Court Opinion

ID: 9529021
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 03:46:27.166204+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:27:35.333950
License: Public Domain

FRIEDLANDER, Judge,
concurring.
I agree that Teresa Rishel should receive the disputed funds, but upon a different rationale than that articulated by the majority.
At first blush, I was troubled by the fact that an ex-spouse could file a claim for the proceeds of an investment account in which she voluntarily relinquished any interest as part of a negotiated dissolution settlement agreement. I would have serious misgivings awarding those proceeds to the ex-spouse if the gist of the facts was that the ex-spouse's interest arose by virtue of beneficiary status, and said status was the product of the deceased ex-spouse's perhaps excusable neglect in changing that designation. My review of the record reveals, however, that there is evidence that Michael Rishel's failure to remove Teresa Rishel as beneficiary was intentional, not inadvertent. For example, I note that Robert C. Kaye, claiming to be a friend of both of the Rishels, submitted an affidavit stating, "Mike specifically spoke about Teresa being the beneficiary for his retirement and commenting that he had not changed beneficiaries because he believed that he and Teresa would probably be back together." Appendix to Appellant's Brief at 89. Based in large part upon this and other evidence that, notwithstanding the contrary terms of the dissolution decree, Michael chose to leave Teresa as the beneficiary on his retirement and annuity accounts, I agree that she should receive those funds as the designated beneficiary.