West Coast Life Insurance v. Clark

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT AND CROSS-CLAIMANT GLENDA CLARKE’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

Presently before the Court is Defendant and Cross-Claimant Glenda Clarke’s motion for summary judgment (the “Motion”). For the reasons stated in this Order, the Motion is GRANTED.

I. Background

The basic facts underlying this inter-pleader action are not in dispute. Plaintiff West Coast Life Insurance Company (“WCLIC”) filed this action after a dispute arose as to the proper beneficiary under a life insurance policy on the life of Jeffrey L. Clarke (“Decedent”). (See Complaint, Docket No. 1.) WCLIC filed the action against Defendants Glenda Clarke (“Glenda”), Decedent’s ex-wife, and Kathleen Clarke-Paterson (“Kathleen”), Decedent’s sister. 1 (Id.) WCLIC has now been discharged from the action. (Docket No. 30.)

Glenda and Decedent were married on July 25, 1998. (Decl. of Glenda Clarke, Docket No. 40, ¶ 2.) At the time of their marriage, Glenda owned a business, Television Tickets, which she continued to operate as a sole proprietorship until June 2004. (Id. ¶ 3.) In June 2004, Glenda and Decedent formed a corporation, Hollywood Tickets, Inc. (“HTI”). (Id. ¶4.) Glenda *936 managed HTI and…