BATON ROUGE – Connecticut-based Hartford Life Insurance is seeking a Louisiana court’s determination of the correct beneficiary of a policy covering a deceased man.
Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Co. filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana against Tammy F. Varnado, Tyler Varnado, Kayla Varnado and Renaissance Services Inc.
According to the complaint, Michael Varnado (deceased) was covered under a policy Hartford Life issued to his employer, Athlon Solutions LLC. The suit says Tammy Varnado, his widow, was named primary beneficiary, whereas Tyler and Kayla Varnado, the deceased's adult children, were named secondary beneficiaries.
The claim states that Tammy Varnado has not been ruled out as a suspect in Michael Varnado’s death by gunshot wound. Because of this, the claim states that Hartford is unsure if a court would disqualify Tammy Varnado from receiving the benefits, and cannot determine the proper beneficiary. Renaissance Services, a funeral home, is named a defendant because Tammy Varnado charged Michael’s funeral expenses to the policy.
Hartford Life Insurance seeks the court’s determination of the beneficiary. It is represented by attorneys Virginia N. Roddy and Jennifer M. Lawrence of Elkins PLC in New Orleans.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana Case number 3:16-CV-00015