Teresa James v. Mary Cynthia Mounts, James Phillip Rocconi, and Richard Anthony Rocconi

Summary

The Supreme Court of Arkansas affirmed the circuit court’s declaratory judgment that the deceased policy owner’s three children, rather than his former wife, were entitled to the life-insurance proceeds. The court held that the owner substantially complied with the policy’s beneficiary-change procedures by completing and promptly faxing the insurer’s form, despite failing to sign and date it, and that there was no prejudicial Rule 52 error. The court vacated the court of appeals’ contrary opinion.