Heath Ledger's Insurance Co refuses to pay out

Unbelieveable. One of the most publicized deaths in 2008 and they refuse to pay?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080929/people_nm/us_ledger

 

If I was the insurance Co. I would ask the same question for $10MM. But without a known note or other signs might be hard to prove suicide.

 

It'll be interesting to see how this turns out. The insurance co's could make this kind of claim for a wide range of accidental deaths. I hope they have to also pay the huge legal bill for Ledger's people to defend this.

 

Insurance companies always do this kind of thing. Just get in an accident with your classic car with some guy in an F150 that has Progressive insurance. I will bet you a nickel you will have 3 years of court battles a head of you. I deal with them on a daily basis as an art and classic car appraiser. They hate paying claims and will do just about anything to get out of it.

 

I have to side with the insurance co. Why would anyone with a $16M estate, all willed to a young daughter, even purchase a life insurance policy with her as sole beneficiary?

Granted, in today's world, $16M is no longer a princely sum, but it's enough for a young person to live quite nicely on, with proper guidance.

 

It's an estate planning strategy that many wealthy people utilize. And it's perfectly legitimate.

That $16mm is subject to the estate tax. The life insurance is not.

 

Are you serius?
There is a thing called contract. He (Leger) pay monthly fees, therefore the Insurance company MUST pay, regardless if his worth millions or not.
The insurance company should be a little more carefull about how they handle this. It can bring a lot of bad publicity, and that may end up costing then more than 10 million.

 

Absolutely. It's black and white and the insurance company is breaching that contract.

...and no official said suicide.

 

Fixed.

 

I realize that, I was just playing 'Devil's Advocate.'

 

It certainly did not come off that way.

 

I will side with the ins co if it really was a suicide. I don't think a life insurance policy should pay out if the person committed suicide. Didn't he have something like 11 drugs in his body? What an irresponsible father. I feel terrible for his daughter.

 

Coroner says accidental. There is no note. There is no evidence except pure conjecture that it was a suicide. Even IF it was.

Iinsurance co needs to pay unless they can provide hard evidence was suicide