Randle

FACTS

1. The Background In 1992, plaintiff and her then-husband, Alan McConnell, procured a policy insuring Mr. McConnell’s life. The Farmers policy would pay a death benefit of $250,000 and named plaintiff as the sole beneficiary. The insurance broker that obtained the policy for the couple was Hebson Insurance Agency, Inc. (Hebson). Hebson was owned by Mark Hebson, who was “an appointed agent with Farmers New World Life,” and had been since 1972. In 2004, plaintiff and Mr. McConnell divorced and entered into a stipulated divorce judgment (the divorce decree). The agreement in the divorce decree gave plaintiff “[a] beneficial

2 interest of one-quarter (1/4) of” the Farmers policy. Mr. McConnell was required to maintain the policy for plaintiff’s benefit “to the extent of her one-quarter beneficial interest,” and was free to name any beneficiaries “as to his remaining 3/4ths interest.” Plaintiff and Mr. McConnell were responsible for paying premiums for their respective interests in the policy. If either party decided to discontinue paying premiums, the divorce decree stated he or she “shall forfeit [her or his] ownership” as to his or her interest in the policy.…