Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-azd-2_07-cv-00220/USCOURTS-azd-2_07-cv-00220-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Interpleader Action

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 1Counsel are advised that all future filings must comply with all Local Rules of

Practice, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and all rules of this particular Court. More

specifically, counsel shall pay particular attention to the filing requirements pursuant to

LRCiv 7.1(c). Further failure to comply with the local rules will result in the Court

striking the documents.

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF ARIZONA

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, 

Plaintiff, 

v.

Tyler Elliott; Shamus Stinson; a minor

child, by and through his guardians

Douglas and Judith Hardy,

Defendants. 

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No. CIV 07-0220-PHX-SMM

ORDER

Currently pending before the Court is the Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc.

23) filed by Defendant Shamus Stinson against Co-Defendant Tyler Elliot and the Motion

for Summary Disposition of the aforementioned Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 28)

filed by Defendant Shamus Stinson.1

 After careful consideration, the Court rules the

following. 

On April 29, 2006 Jamie Lisa Smith, single mother of Shamus Stinson, was killed

by a drunk driver in an intersection car accident. At the time of the accident, Ms. Smith was

Case 2:07-cv-00220-SMM Document 30 Filed 09/13/07 Page 1 of 3
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 2According to the language set forth in the Bank of America Documents,

including the Bank of America Associate Handbook, the Court finds that Shamus Stinson

is the proper beneficiary. See Doc. 23, p. 4, § III.

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Mr. Elliot has made no claim for the benefits.

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employed by Bank of America wherein Ms. Smith participated in the Bank of America

Group Benefits Program (the “Plan”). This Plan provided her beneficiary with $526, 000 in

Plan Benefits. Since the inception of this lawsuit, interpleader Plaintiff Metropolitan Life

Insurance Company has deposited the amount, plus accruing interest, with the Court. 

On June 7, 2005, Ms. Smith designated her friend Tyler Elliot as the primary

beneficiary and her then 7 year old son Shamus as the contingent beneficiary of the Plan

Benefits using a Bank of America online service. Then, in September 2005, Ms. Smith and

Mr. Elliot had a falling out and consequently, on October 4, 2005, Ms. Smith logged onto the

Bank of America online service and designated her son, Shamus Stinson, as the full primary

beneficiary of her Plan Benefits. Thereafter, Bank of America sent paper copies of the

“Benefits Beneficiary Authorization” forms to Ms. Smith to obtain her signature. Ms. Smith

signed the forms. However, before she mailed them, she was killed in the car crash. The

forms were found in a sealed envelope in Ms. Smith’s handbag after her death.2

Concerned with the danger of double liability, Metropolitan Life Insurance

Company (“MetLife”) instituted an Interpleader. It served the Complaint on Tyler Elliot on

March 28, 2007. Mr. Elliot has not Answered the Complaint. On July 9, 2007, Shamus

Stinson filed a Motion for Summary Judgment against Tyler Elliot, contending that he,

Shamus Stinson, is entitled to the full benefits of his mother’s Plan as the primary

beneficiary. The time has passed for Tyler Elliot to file a Response, and he has neither made

an appearance in this action nor filed a Response to the Motion.3

 Pursuant to LRCiv 7.2(i),

the Court may deem the failure of Mr. Elliot to appear or respond as consent to the granting

of the motion. Consequently, this Court will summarily grant Shamus Stinson’s Motion for

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Summary Judgment in his favor and holds that he is entitled to receive the proceeds of the

Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (“AD&D”) insurance policies issued by

MetLife to his deceased mother, Jamie Lisa Smith.

Accordingly,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED GRANTING Defendant Shamus Stinson’s Motion

for Summary Judgment (Doc. 23) in his favor and against Tyler Elliot.

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED GRANTING Defendant Shamus Stinson’s

Motion for Summary Disposition (Doc. 28).

DATED this 13th day of September, 2007.

Case 2:07-cv-00220-SMM Document 30 Filed 09/13/07 Page 3 of 3