Opinion ID: 2075607
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The Armstrong Petition.

Text: In order for the Armstrong petition to intervene to be granted, she must establish as true all allegations properly needed to be properly included in that category of persons represented by Rule 2327(3) and (4). In order to be included under 2327(3) or (4), appellant-petitioner must be a member of the class acting as plaintiffs in this class action suit. All subclasses in this suit have a requirement that decedents were insureds of defendant at the time of their death. Appellee claims that the appellant-petitioner Armstrong introduced no credible evidence to show that decedent was in fact insured by the defendant Ohio Casualty Company. Armstrong's offer of proof included testimony of the decedent's daughter and a claim memorandum. Armstrong claims the trial court erred by not considering the claim memorandum. However, there is nothing in the trial court's opinion to indicate that it had not done so. The trial court found that Armstrong produced no evidence to support this claim except her bare hearsay assertions. Trial court opinion, 5/16/89 at 12. Appellee argues that this memorandum is hearsay and as such is inadmissible. However, we need not reach this discussion. Even admitting Armstrong's evidence for consideration, we determine it is insufficient to find that she has carried her burden of establishing that decedent was a member of the class in this suit. Appellee's testimony and documentary evidence is simply the more credible in this case. As appellant Armstrong has failed to establish the allegations contained in her petition for intervention, it must be denied.