Opinion ID: 2006536
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Admissibility of evidence as to relationship between father and deceased insured.

Text: At trial the appellant attempted to submit evidence showing that there had never been a parent-child relationship between the father and the daughter. This evidence was ruled immaterial to the issue. However, appellant did make an offer of proof in which the mother's attorney stated that, if allowed, she would submit evidence showing that the father never knew his daughter on a personal basis and only saw her once after he left home in 1953. That was upon graduation from high school when the father had to be introduced to the daughter. Appellant's counsel further offered to prove that the father never made any voluntary support payments and that the payments he was ordered to make under the adjudication of paternity were substantially in arrears. We think the evidence relating to the nature of the relationship between the father and daughter in this case was highly probative of the issue, the issue being whether or not the respondent was a parent in the common and ordinary sense of the word. Under Wisconsin law, claimants to proceeds of life insurance policies may establish facts sufficient to prove equitable entitlement to the proceeds even if the written terms of the policy, along with written designations of beneficiaries, unambiguously indicate that the proceeds are payable to another. American Casualty Co. v. M. S. L. Industries, Inc., Howard Industries Division (7th Cir. 1969), 406 Fed. 2d 1219; Modern Woodmen of America v. Barber (1929), 199 Wis. 635, 227 N. W. 268. We conclude that a new trial on the issue of whether the respondent was a parent in the ordinary sense of the word, as expressed in this opinion, must be afforded the appellant. We reverse and remand for further proceedings consistent with the opinion. By the Court. Judgment reversed and cause remanded for further proceedings.