Law Firm Partner’s Widow Loses Insurance Claims Against Standard

The widow of a North Dakota law firm partner lacks a viable claim against Standard Insurance Co. for declining to pay life insurance benefits based on the partner’s departure from the firm seven years before his death.

The life insurance policy covering employees of Zuger, Kirmis & Smith PLLP requires employees to convert to an individual policy in order to continue receiving coverage after leaving their jobs, the US District Court for the District of North Dakota said. Because it’s undisputed that Lawrence Dopson failed to do this when he left the firm, his widow’s claims against Standard fail ...