Deere Retiree’s Widow Denied Insurance Despite Post-Death Letter

The widow of a Deere & Co. retiree lost her lawsuit for life insurance benefits when an Iowa federal judge ruled that a letter sent to her husband after his death failed to extend the deadline to convert his coverage.

The retiree failed to convert his company-paid life insurance coverage to an individual policy within the requisite 31-day period following his termination of employment, Judge C.J. Williams of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa ruled April 29. That dooms his widow’s claim for benefits under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, Williams said.

Scott Powell left ...