight.
[78] Id.
[79] Id.
[80] See id.
[81] Id. art. 4.1.
[82] Id. art. 4.3.
[83] Id. art. 5.1.
[84] Id. art. 4.3.
[85] Id. art. 4.2. All powers of the Trustee were to be exercised only with the "written direction" of Wal-Mart. Id. arts. 4.2, 5.1. Other evidence of Wal-Mart's total control and of the Trust's singular purpose as a tool of Wal-Mart is that the Trust had the power to lend money to Wal-Mart, but only as Wal-Mart directed, and the loans could be interest-free and repayable "at such time or times as selected by [Wal-Mart]." Id. art. 5.2.
[86] Id. art. 4.3. The Trust Agreement states: "The Trustee shall have no duty or obligation to monitor the death of any Insured, to notify the Grantor of any such death or to take any action to collect any proceeds or benefits under any insurance policies on any Insured." Id.
[87] Id. Wal-Mart had the authority to request that the Trustee collect policy benefits, but only if Wal-Mart indemnified the Trustee for "all liabilities and expenses" related to a collection action. Id.
[88] Trust Agreement, arts. 6.1, 7.4 (Exhibit 11 to Emerick Aff.).
[89] Affidavit of Raymond H. Sapp ("Sapp Aff."), ถถ 1-5 (Exhibit B to Wal-Mart's Exhibits)
[90] Wal-Mart's Summary Judgment Motion, at 18.
[91] It is noted that the parties have submitted no evidence about the creation of the Sims Policy in particular. Thus, the Court assumes that the evidence pertaining to the Wal-Mart COLI policies applies equally to the Sims Policy.
[92] Sapp Second Aff., ถ 6; Nystrom Aff., ถ 5.
[93] Nystrom Aff., ถ 4. Plaintiffs point to inconsistencies in Wal-Mart's initial summary judgment evidence and argue, in the alternative, that they need discovery to obtain evidence that raises fact issues regarding the place of contracting. Declaration of Scott M. Clearman in Support of Request for Denial or Continuance of Summary Judgment (FED.R.Civ.P. 56(f)) ("Clearman Decl."), ถถ 30-36. This motion is denied as moot. The Sims Estate reiterates this request in its response to Wal-Mart's Reconsideration Motion. Sims Estate's Response, at 6-7.
[94] See Lee R. Russ & Thomas F. Segalla, COUCH ON INSURANCE, ง 24.5 (3d ed.1996).
[95] More specifically, Wal-Mart's evidence (submitted with its Reconsideration Motion) reflects that Raymond H. Sapp, a Trust Officer for Wachovia Bank of Georgia, N.A., which in 1997 merged into Wachovia Bank, N.A., assisted Wal-Mart in establishing the Wal-Mart Trust and the purchase of the COLI policies on the Wal-Mart employees' lives. Sapp worked and lived in Atlanta, Georgia. Second Sapp Aff., ถ 2. Sapp avers that the Trust, for which he acted, applied for the COLI policies from AIG and Hartford, while he was in Georgia. Id. ถ 3. He executed the AIG application for the first of several blocks of COLI polices in Atlanta, on December 30, 1993. Id. ถ 3, Exhibit 13; Nystrom Aff., ถ 4 (The "COLI policies were applied for by the Trust in meetings in Atlanta on December 30, 1993."). He did the same for the Hartford-issued COLI policies. Second Sapp Aff., ถ 3, & Exhibit 14. Sapp explains that additional terms of the AIG COLI policies dated December 28, 1993 are set forth in the Letter of Understanding between him, as Trustee of the Wal-Mart Trust, and AIG on December 30, 1993, in Atlanta. Id. ถ 3, Exhibit 12. These same terms applied to subsequently issued blocks of COLI polices. Id. Sapp avers that the three people that executed the AIG application (Jane Price as Vice President of Wachovia and a witness, and Norman Winer for the insurance agent) were in Atlanta when they signed. Id. ถ 4; Nystrom Aff., ถ 4. Sapp explains that the same procedure was used for the Hartford application for the COLI policies. Second Sapp Aff., ถ 4.
[96] Nystrom Aff., ถ 6. Wal-Mart's witnesses state that they intended the policies to be governed by Georgia law, and that "Wal-Mart and the Trust specifically chose Georgia as the site for the COLI policies with the expectation and intention that Georgia law would govern those policies." Nystrom Aff., ถ 7; Emerick Aff., ถ 5. Sapp explains that he "fully expected that Georgia law would apply to all of the AIG and Hartford policies issued to the Trust in Georgia, regardless of the place of residence of the insureds under the COLI policies." Second Sapp Aff., ถ 10.
[97] Reconsideration Motion, at 7; Second Sapp Aff., ถ 3.
[98] Sapp Aff., Exhibit 12.
[99] Wal-Mart also points to conclusory language in the Letter of Understanding that upon the satisfaction of all other conditions and the payment of the first year premium, "AIG Life agrees to issue, in the state of Georgia, to Client ... [t]he Policies for which the Client has applied." AIG Letter of Understanding, at 2-3 (Exhibit 12 to Emerick Aff.; Exhibit 12 to Second Sapp Aff.). It is noted that "Renewable Level Term Insurance Rider," Form 49827 (3/90), an integral part of the COLI policies (see Sims Policy), recites that it was "[s]igned for the Company at Wilmington, Delaware." See Sims COLI Policy, at second page following page 15 (Exhibit 10 to Emerick Aff.).
[100] Second Sapp Aff., ถ 5.
[101] Id. ถ 5, Exhibits 18 and 19 (one page receipts acknowledging physical receipt and acceptance of the first 197,182 AIG policies and the 21,548 Hartford policies in March 1994, respectively). Sapp did not exercise the right to return the policies within 20 days for a full refund of premiums. Id.
[102] Sapp Second Aff., ถ 7.
[103] Second Sapp Aff., ถ 5; Emerick Aff., Exhibit 10; see Reconsideration Motion, at 7.
[104] Second Sapp. Aff., ถถ 2, 5.
[105] Id.
[106] See Sims COLI Policy, at 4 (Exhibit 10 to Emerick Aff.).
[107] Second Sapp Aff., ถ 5.
[108] Nystrom Aff., ถ 3. Nystrom was an employee of the insurance broker NBG, and reported to its President, Norman H. Winer, starting at some unspecified time in 1993. Id. ถ 3. Nystrom executed his affidavit in Minnesota. Id. ถถ 1, 5. All NBG's contact information in the record is listed as in Minnesota. See, e.g., Client Master Information Form (Wal-Mart Exhibit A to Exhibit 12), and the AIG Life Insurance Application (Id., Exhibit 13). There is nothing in the record, despite Wal-Mart's repeated supplementation, that suggests that Nystrom officed anywhere except in Minnesota when the COLI policies were being arranged and were in effect.
[109] See Trust, Schedule A, at 12.
[110] See supra pages 42-44 for Trust provisions.
[111] Second Sapp Aff., Exhibit 13.
[112] Nystrom avers that no individual health information was required on any insured, see Nystrom Aff., ถ 4, although this procedure is only implied in the second page of the AIG Letter of Understanding. Exhibit 12 to Sapp. Aff.; see also Second Sapp Aff., ถ 3 (same for later blocks of policies). The record makes it clear that the insured had to be part of the Wal-Mart Plan to be insured under the Wal-Mart COLI policies. The absence of individualized risk assessment on the insureds does not fully address the issue.
[113] See Letter of Understanding, at 2 (Exhibit 12 to Sapp Aff.).
[114] See Sims Policy, at 4 (Exhibit 10 to Emerick Aff.).
[115] The Camelot Defendants do not suggest that they obtained their employees' approval to purchase the COLI policies on their lives. The argument concerning Sims and Wal-Mart thus is inapplicable to the Camelot parties.
[116] See Second Sapp Aff., ถ 7; Reconsideration Motion, at 7.
[117] See Emerick Aff., ถ 4 and Exhibit 7.
[118] Id. Emerick's memorandum, dated December 14, 1993, announced the special death benefit disclosed that the "new benefit is being implemented because of financial benefits associated with a Wal-Mart owned life insurance program which is explained in the enclosed FYI." Id. Exhibit 7 (cover page). Under "ACTION REQUIRED," Wal-Mart requested that "Location Managers" distribute "this communication by December 28, 1993, to all associates who are enrolled in the medical plan at your location for their review in order to meet legal notification requirements." Id. (underlining in original; bold italics added). Wal-Mart added: "It is important to tell associates that only those who do not wish to participate in this benefit need to return the information requested in the enclosed FYI flyer." The flyer explained that Wal-Mart was offering a new benefit effective January 1, 1994, which was available to all active employees "participating in the group health plan." All such employees would be automatically covered for additional death benefits, which were explained. Wal-Mart then stated: "These new death benefits will be provided at no additional cost to [employees] and are in addition to any other life insurance you may have through Wal-Mart. The details ... will be explained in the Benefits Book. ... Wal-Mart is providing these new death benefits as a result of financial gains from life insurance policies Wal-Mart will purchase which will cover the lives of associates who participate in the group health plan." Id. (second page).
[119] Wal-Mart provides no evidence that Sims, in particular, affirmatively approved (or even was informed about) the terms or all the benefits of the COLI policies. In the event that he did not, Wal-Mart also submits evidence through the Summary Plan Descriptions ("SPDs") for the Wal-Mart Health and Benefit Plan. The SPDs "constitute the plan text that define the COLI benefits under the Wal-Mart Plan, and there is no separate `legal document' that does so." Supp. Emerick Aff., ถ 3. Wal-Mart's evidence establishes that the company provided notice to employees through the SPDs in 1994 and 1995 that there was a "Special Death Benefit" of $5,000 payable to an employee's beneficiary upon the employee's death unless the employee declined the benefit at the time of enrolling in the "Wal-Mart Associates Health & Welfare Plan" ("Wal-Mart Plan"). Emerick Aff., ถถ 2, 3, 4 and Exhibits 1 and 2, at F-2, respectively. Wal-Mart did not explain in the SPDs how the benefit was funded or how it was arranged.
[120] Wal-Mart implicitly acknowledges this principle in its Response to the Sims Estate's Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 113] and Wal-Mart's Cross Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 122]. There, Wal-Mart repeatedly argues that the insured employees had great value to Wal-Mart, that Wal-Mart had a financial incentive for the insured employees to continue to live, that Wal-Mart had no incentive to harm the employees, and that accordingly Wal-Mart had an insurable interest under Texas law in the lives of its employees. Nowhere does Wal-Mart argue that the Trust โ the beneficiary and owner of the COLI policies โ had any interest in the insureds' lives.
[121] Sapp avers that the Wal-Mart COLI policies were "applied for" in a meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, on December 28, 1993. Sapp Aff., ถ 3. Plaintiffs again contend that they need discovery to develop a response on this factor, if the Court is inclined to find that Georgia law applies based on Defendants' arguments. See Plaintiffs' Response to Hartford's Motion for Summary Judgment, at 1 (adopting Rule 56(f) motion made in response to other Defendants' Motions); The Estate of Douglas Sims's Response to AIG Life Insurance Company's Motion for Summary Judgment, at 8-10 (discovery needed for choice of law issue). These motions are denied as moot.
[122] Reconsideration Motion, at 8. See Nystrom Aff., ถ 5.
[123] Id. ถ 2.
[124] See Exhibits 13 and 14 to Second Sapp Affidavit.
[125] See Nystrom Aff., ถ 6.
[126] In the unlikely event that all negotiations regarding policies covering thousands of insureds took place in this single meeting, Sapp's own testimony on the application process is somewhat internally inconsistent. In his affidavit, he attests that he executed, on behalf of the Wal-Mart Trust, only the application for the AIG policies on December 28, 1993. Id. ถ 3. He references several times a "first" or "initial block" of COLI policies, but never details the events as to other blocks. Sapp did not execute the Hartford COLI policy application until December 30, 1993, two days after the meeting at which he swears that applications were submitted for all policies purchased by Wal-Mart. Id. ถถ 3, 4.
[127] Nystrom Aff., ถ 6.
[128] See Emerick Aff., Exhibit 7.
[129] Wal-Mart relies heavily on this communication to establish that Wal-Mart gave its employees notice of the existence of the COLI policies. The Court does not decide the merits of the legal effect of the December 1993 communications.
[130] Second Sapp Aff., ถ 2.
[131] See Nystrom Aff., ถ 3; "Client Master Information Form, Exhibit A" attached to the parties' Letter of Understanding. (Exhibit 12 to Sapp Aff.)
[132] The Emerick Affidavit, ถ 8, the only evidence and it is conclusory at best.
[133] Wal-Mart supplemental evidence demonstrates, contrary to its earlier representations to this Court, that some negotiations occurred in Arkansas.
[134] Second Sapp Aff., ถ 8.
[135] Reconsideration Motion, at 10.
[136] See Exhibit 10 to Emerick Aff., at 14.
[137] Id. at "Renewable Level Term Insurance Rider" Form 49827 (3/90), Exhibit 10 to Emerick Aff., at page following page 15.
[138] Nystrom Aff., ถ 8.
[139] Id.
[140] Second Sapp Aff., ถ 9.
[141] Nystrom Aff., ถ 8. Interestingly, Sapp, the Trust officer in charge of the Trust, did not address this matter in his affidavit.
[142] Nystrom Aff., ถ 7.
[143] See supra pages 42-44.
[144] Sapp Second Aff., ถ 8 (emphasis added).
[145] Nystrom Aff., ถ 8.
[146] Defendants argue in this vein that the Wal-Mart Trust "purchased" the COLI policies in Georgia. To the extent Defendant Wal-Mart intends to refer here to something other than the location from which it caused the Trust to send payments, the term "purchased" relates to the "place of contracting" and not the "place of performance." Thus, this evidence is entitled to no weight as to the "place of performance" factor.
[147] See Sims COLI Policy, at 4 (Exhibit 10 to Emerick Aff.).
[148] There is logic behind this rule. The legally significant action in a premium payment does not occur in the state where the insurance policy owner writes a check or arranges for a wire transfer. Instead, a policy owner receives credit for providing consideration, the premium payments, for the insurance coverage when the payments, successfully reach the insurance company, as required by the insurance policy.
[149] See Client Master Information Form (Exhibit A to the AIG Letter of Understanding (Sapp. Aff., Exhibit 12)).
[150] This result is not inconsistent with the Restatement, ง 196, which provides:
The validity of a contract for the rendition of services and the rights created thereby are determined, in the absence of an effective choice of law by the parties, by the local law of the state where the contract requires that the services, or a major portion of the services, be rendered, unless, with respect to the particular issue, some other state has a more significant relationship under the principles stated in ง 6 to the transaction and the parties, in which event the local law of the other state will be applied.
The Court has concluded that the claims asserted by Plaintiffs involve ง 6 factors that strongly involve longstanding policies of Texas and thus make Texas's interest superior to Georgia's and the interests of the states in which the contracting parties reside.
[151] These payments were due at the insurers' home offices, which were not in Georgia (or Texas) as noted above.
[152] Wal-Mart asserts that "a number of Wal-Mart employees insured under the COLI policies changed their states of residence between the time the policies were issued in 1993-1995 and their dates of death." Nystrom Aff., ถ 9. This conclusory statement is entitled no weight. It is too vague to have any probative value. Wal-Mart has the necessary information within its control. Its failure to produce details on the residency of insureds suggests that the details would not be helpful to Wal-Mart's position. Moreover, the relevance of this assertion is not apparent. If an insured moves out of the State of Texas, then the Texas insurable interest doctrine does not apply to that person.
[153] Second Sapp Aff., ถ 9.
[154] As to the place of business of the Wal-Mart Trust's trustee, Wachovia, Wal-Mart explains that the principal place of the Wachovia Bank of Georgia, N.A. was Atlanta, Georgia; that the bank became Wachovia Bank, N.A. in 1997 after a merger with a North Carolina โ domiciled bank; that as national associations, these banks did not have a place of incorporation; that the resulting institution was a wholly owned subsidiary of Wachovia Corporation, which was headquartered in both Atlanta and North Carolina; and that certain Trust administrative functions were performed in North Carolina, including the receipt of the life insurance proceeds after June 1, 1997. Id. ถถ 9, 10.
[155] If the insureds have moved from the State, then they are no longer beneficiaries of Texas law.
[156] The Baum case generated three decisions by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Noel Baum and Bill Cook agreed to form an advertising joint venture named "Media Sales & Marketing, Inc." ("Media"), a business in which Baum owned the controlling interest, and apparently intended to incorporate in Louisiana. Id. In fact, Media was never formally incorporated. New York Life Ins. Co. v. Baum, 617 F.2d 1201, 1202-03 (5th Cir.1980) ("Baum I"). The venture's principal place of business was Houston, Texas. Baum lived in Louisiana and Cook in Texas. Baum was to own and control the business during the early stages and Cook and a third person, Cutler, were to buy in later after the business began generating income. Id. at 1202. Baum lent considerable sums of money to the business and arranged a line of credit. Id. To protect his investment, Baum and Cook agreed that Baum could purchase key man life insurance on Cook, providing for Media as the owner and Baum (as a partner) the beneficiary. Id. Baum attempted to do so, but because Baum was an insurance agent for New York Life Insurance Company, the issuer of the policy, New York Life refused to issue the policy with Baum as the named beneficiary. Baum therefore changed the beneficiary to Media. Id. The supplementary information policy application form stated that Media had been incorporated in Louisiana, although it had not.
Several days thereafter, Cutler and Cook incorporated their own company called "Media Sales and Marketing, Inc." in Texas ("Media Texas"). Id. at 1202. Baum was not involved with Media Texas. Baum later claimed that Cook and Cutler had "cut [him] out completely" of ownership in the business in which he had provided much of the capital. Id. at 1202-03. Media Texas never issued any stock, never produced any income, and was merely a corporate shell. Id. Interestingly, Cook was "gunned down" twenty minutes after expiration of the insurance policy's contestability period. Both Baum and Media Texas filed claims for the policy benefits. Id. at 1203. The value of the policy was far greater than the one year's worth of premium payments received.
[157] Specifically, the court held that neither Media nor Media Texas were in legal existence at the time the contract was made, and so therefore neither could have an insurable interest. 617 F.2d at 1203.
[158] According to the court of appeals in Baum II, under Texas contract and choice of law rules, the insurance policy "contract was made in New York, and was to be substantially performed in that state." 700 F.2d at 932. The court relied on the insurance policy's contractual provisions that specified "payments by the [insurer] are payable at [its] Home Office in New York City," and that "[p]remiums are payable ... to the [insurer] at its Home Office [in New York]." Id. at 932-33. The court noted that "acceptance of the application and the issuance and mailing of the policy, acts that were essential to the consummation of the contract, occurred in New York." Id. The court added that the fact that the policy required that it be sent to "an agent for the unconditional delivery [to the applicant] does not alter the effect of the transaction, which was consummated at the New York headquarters of the [insurance] Company." Id.
[159] The court did not disturb its conclusion that New York law applied.
[160] It is clear that the Camelot Plaintiffs had no such knowledge. Wal-Mart relies on putative notice given through a brochure distributed to Wal-Mart employees in December 1993 the "Benefits Brochure." Exhibit 7 to the Emerick Affidavit. The Benefits Brochure did not advise the employees meaningfully of the creation of new insurance on their lives. The brochure's focus and inquiry to the employees pertained to a right to opt out of the $5,000 Special Death Benefit, not a solicitation for the employee's agreement to the creation of the insurance itself.
[161] Moreover, in Baum, the insured/decedent's estate was not a contestant. In Baum, the identity of the beneficiaries named in the insurance policies was disputed. Here, the issue is completely different; it is the legal effect of the existence of the policies.
[162] Van Etten Aff. (Attachment A to Appendix for Hartford's Summary Judgment Motion), ถถ 8-9.
[163] Van Etten Aff., ถ 9.
[164] See Camelot Defendants' Summary Judgment Motion [Doc. # 30], at 2 (incorporating Hartford's submissions by reference).
[165] CM Holdings was a Chapter 11 bankruptcy action involving Camelot's parent company, CM Holdings. 254 B.R. at 582. In the context of the bankruptcy proceeding, the IRS contended that Camelot's COLI policy scheme was an improper tax shelter. Id. at 581. The dispute resulted in an adversary proceeding and trial in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. Id. at 582. That court held that Camelot was not entitled to interest deductions associated with the COLI scheme. Id. at 583. Plaintiffs have submitted the district court's 82-page opinion and the 1799-page trial transcript. The Camelot Defendants do not cite meaningfully to this material.
[166] During trial in the tax case, styled IRS v. CM Holdings, Inc., No. 97-695 (D.Del.2000), James Campisi, Camelot's insurance broker, testified regarding Camelot's decision on where to locate the COLI policies. Campisi stated: "In terms of notification, consent and insurable interest, Georgia and Ohio were pretty similar," but the company selected Georgia because it had more favorable premium tax laws. IRS v. CM Holdings, Inc., Trial Transcript, at 1204-06 (Exhibit B of Appendix to Camelot Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment). However, Campisi also testified that the Camelot COLI policies in fact had significant contacts to Ohio:
[T]he application and the prepayment agreement was signed in Ohio. The first check that was written came from Ohio. That would indicate that the policies were issued in Ohio. The policies were physically delivered to Ohio. And that would indicate that the policies were delivered โ were issued in Ohio. Id. Ultimately, Campisi opined that the COLI policies were issued in Ohio, but Georgia law applied for premium tax purposes. Id. Plaintiffs also cite comments made by the presiding judge in CM Holdings during the trial which indicate that the COLI policies were not issued in Georgia. Judge Schwartz stated: "the policies probably were never in the State of Georgia, but were delivered to corporate headquarters in Ohio." IRS v. CM Holdings, Inc., Trial Transcript at 793 (Exhibit B of Appendix to Camelot Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment). In rebuttal, the Camelot Defendants argue that if the testimony in CM Holdings shows that Ohio, rather than Georgia, had more significant contacts with the Camelot COLI policies, this evidence defeats Plaintiffs' position since Texas law does not apply. The Camelot Defendants also contend for this reason that Plaintiffs fail on the merits of their claims because Ohio law does not recognize Plaintiffs' cause of action.
[167] Id. at 1094-97.
[168] Id. at 583.
[169] Collateral estoppel traditionally applies when three conditions are met: (1) the issue under consideration is identical to that litigated in the prior action; (2) the issue was fully and vigorously litigated in the prior action; (3) the issue was necessary to support the judgment in the prior case. Hibernia, 740 F.2d at 387. The Fifth Circuit has recognized a fourth requirement for offensive use of collateral estoppel: whether there is any special circumstance that would make it unfair to apply the doctrine. Winters v. Diamond Shamrock Chem. Co., 149 F.3d 387, 391 (5th Cir.1998). These conditions are not met here.
[170] Exhibit A to Complaint, at DE-CMH00457.
[171] Id. at DE-CMH00464.
[172] Id. at DE-CMH00489.
[173] The details of the administrator's role is not established by the parties. The parties have submitted the voluminous records of bankruptcy and tax litigation, but have failed to direct the Court to any specific portions of that record to support their contentions. This Court has no duty to scour this record. Ragas v. Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co., 136 F.3d 455, 458 (5th Cir.1998). The Camelot Defendants and Hartford, as movants seeking application of Georgia law, have the duty to establish these facts. The absence of evidence in the record to connect this dispute to Georgia, through the Camelot administrator or otherwise, constitutes a failure by movants to meet their summary judgment burden to demonstrate as a matter of law that Georgia law should apply in this case.
[174] All choice of law arguments made by Defendants that have not been addressed here have been considered and rejected by the Court.
[175] Plaintiffs plead their claims largely without distinguishing among Plaintiffs or Employer Defendants. By implication, Plaintiffs include the claims of the Sims Estate. Pertinent to Plaintiff Sims Estate and the COLI death benefits, the Complaint requests relief under 28 U.S.C. ง 2201(a) including:
[1] A final judgment concluding that the policies, policy benefits, and any residual or resulting benefits from the policies are held in a constructive trust by Wal-Mart, Camelot, Trans World, members of the defendant employer class, Hartford or AIG, as appropriate, for the benefit of the plaintiffs and members of the plaintiff-insured person class;
[2] A final judgment for money identifying the amount held in constructive trust by members of the defendant-employer class; and
[3] A final judgment disgorging the money unjustly had and received by members of the defendant-employer class through the life insurance policies at issue.
Complaint, at 12-13. In sum, the Sims Estate seeks an order that the COLI death benefits on Sims's life be paid to the Sims Estate.
[176] 29 U.S.C. ง 1144(b)(2).
[177] See The Estate of Douglas Sims' Response to Wal-Mart's Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 32], at 16-34 (seeking discovery on Wal-Mart's ERISA preemption argument). This motion is denied as moot. A continuance for the purposes Plaintiffs seek is unnecessary. In this regard, Plaintiffs also submitted the Declaration of Seth J. Chandler, apparently as an expert opinion in support of their arguments against ERISA preemption. Declaration of Seth J. Chandler (Exhibit A to Plaintiffs' November 2, 2001 Submission) ("Chandler Decl."). Defendants object to the Chandler Declaration. See Defendant Wal-Mart's Objection to Declaration of Seth J. Chandler [Doc. # 56]; Surreply of Defendants Camelot Music, Inc. and Trans World Entertainment Corporation in Opposition to Camelot Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [Docs. # 54], at 6; Hartford Life Insurance Company's Surreply in Opposition to the Camelot Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment and Objection to the Declaration of Seth J. Chandler [Doc. # 55], at 2-5. The Court does not rely on the Chandler Declaration in reaching its decision, and thus Defendants' objections are denied as moot.
[178] Under the first step in the Fifth Circuit's test, an ERISA plan is said to exist if a court can determine "from the surrounding circumstances [that] a reasonable person could ascertain the intended benefits, beneficiaries, source of financing, and procedures for receiving benefits." Meredith, 980 F.2d at 355. Under the second step, a plan is exempt from ERISA's purview if "(1) the employer does not contribute to the plan; (2) participation is voluntary; (3) the employer's role is limited to collecting premiums and remitting them to the insurer, and (4) the employer received no profit from the plan." Id. (emphasis in original). The plan must meet all four criteria established by the Department of Labor to be exempt. Id. Under the third and final step the Fifth Circuit looks to the two primary elements of an employee benefit plan as defined by the statute: "(1) whether an employer established or maintained the plan; and (2) whether the employer intended to provide benefits to its employees." Id.
[179] Emerick Aff., ถ 4, and Exhibit 7. If the employee died as a result of an accident, the payment was $10,000. Id.
[180] See 1994 Summary Plan Description (Exhibit 1 to Emerick Aff.) ("1994 Summary"); 1995 Summary Plan Description (Exhibit 2 to Emerick Aff.) ("1995 Summary"). These documents are collectively referred to as the "Summaries." The non-COLI life insurance policies were purchased by Wal-Mart and offered to its employees. These polices are called "company-paid life insurance," as distinct from the COLI ("company-owned life insurance") policies in issue before the Court. See Emerick Aff., ถถ 3-5. Under the company-paid insurance program, the employees designated the beneficiaries of the insurance proceeds. Id. The company-paid life insurance paid benefits equal to the employee's yearly salary up to $50,000. Id. Under the COLI policies, Wal-Mart designated itself as the beneficiary of all the insurance on all the employees' lives. Only the COLI polices are alleged to be related to the Special Death Benefits. Wal-Mart described both these types of life insurance policies in the same section of the Wal-Mart Plan's Summaries. It is not unlikely that a reader of the Summaries would be confused about the differences between these types of insurance and fail to recognize the distinction between them.
[181] The language describing the Special Death Benefits in the 1994 and 1995 Summaries is nearly identical. See 1994 Summary, at F-2; 1995 Summary, at F-2. Each Summary also states "[a]lthough this special death benefit is expected to continue indefinitely, Wal-Mart reserves the right to change or discontinue these benefits at any time." Id.
[182] Summaries, at F-2 (emphasis added). There is nothing in the Summaries or other formal written Wal-Mart Plan documentation before the Court that requires Wal-Mart to pay a portion of the specific proceeds of a COLI policy, in particular, to the deceased employee's designated beneficiary, or that otherwise commits Wal-Mart to use any specific source of funds for the Special Death Benefits.
[183] Emerick Aff., ถ 15.
[184] Exhibit 7 to Emerick Aff., and ถถ 3-5 thereto. Exhibit 7 consists of three unnumbered pages. The Court will refer to these unnumbered pages by their location in the Exhibit.
[185] Emerick describes the controlling Wal-Mart Plan documents as being "Exhibits 1 through 6" of the Emerick Affidavit, Emerick Supp.Aff., ถ 13, and states "there were no other legal documents that defined COLI benefits under the [1994 or 1995 Summaries]. In fact, the [Summaries] constitute the plan text that define the COLI benefits under the Wal-Mart Plan and there is no separate `legal document' that does so." Id.
[186] Emerick Aff., Exhibit 7, at first page.
[187] Emerick Aff., Exhibit 7, at third page. The flyer also stated that the "details of this new death benefit will be explained in the Benefits Book" which presumably refers to one of the Summaries. The flyer gave Wal-Mart employees an opportunity to opt out of the Special Death Benefits program. Emerick states that it "was Wal-Mart's intention and policy that the Trust not purchase a COLI policy on the life of any Wal-Mart employee who signed the opt-out form." Second Supp. Emerick Aff., ถ 4. Emerick further states: "COLI policies were not purchased by the Trust on employees who signed the opt-out form, unless an administrative error occurred whereby a particular COLI policy might have been mistakenly purchased by the Trust of which I am aware." Id. It is not clear if Sims is the only Wal-Mart employee that became eligible for the Special Death Benefit. His estate makes the only claim for death benefits presently before the Court. Plaintiffs move conditionally, if this Court denies their Rule 56(f) motion for continuance, to strike the Second Supplemental Emerick Affidavit or to take Emerick's deposition. See Plaintiffs' Motion to Strike, Response to Wal-Mart's Supplemental Brief in Support of Motions for Summary Judgment, Supplemental Motion for Continuance and Leave to Depose Tom Emerick [Doc. # 85]. Plaintiffs argue that this third Emerick affidavit is untimely. The motion is denied. The parties were invited at the January 11, 2002 hearing to submit supplemental materials on the topics addressed by this affidavit.
[188] Interestingly, as to the choice of law analysis, there is no mention of the Trust in the flyer (or the Benefits Memorandum).
[189] Id. (emphasis added). The parties agree that the flyer's reference to the Wal-Mart "profit sharing plan" is not a reference to the Wal-Mart Plan and is not pertinent to the issues before the Court. January 11, 2000 Transcript, at 8-9, 21-23.
[190] Emerick Aff., ถ 12.
[191] Cf., Emerick Aff., Exhibits 1 and 2, at pages F-2, respectively.
[192] Wal-Mart, relying upon several federal district court cases, contends that Plaintiffs seek recovery on a claim for violation of public policy and that Texas does not recognize a separate tort for the violation of public policy. Guzman v. El Paso Natural Gas Co., 756 F.Supp. 994, 1002 (W.D.Tex.1990); Andrews Transport, Inc. v. CNA Reinsurance Co., Ltd., 166 F.Supp.2d 516, 523-24 (N.D.Tex.2001). Wal-Mart argues that the Sims Estate's claim must be one for unjust enrichment. Plaintiffs point out that they do not allege a tort, and do not seek tort damages. Thus, these cases are not relevant to the ERISA analysis or otherwise.
[193] Undoubtedly, one reason the Sims Estate does not seek any benefits provided by the Wal-Mart Plan is that the Estate recognizes that it does not qualify for those benefits. The Special Death Benefit program was closed to new enrollees in 1995, and completely discontinued months before Sims's death in 1998. See Emerick Aff., ถ 6.
[194] The outcome is logical. ERISA and the Texas insurable interest doctrine are motivated by substantially different policy concerns. Congress enacted the ERISA statutory scheme as a means of protecting the rights of "working men and women from abuses in the administration and investment of private retirement plans and employee welfare plans." Hansen v. Continental Ins. Co., 940 F.2d 971, 975-76 (5th Cir.1991). By contrast, the Texas insurable interest doctrine has the following policy concerns: primarily (i) preventing a person from having an incentive to commit murder and, arguably, (ii) prohibiting wagers on the life of another. Stillwagoner, 979 S.W.2d at 358.
[195] The Court of Appeals explained that "the Plaintiffs' action would impose a state-created duty to disclose plan amendments before they are put into effect, a duty which ... ERISA specifically does not impose." Id. at 758 (emphasis in original).
[196] See AIG's Summary Judgment Motion [Doc. # 60], at 5-8. Wal-Mart and the Wal-Mart Trust have adopted AIG's statute of limitations argument. See Wal-Mart Trust's Summary Judgment Motion [Doc. # 58], at 1-2.
[197] AIG bases its statute of limitations arguments on Texas law, contending that Texas courts characterize limitations issues as procedural and thus apply the law of the forum, irrespective of which law applies to the merits of the dispute. Whether the limitations issue is substantive or procedural is academic since the Court has held that Texas law governs the merits of this case. Therefore, Texas law will be applied to the limitations issue.
[198] After reviewing the authorities cited by AIG, the Court questions the characterization of the majority and minority rules. For example, in Brupbacher v. Raneri, Civ. A. No. 3:98-CV-1174, 2000 WL 665560, *4 (N.D.Tex., Mar. 17, 2000), cited by AIG in support of its articulation of the "majority rule," the district court looked to the underlying cause of action in determining the limitations period. The court stated: "In actions to establish a constructive trust based on fraud, the four-year statute of limitations applies." Id. (emphasis added). The court in Brupbacher did not cite or otherwise refer to the residual statute of limitations. In Carr v. Weiss, 984 S.W.2d 753, 762 (Tex.App. โ Amarillo 1999, pet. denied), also cited by AIG in support of the "majority rule," the court did not hold that constructive trust suits are governed automatically by the residual limitations period.
[199] Plaintiffs appear to take the position that the limitations period is four years. Plaintiffs' arguments focus on the dates their claims accrue.
[200] Plaintiffs in the Complaint make no distinction between the claims of the live Plaintiffs and the Sims's Estate's claim. The Complaint states:
Under well-established Texas law, when a life insurance policy erroneously names a beneficiary that does not possess an insurable interest in the life of the person insured, the designation is void. By operation of Texas law, the policy remains in place and is owned by the insured person, and upon his death, the benefits are payable to the insured person's estate. The insurer or designated beneficiary will hold the policy or policy benefits, as applicable, in a constructive trust for the insured person or his estate, as applicable, when the designated beneficiary has no insurable interest in the insured person's life.
Complaint, at 9. Under Plaintiffs' theory, Sims could have sued for a constructive trust from the moment the COLI policy on his life was purchased.
[201] Complaint, at 12. Plaintiffs further seek a final judgment that the "policies, policy benefits and any residual or resulting benefits from the policies are held in a constructive trust by [the Employer Defendants] ...." Id.
[202] The Court rejects AIG's further argument that the discovery rule exception to the statute of limitations should be applied. The discovery rule applies only when the nature of the injury is "inherently undiscoverable" and the evidence of the injury is "objectively verifiable." See Computer Assoc. Intl, Inc. v. Altai, Inc., 918 S.W.2d 453, 456 (1996); In re Coastal Plains, Inc., 179 F.3d 197, 214 (5th Cir. 1999). "Under the rule, a cause of action does not accrue until a plaintiff knows or, through the exercise of reasonable care and diligence, should have known of the wrongful act and resulting injury." Childs v. Haussecker, 974 S.W.2d 31, 37 (Tex.1998). The Court need not resolve AIG's argument that Sims was placed on notice of the existence of the COLI policies through the flyer distributed by Wal-Mart in December 1993. First, Plaintiff Sims Estate does not rely on the discovery rule. Second, the evidence on which these Defendants to establish "notice" to Sims raises a question of fact as to whether Sims actually received the flyer and whether the information in it gave meaningful notice of the benefits Wal-Mart would receive from the insurance. Wal-Mart's evidence establishes only that "Location Managers" (undefined in the record) received the flyers and were directed to distribute them. There is no evidence that Sims received one. Should the limitations discovery rule be applicable, pretrial discovery and possibly an evidentiary hearing, would be necessary before the Court could rule on the issue. Third, the parties cite no cases on insurable interests in which the insured's knowledge of the offending beneficiary designation was legally significant.
[203] The Court does not reach the issue of mootness for suits by others seeking a declaration after surrender of the policy or removal of the designation of an improper beneficiary or owner.
[204] No Texas decisions on the insurable interest doctrine have considered the timing of the filing of the suit vis เ vis the naming of a beneficiary that lacks an insurable interest, or vis เ vis the occurrence of facts that result in a beneficiary lacking an insurable interest. See, e.g., DeLeon, 259 F.3d 344 (administrator of deceased employee's estate brought action to recover benefits of COLI policies); Cheeves v. Anders, 87 Tex. 287, 28 S.W. 274 (administrator of insured's estate brought action against policy beneficiary for death benefits); Tamez, 999 S.W.2d 12 (administrators of employees' estates brought action to recover benefits of COLI policies). However, the result reached by this Court is consistent with Texas cases and Texas public policy embodied in its insurable interest doctrine. AIG's approach would add an unnecessary layer of uncertainty to enforcement of the prophylactic Texas insurable interest doctrine. The insured suffers the same risks and the Texas doctrine is violated irrespective of whether the improper beneficiary was named with or without the knowledge of the insured, and irrespective of when the improper relationship was created. The type of relief available, however, may differ depending on when the claim is asserted.
[205] See AIG's Motion to Dismiss [Doc. #59]. At the January 11, 2002 Hearing, the Court gave notice that it intended to convert, pursuant to Rule 12(b), motions to dismiss to motions for summary judgment, as appropriate. January 11, 2001 Transcript, at 4-5. Although the parties may have referred to certain limited matters outside the pleadings in connection with AIG's motion to dismiss, it is unnecessary and inappropriate to convert AIG's motion for summary judgment at this early stage since no discovery has occurred as to AIG's alleged payment of the Sims Policy death benefits.
[206] Complaint, at 6.
[207] Id. at 3.
[208] Id. at 4.
[209] Id. at 7.
[210] Id. at 7.
[211] Id. at 9.
[212] Id. at 7.
[213] Id. at 9.
[214] Id. at 9-10.
[215] Id. at 10.
[216] Plaintiffs' Complaint does request relief against the insurers generally through a final judgment concluding that the policies, policy benefits and "other residual or resulting benefits from the policies are held in constructive trust" by "members of the defendant-employer class, Hartford or AIG, as appropriate, for the benefit of the plaintiffs. ..." Id. at 12. Thus, Plaintiffs' intentions are not clear as to the Insurer Defendants.
[217] The Court's rulings infra also undercut the viability of any claim by the Sims Estate against AIG, assuming AIG has in fact paid the death benefits to Wal-Mart.
[218] In Cohen, the insured assigned the benefits of a life insurance policy on his life to J.H. Hilsman. 139 S.W. at 52. When the insured died, both Hilsman and the insured's estate ("estate") filed claims with the insurer for the death benefits. Id. at 53. Hilsman gave the insurer an indemnity bond in exchange for which the insurer paid him the death benefits. Id. Before paying the death benefits to Hilsman, the insurer had notice that the estate claimed that the assignment to Hilsman was invalid. Id.
[219] The Cohen court conducted a fact-sensitive review of the behavior of the insurance company before determining whether the company had engaged in inequitable conduct. Because the court found that the insurer's "hands are not clean, for they have given to one money to keep which it knew was not his, but another's," it directed recovery from the insurer. Cohen, 139 S.W. at 57. The court focused on the unique circumstances of the case, stating:
Since the insurance company took indemnity from Hilsman for the wrong done the [estate], and is now defending this suit in his interest, rather than its own, it must be regarded as standing in his shoes, and it can no more be heard to say that it had the right to pay the money to him than he could, were he before the court defending this action.
Id.
[220] See, e.g., DeLeon, 259 F.3d 344; Griffin, 123 F.2d at 551; Drane, 161 S.W.2d at 1058-59; Cheeves, 28 S.W. at 275; Tamez, 999 S.W.2d at 16-17; Stillwagoner, 979 S.W.2d at 360-61; Cole, 187 S.W.2d at 593.
[221] Another equitable factor was the gross inequality of wealth of the parties. It appears that the insured's estate likely would have had no remedy but for this ruling.
[222] The Sims Estate also cites McDonald v. McDonald, 632 S.W.2d 636 (Tex.App. โ Dallas, 1982, writ ref'd n.r.e.), but this case is inapplicable to the facts at bar. In McDonald, the Dallas court of appeals, reversing the decision of the trial court, held that the insurance company was liable to the insured's estate after it had paid death benefits to the insured's former wife, who was the designated beneficiary of the life insurance policy. McDonald, 632 S.W.2d at 637. However, the insurable interest doctrine was not mentioned by the court, and apparently was not raised by the parties. Instead, the court framed the issue as "whether the divorce decree [between the insured and his former wife] divested the wife of her contingent right to the insurance proceeds on maturity of the policies by the death of the insured." Id. The divorce decree, issued shortly before the insured died, expressly awarded "as [the insured's] sole and separate property, specific items, including, `any and all insurance, pensions, retirement benefits, and other benefits arising out of [the insured's] employment." Id. The insured died before changing the policy beneficiary. Id. at 637-38. The issue regarding the insurance company's liability to the estate was whether it had received notice of the estate's claim for policy benefits. Id. at 639. The court found that the insurer had sufficient notice of the estate's claim to support liability. Id. at 639-40.
[223] AIG correctly argues that there is no evidence, or even any contention, by Plaintiffs that AIG was notified of the Sims Estate's claims to the proceeds of Sims Policy "until long after AIG had already paid the benefits due under the policy." Defendant AIG Life Insurance Company's Reply in Further Support of its Motion to Dismiss the Second Amended Complaint [Doc. # 73], at 4. The Sims Estate argues in response that "AIG knew facts putting it on notice that one other than Wal-Mart was properly entitled to the policy benefits because Wal-Mart had no insurable interest in its employees' lives." The Estate of Douglas Sims' Response to AIG Life Insurance Company's Motion to Dismiss [Doc. # 64], at 6. However, the Complaint is silent on this issue. Plaintiffs never expressly allege in the Complaint that any of the Insurer Defendants were aware that the Employer Defendants lacked an insurable interests in Plaintiffs' lives. The Sims Estate unconvincingly relies on paragraph 38 of the Complaint for its argument that AIG had knowledge that Wal-Mart was not entitled to the COLI policy benefits on Sims's life. However, paragraph 38 of the Complaint alleges only that the employers did not have insurable interests in Plaintiffs' lives. Paragraph 38 does not expressly address the insurers' knowledge of this fact.
[224] This Court is also aware of Texas cases involving requests for a constructive trust based on unjust enrichment. As the parties note, unjust enrichment is an equitable doctrine that requires a fact-intensive determination by the Court. Young v. Fontenot, 888 S.W.2d 238, 242-43 (Tex.App. โ El Paso 1994, writ denied) (The form of a constructive trust, an equitable remedy to prevent unjust enrichment, is "practically without limit, and its existence depends upon the circumstances.") (emphasis added); Austin Lake Estates, Inc. v. Meyer, 557 S.W.2d 380, 382-83 (Tex.Civ. App. โ Austin 1977, no writ) ("Constructive trusts, being remedial in character, have the very broad function of redressing wrong or unjust enrichment in keeping with basic principles of equity and justice."); Brupbacher v. Raneri, No. CIV.A. 3:98-CV-1174, 2000 WL 665560 at *4 (N.D.Tex. Mar. 17, 2000) ("When the proven circumstances show that the holder of the legal title may not in good conscience retain the beneficial interest, then equity converts him into a trustee.") (emphasis added).
The Sims Estate argues that its unjust enrichment claim is based on AIG's participation in the COLI policy "scheme," which allegedly was inequitable because both the Wal-Mart and AIG profited from the policy on Sims's life. In particular, the Sims Estate contends that it seeks whatever money Wal-Mart paid to AIG in satisfaction of loans that AIG made to cover Wal-Mart's premium payments on the Sims Policy. AIG responds that it was not unjustly enriched as a result of these transactions. The Court cannot at this stage of the case make a determination on the particulars of the Sims Estate's claim that AIG was inequitably "enriched" or that the monies it received were "unjust." Nevertheless, the parties are directed to the Court's analysis of similar claims apparently asserted by the Camelot Plaintiffs.
[225] Understandably, AIG has not sought dismissal of the Complaint as to the putative claims of other members of the proposed Plaintiff class. Thus, the Court does not determine AIG's status vis เ vis the unnamed members of any such class. Such a final determination must await resolution of the claims against Employer Defendants, if any, to whom AIG sold COLI policies on the lives of Texas insureds.
[226] The Camelot Defendants initially filed a motion to dismiss on the ripeness issue. Thereafter, they and Hartford filed motions for summary judgment on the matter. See Camelot Defendants' Motion to Dismiss [Doc. # 15]; Camelot Defendants' Summary Judgment Motion [Doc. # 30]; Hartford's Summary Judgment Motion [Doc. # 24]. At the January 11, 2002 hearing, the Court converted the motion to dismiss to a motion for summary judgment since matters outside the pleadings had been presented by the parties. The Camelot Defendants and Hartford also raise ripeness as an issue in their oppositions to the Camelot Plaintiffs' Summary Judgment Motion. See Docs. # 39, 40, 54 and 55.
[227] The court also "must resolve whether it has the `authority' to grant declaratory relief in the case presented." Orix Credit, 212 F.3d at 895. This element is not an issue here. Further, "the court has to determine how to exercise its broad discretion to decide or dismiss a declaratory judgment action." Id.
[228] In Roberts, like many of the insurable interest cases, knowledge of the facts is pertinent to an understanding of the court's ruling. In that case, the issuer of a life insurance policy brought suit for a declaratory judgment to determine the rights of the living insured, his former spouse, and their children in life insurance policies. Roberts, 244 S.W.2d at 304. T.P. Roberts purchased several life insurance policies on his life. Id. T.P. and his spouse, Allene Roberts later separated, entered into a property settlement, and divorced. Id. The divorce decree, based on an agreed property settlement agreement, specified that Allene be substituted as the beneficiary in all life insurance policies on the life of T.P. Id. The divorce decree also declared that Allene had a continuing insurable interest in the life of T.P. because of the "fact that the premiums heretofore paid on the policies ... were paid out of community funds, and for the reason that the parties in said agreement have bound themselves to pay equally the premium(s) on said policies as they mature." Id. at 304-05. Four years later, T.P. requested that the insurance company change the beneficiary to his personal representative, drawing a strong objection from Allene. Id. at 305. The insurance company brought suit to determine the rights of the parties. Id. T.P. argued that Allene did not then have an insurable interest in his life and that the property settlement was void.
The court assumed for the purpose of discussion that Allene did not have an insurable interest in the life of her former spouse. Id. at 307. The court nevertheless held that T.P.'s proper remedy was to have appealed the divorce decree directly, and not attempt a collateral attack on the judgment four years later. Id. The court concluded that it could not alter the final judgment of the divorce court. Id. at 308. In addition, the Dallas court held that T.P.'s acquiescence and consent to the divorce decree precluded him from arguing that the judgment was defective. Id. It also held that Texas courts refuse to permit him to reform the allegedly illegal agreement after he had intentionally agreed to it. Id.
[229] This final rationale by the Roberts court, the one rationale on which the Camelot Defendants rely, followed the court's further repetition that T.P. was barred by an estoppel. The court stated:
It follows that [T.P.] Roberts is effectually estopped from asserting any right to change of beneficiaries named in this policies except in accordance with their terms, i.e., by consent of Allene Roberts if living, otherwise by consent of the Daughter Flora; his said rights therein having been made wholly subject to the ... aforesaid judgment. Further ..., the questions herein propounded do not require a present determination .... `the courts will not render a declaratory judgment as to future rights, but just as in ordinary actions will wait until the event giving rise to the rights has happened, or, in other words, until the rights have become fixed under an existing state of facts.' 16 Am.Jur., sec. 18, p. 292. In major respects, a policy of insurance, like a will, speaks at time of death.
Id. Pursuant to these principles, the court held that it is more appropriate to determine whether Allene Roberts had an insurable interest in the life of T.P. Roberts by virtue of "her asserted debtor-creditor relationship" at the time of T.P. Roberts's death. Id. 308-09.
[230] No Texas court has adopted the Roberts court's reasoning on the ripeness issue except Moody v. Empire Life Ins. Co., 570 S.W.2d 450 (Tex.Civ.App. โ Eastland 1978), which was reversed by the Texas Supreme Court, as noted in the text that follows.
[231] In Empire, an insured, Shearn Moody, Jr., brought a declaratory judgment for the purpose of invalidating an assignment of the right to an insurance policy on his life, contending that the assignee did not have an insurable interest in his life. Id. at 857. Moody, the principal stockholder, chief executive officer, president, and chairman of the board of Empire Life Insurance Company ("Empire"), assigned to the company his life interest in certain trust assets. Id. at 856. Empire was required by accounting rules to obtain a life insurance policy on Moody to cover the value of his life interest in the trust assets because the income from the trust would necessarily terminate upon Moody's death. Id. Thereafter, Empire experienced financial difficulties and was placed in receivership. Id. at 857. A deal was made whereby another insurance company, Protective Life Insurance Company of Birmingham, Alabama ("Protective"), took an assignment of some of Empire's policies in exchange for certain Empire assets, including Moody's trust income and insurance on Moody's life. Id. at 857-58. Moody later instituted an action seeking a judicial declaration that Protective had no insurable interest in his life. Id. at 857.
The trial court held that Protective did have an insurable interest in Moody's life, but the court of civil appeals, sua sponte, in part relying on Roberts, overturned that decision and held that the case was not ripe. Id. at 858. The Supreme Court of Texas reversed the court of appeals, ruled that the case was justiciable, and reinstated the trial court's decision. Id. The Supreme Court recognized that if the assignee, Protective, lacked an insurable interest, then Protective would be left with no income to satisfy the assignor, Empire's, obligations after Moody died, and Protective could not list the value of the Moody trust income as an asset, since Moody's trust payments could cease at any time. Id. at 858-59.
[232] It is noted also that the vitality of the Roberts court's conclusion that the insurable interest issue was not ripe for declaratory relief is undercut by the fact that the court disapproved of the insurable interest doctrine, which it discussed at length in a footnote. 244 S.W.2d at 307 n. 2. The court characterized the Texas insurable interest doctrine as "unsound" in light of certain statutory changes that were made to the doctrine which exempted fraternal societies. Id. The Roberts court's view has not prevailed. Fifty years later, the insurable interest doctrine remains strong as the law of Texas.
[233] See Camelot Plaintiffs' Summary Judgment Motion [Doc. # 15].
[234] See Camelot Defendants' Motion to Dismiss [Doc. # 15]; Hartford's Summary Judgment Motion [Doc. # 24].
[235] Courts consistently refer to these categories of insurable interests. E.g., DeLeon, 259 F.3d at 349-50 (citing Drane, 161 S.W.2d at 1058-59); Stillwagoner, 979 S.W.2d at 361 (describing Drane as the "most cited Texas definition of an insurable interest in another's life"); Tamez, 999 S.W.2d at 17 (quoting Drane).
[236] The court in Drane described the third category as follows:
Bluntly expressed, insurable interest under [the third] classification, is determined by monetary considerations, viewed from the standpoint of the beneficiary. Would he regard himself as better off from the standpoint of money, would he enjoy more substantial economic returns should the insured continue to live; or would he have more, in the form of the proceeds of the policy should he die.
Drane, 161 S.W.2d at 1059. If the beneficiary "would profit by [the insured's] death, the policy contract is void as to [the beneficiary] since the public has a controlling concern that no person have an interest that may give rise to a temptation to destroy [the insured's] life." Id.
[237] See Complaint, at 5-6. It is noted that when Trans World bought Camelot, all Camelot's employees began to work for Trans World, which operates retails stores nationwide. Currently, Trans World operates 984 stores in 46 states and employs 10,000 people. Camelot Defendants' Motion to Dismiss, at 4. Camelot purchased COLI policies on 1430 of its employees. Camelot Defendants' Motion to Dismiss, at 4.
[238] See Hartford Life Insurance Company's Response to Camelot Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [Doc. # 39], at 5-6 n. 4. The Camelot Defendants do not join Hartford in this motion.
[239] Hartford and the Camelot Defendants appear to have closely coordinated their defenses to this action, but Hartford fails to explain why the requested information, at least on the four Camelot Plaintiffs, was not easily available from the Camelot Defendants. It is noted that the Camelot Defendants did not join in this aspect of Hartford's motions.
[240] These Defendants also fail to demonstrate that dismissal of this claim is warranted.
[241] These Defendants also contend that Georgia law applies to this action and that Plaintiffs' claims are not ripe. The Court has already addressed and rejected these arguments.
[242] Hartford cites Tamez, 999 S.W.2d at 15, for the proposition that a majority of state courts have held that only the insurer may raise the issue of insurable interest. Indeed, the court in Tamez explicitly rejected the rule in other states as "inequitable." Id. ("Once the policy has issued and the premiums have been paid, it would be inequitable for an insurer, at that late date, to attempt to escape its contract by claiming the beneficiary had no insurable interest.").
[243] Hartford Life Insurance Company's Response to Camelot Plaintiffs' Motion for Partial Summary Judgment [Doc. # 39], at 17.
[244] Hartford asserts that (i) Plaintiffs have failed to meet their summary judgment burden regarding the lack of an insurable interest at the time the policies were issued, and (ii) that it is impossible to know whether Defendants will have an insurable interest in Plaintiffs' lives when they die.
[245] The prologue to ง 217, entitled "National Background," states:
Generally, an insurable interest at the inception of a contract of life insurance is regarded as sufficient, and it is immaterial that such interest ceases prior to the death of the insured, in the absence of a provision in the contract or a statute to the contrary. ... In Texas, however, the beneficiary must also have an insurable interest when the benefits are payable.
Insurance Contracts and Coverage, 45 TEX. JUR.3D ง 217 (emphasis added). Hartford's argument simply ignores pertinent parts of the treatise's analysis. Moreover, there is ample support in Texas law for the rule as fully explained in the treatise. E.g., Cheeves, 28 S.W. at 276 ("The want of insurable interest is just as absolute where it has ceased as where it never existed, and the inducement to destroy the life insured for gain is just as strong in the one case as in the other."); Cole v. Browning, 187 S.W.2d at 594 (divorce decree terminates the insurable interest that the former spouses had in each other's lives).
[246] The implication of the Court's ruling, of course, is that the Camelot Defendants cannot retain death benefits from the COLI policies, should any such benefits be paid to these Defendants at a time that they lack an insurable interest in the life of an insured. The Court specifically declines to reach other aspects of the parties' dispute in connection with death benefits from the COLI policies until the issues become ripe. For instance, no party has sought a ruling on, and thus the Court does not determine, who should bear responsibility for the policy premiums (if any) paid by the Camelot Defendants to purchase the Sims Policy. A further issue is whether the insured's estate receives the death benefits without reduction for interest charges imposed by Hartford on the premiums due from the Camelot Defendants.
[247] Specifically, Plaintiffs seek declarations both that the Defendants are not the lawful owners of the COLI policies and that Plaintiffs are the lawful owners.
[248] See Camelot Defendants' Motion to Dismiss [Doc. # 15]; Hartford's Summary Judgment Motion [Doc. # 24].
[249] This holding is distinct from the Court's ruling on the Sims Estate's claim for death benefits received by Wal-Mart.
[250] The Texas Supreme Court in Cheeves, 28 S.W. at 275, stated that:
When an insurance company has issued a policy upon the life of a person, payable to one who has no insurable interest in the life insured, or when a policy has been assigned to one having no such interest, the insurance company must nevertheless pay the full amount of the policy, if otherwise liable, because it has so contracted; and it is no concern of the insurer as to who gets the proceeds, except to see that it is paid to the proper parties, under its agreement. It is simply required to perform its contract, and the law will dispose of the money according to the rights of the parties.
Cheeves, 28 S.W. at 275 (emphasis added). In the century that has followed Cheeves, Texas courts have held time and again that the insurance contract is to be performed as written. E.g., Wilke v. Finn, 39 S.W.2d 836, 839 (Tex.Comm'n App.1931, judgm't adopted) (quoting Cheeves, 28 S.W. at 275); Stillwagoner, 979 S.W.2d at 358 ("[A]lthough the Texas rule requires the designated beneficiary to have an insurable interest, it is not essential to the validity of the contract."); DeLeon, 259 F.3d at 353 (holding that insurable interest doctrine does not entitle deceased insured's estate to a reformation of the insurance contract, but a constructive trust on the policy proceeds).
[251] In Wilke v. Finn, 39 S.W.2d 836 (Tex. Comm'n App.1931, judgm't adopted), the Texas Commission on Appeals discussed the available remedy for insurable interest cases:
[A] person designated in the policy as the beneficiary, [may be treated], when he has no insurable interest, as an assignee, appointee, or trustee, to receive the proceeds for whoever may be lawfully entitled to enjoy them. The insurer will then be required to pay the sum it has promised to pay, and the money cannot be appropriated by anybody not having a legitimate right to it.
Wilke v. Finn, 39 S.W.2d at 838 (quoting Equitable Life Assur. Soc. v. Hazlewood, 75 Tex. 338, 12 S.W. 621, 625 (1889)). Various recent decisions, discussed elsewhere in this Opinion, follow these principles.
[252] Plaintiffs, by implication, therefore also appear to seek recovery of the surrender value of the policies should the Camelot Defendants choose to terminate the policies.
[253] As a practical matter, the Camelot Plaintiffs' requested relief is likely to require transfer of ownership of thousands of insurance policies to Plaintiff insureds.
[254] DeLeon was a case related to, and partly controlled by, Tamez, 999 S.W.2d at 16-17, 19, which was a suit brought by other employee-insureds against the same employer concerning the same accidental life insurance. The Houston court of appeals in Tamez held that there was no contractual relationship between the plaintiff estates and the insurer. Id. at 21. Thus, that court ruled that the Tamez plaintiff estates in Tamez lacked privity with the insurer to seek policy benefits under the terms of the policies. In DeLeon, the Fifth Circuit held that the rulings in Tamez collaterally estopped the parties from relitigating certain issues. Also, in DeLeon, the estate had released the employer from all further responsibility. Accordingly, the DeLeon estate sought reformation of the insurance contract in the hopes of obtaining policy benefits directly from the insurers.
[255] "Where an insurer pays the proceeds of a policy to a beneficiary having no insurable interest, Texas courts have consistently held that a constructive trust is the appropriate remedy." Id. at 350. The court of appeals explained that the purpose of the rule requiring the insurance contracts to be enforced as written is to avoid a "windfall to insurers at the expense of lawful beneficiaries." Id. Texas courts "require the insurer to pay the policy proceeds to the beneficiary named in the policy." Id. If the beneficiary does not have an insurable interest, the beneficiary will hold the proceeds in a constructive trust for the benefit of the insured's estate. Id. at 350-51.
[256] Certain equities in DeLeon supported this result. The estate already had settled with the employer and had executed a comprehensive release from liability. The employer also had received death benefits under the policy from the insurer. The Court expressed concern that the insurer not be subject to double liability on the policy both from the named beneficiary and from the insured's estate. Id.
[257] Plaintiffs acknowledge that they would have to bear the responsibilities that ownership entails.
[258] Under the analysis in 45 TEX.JUR.3D ง 217, it is unclear whether any person other than one selected by the insured would qualify as a lawful beneficiary on the existing policies, if a Camelot Plaintiff remains the insured. However, this is a matter the Court need not and does not decide at this time.
[259] Camelot Plaintiffs' Response to Camelot's Motion to Dismiss [Doc. # 28], at 8.
[260] In Stillwagoner, a Texas court of appeals addressed the issues of whether "the employer [and beneficiary of a life insurance policy] had an insurable interest in the life of the decedent, and who is entitled to raise the issue of lack of insurable interest." 979 S.W.2d at 356. The court held that the insured's estate had standing to raise the insurable interest issue and that the employer did not have an insurable interest in the life of the insured. Id. at 360, 363-64. In examining the insurable interest doctrine, the court emphasized that the insurance contract is to be performed as written, and the proceeds are paid to the designated beneficiary, who holds them in constructive trust. The court stated: "although the Texas rule requires the designated beneficiary to have an insurable interest, it is not essential to the validity of the contract." Id. at 358. "If insurance benefits are paid to a beneficiary without an insurable interest, the beneficiary holds the proceeds for the benefit of those entitled by law to receive them." Id.
[261] The Tamez court held that the estates had standing to challenge the existence of an insurable interest and that the defendant employer did not have an insurable interest in the insured's lives. 999 S.W.2d at 14-15.
[262] See the discussion of DeLeon, supra, in this Section.
[263] In Shoemaker, the insured was still alive. The insured and his wife purchased an insurance policy on the husband's life during their marriage. When the couple divorced, the former wife remained the named beneficiary under the policy. The wife died, and the court held that her estate was entitled to the cash surrender value of the life insurance policy on her former husband. Shoemaker, 48 S.W.2d at 613-14. The court distinguished between the death benefits and the surrender value. Id. at 614. The court stated that the former wife did not have a right to the death benefits. However, since her former husband was still alive, her estate could claim the surrender value of the policy, which the court characterized as "a debt against the insurance company." Id.
[264] In Berdoll, the Texas appeals court adjusted the rights of married persons during divorce proceedings. The court sought to ensure that each individual to the marriage received a fair portion of the couple's community property. Shortly before he was married, A.J. Berdoll purchased life insurance policies on his life. Berdoll, 145 S.W.2d at 228-29. After his marriage, A.J. named his wife, Annie Berdoll, as the beneficiary. Id. Thereafter, premiums were paid out of the community funds of the couple. Id. It was undisputed that Annie would no longer have an insurable interest in the life of A.J. after they divorced. Id. at 230. Accordingly, the trial court held, and the appeals court affirmed, an adjustment of the rights related to the insurance policies to reflect Annie's equitable share of the policies value. Id. Specifically, the court ordered that one of the policies be surrendered and the cash value paid to the former wife. Id.
[265] Little is inapposite; the corporation in issue had an insurable interest. 867 S.W.2d at 17. The issue in Little was one of contract construction under very different circumstances from those at bar. In Little, four married couples, each of which owned twenty-five percent of the shares of a corporation, executed a "Buy-Sell" agreement. Id. at 15. The agreement provided that the corporation was to purchase life insurance on the lives of each of the husbands. Id. The corporation was named as the beneficiary and was responsible for making premium payments. Id. Upon any of the husband's deaths, the agreement provided that the surviving spouse would have to choose between retaining her twenty-five percent ownership interest in the corporation or accepting the death benefits from the policy. Id. at 15-16. Paragraph 10 of the agreement provided that if any of the shareholders sold their interest during their lifetime, the insureds would automatically obtain control over the life insurance policies on their lives. Id. One of the shareholders, James Little, sold his shares and died shortly thereafter. Id. at 16. Glee Little, James's wife, sought the policy proceeds from the corporation. Id. The corporation refused and brought suit against Glee for a declaratory judgment. Id. The parties moved for summary judgment. Id. The trial court granted the corporation's motion and held that the corporation can retain the proceeds from the policy, and the court of appeals affirmed. Id. at 16. Glee argued that, pursuant to Paragraph 10 of the agreement, her husband's estate was the owner of the policy and was entitled to the policy benefits from the corporation. Id. The court of appeals held that, while the husband's estate was the owner under Paragraph 10, he was required to take an affirmative step to claim the policy benefits. Id. The Supreme Court of Texas, viewing the matter as an issue of contract construction, reversed holding that James's estate was entitled to the policy benefits. Id. at 18. Under these limited circumstances, the Supreme Court held that "it would be an anomaly to construe Paragraph 10 as automatically transferring ownership of the insurance policy but not the proceeds." Id.
[266] Plaintiffs apparently seek the total surrender value of the COLI policies without deductions for the premiums paid by the Camelot Defendants or the interest on the associated loans.
[267] The Court has considered Plaintiffs' remaining arguments regarding COLI policy ownership and finds them unpersuasive. They are rejected. Furthermore, Defendants have submitted supplemental material regarding how the COLI policy loans affect the surrender value of the COLI policies. See Repasy Aff. ถ 13; Camelot Defendants' Supplement, at 1-3. Because the Court holds that the Plaintiffs are not entitled to the policies' surrender value, the Court need not examine this evidence.
[268] The Court denied Defendant Wal-Mart's Motion for Summary Judgment and Brief in Support [Doc. # 19], the Motion for Summary Judgment of Defendant Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Corporation Grantor Trust, Through its Trustee, the Wachovia Bank of Georgia, N.A. [Doc. # 58], and Defendant AIG Life Insurance Company's Motion and Memorandum in Support of Summary Judgment on Plaintiffs' Second Amended Complaint [Doc. # 60], but granted in part and denied in part Hartford Life Insurance Company's Motion for Summary Judgment [Doc. # 24], and granted Defendant AIG Life Insurance Company's Motion to Dismiss and Memorandum in Support Thereof [Doc. # 59]. The Court also denied Wal-Mart's renewed motion for summary judgment [Doc. # 113-2].