Frazier

Defendant Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (Metropolitan) appeals from a jury verdict and judgment entered against it. The dispute arises out of a life insurance policy insuring the life of plaintiff’s husband, David Frazier (David), made available to him as part of his employment benefits by the federal government. The policy contained a basic death benefit payable in the event of Frazier’s death, with double indemnity in the event the insured’s death resulted solely from “violent, external and accidental means.” The accidental means death benefit contained a suicide exclusion. The jury awarded plaintiff damages in the amount of $12,000 for the unpaid accidental means death benefit, $150,000 for emotional distress, and $8 million in punitive damages. The court ordered the award increased to $8,168,009.72 to reflect interest on the unpaid accidental means death benefit. Punitive damages were remitted to $2 million on the ground it was excessive.

Background Facts

On March 12, 1975, David, his mother, grandmother and younger brother, Curtis, boarded a charter fishing boat in Oxnard. Plaintiff was not aboard. After fishing, the boat headed back and entered the Channel…