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<p class="MsoNormal">I also worked as counsel in the compliance department for a large life insurer and can say that insurers are held to specific compliance requirements with regard to complaints. While I can’t speak to complaints filed with a court, I can
say that complaints insurance companies are required to tally and respond to with specific time parameters fall into two categories: 1) complaints directly to the insurer from the consumer and 2) complaints to the state insurance regulator. If you have not
already tried this route, you might make a formal complaint to the Washington Insurance Commissioner (or the insurance regulator of another state where the policy was issued if not WA) about the failure to pay and the interest owed. This category of complaint
receives a higher degree of attention due to its visibility and the strict deadlines the company has for its detailed response to the WA insurance commissioner regarding their resolution of the matter. You really don’t need to worry about who in the company
to contact because the state regulator takes care of that.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That would be an easy course of action while you piece together your arguments for whatever breach or unfair trade practice or whatever other claim you would make next (look at RCW 48.30 and all its pertinent sections). And yes, that interest
is real and owing and should be claimed. I recall those interest statutes are all over the board in different states with a lot of rates not being indexed or updated by anything and therefore out of step with other current interest rates. It adds up to a
lot, especially on large policies and for states like this one where interest goes back to date of death regardless of when notice of death is sent to the insurer. That should be motivating the insurer to pay this promptly.
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Which unfortunately would make me suspicious. I’m not sure how direct your communication has been with the insurer but you will want to confirm for certain that no beneficiary was named and not just that the company won’t reveal beneficiary
information because your client wasn’t named.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Katie Patel<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Paraclete Estate Planning, LLC<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(541) 499-9085 (direct)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">112 Genessee Street<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Medford, OR 97504<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com <wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Brent Williams-Ruth<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Saturday, May 24, 2025 8:34 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv <wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [WSBAPT] Life Insurance refusing to pay out; delay and interest owed under RCW<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Good Morning Dalynne - <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">I have NOT filed a complaint under that but, from my life as a former insurance industry coverage attorney - first-party claims against insurers include: Breach of Contract, Breach of IFCA (the
insurance fair conduct act); Tort of Bad Faith; and the whammy - Violations of the Consumer Protection Act. Many of these include award of attorneys fees, the CPA carries treble damages. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">FYI - to file an IFCA claim you must also first file notice with the Washington Insurance Commissioner. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">A well-written letter, along with filing of the claim with the Insurance Commissioner may likely move some folks into action. I am not familiar with this particular insurer but make sure that
any notice is sent to the appropriate notice agent. There is an entire listing of non-admitted carriers if they fall within that category. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Brent Williams-Ruth</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> (pronouns: he/him)<br>
<i>Attorney-At-Law</i></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Law Offices of Brent Williams-Ruth, </span></b><b><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">a division of BWR Consulting, PLLC</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Physical Address: 500 S 336th Street, Suite 214; Federal Way, WA 98003</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:red">Mailing Address:</span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> PO BOX 3319; Federal Way, WA 98063 </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Office/Scheduling Phone:<span style="color:#004080"> </span><span style="color:red">(253) 285-7751</span></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:red">For All Meetings & Scheduling:
<a href="mailto:info@williams-ruthlaw.com" target="_blank">info@williams-ruthlaw.com</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="mailto:Brent@Williams-RuthLaw.com" target="_blank">e-mail</a> / <a href="http://www.williams-ruthlaw.com/" target="_blank">website</a> /</span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/bwrlaw" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9.5pt">facebook</span></a></span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> / </span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On Sat, May 24, 2025 at 8:20 AM Dalynne Singleton <<a href="mailto:dalynne@glgmail.com">dalynne@glgmail.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">I have a life insurance company refusing to provide monies in payment to Estate when no beneficiary named.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="color:red">Has anyone filed complaint pursuant to RCW 48.23.300?
</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">RCW 48.23.300 outlines the requirements for policy settlements and interest for life insurance in Washington State.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Usually when I send a demand letter with a deadline, the insurer pays the policy plus interest.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Insurer is USAble Life – all I am getting is for death more than 2 years ago - delays and no monies.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Any sample complaints would be appreciated. I did some legal research and didn’t find any caselaw. Thank you.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Interest on Death Benefits: Insurers must pay interest on death benefits from the date of death at a rate not less than 8% 1.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto">Additional Interest: If benefits are not tendered within 90 days of receiving proof of death, an additional 3% interest accrues from the 91st day 1.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><span lang="DE" style="font-size:26.0pt;font-family:"Rastanty Cortez";color:black;background:white">Dalynne Singleton</span></b><b><span style="font-size:26.0pt;font-family:"Cambria",serif;color:black;background:white"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif">Dalynne Singleton</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif">Gourley Law Group</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif">Snohomish Escrow/The Exchange Connection</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif">1002 10<sup>th</sup> Street / PO Box 1091</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif">Snohomish, WA 98291</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif">360.568.5065</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif">360.568.8092 fax</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif"><a href="mailto:dalynne@glgmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:#467886">dalynne@glgmail.com</span></a> <u>Website:
</u><a href="http://www.glglawgroup.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#467886">www.glglawgroup.com</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif">Attorney/client meetings will be handled virtually whenever possible. If you would like to set a consultation, please call/email
one my paralegals Valerie <a href="mailto:valerie@glgmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:#467886">valerie@glgmail.com</span></a>, Kelly
<a href="mailto:kelly@glgmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:#467886">kelly@glgmail.com</span></a>, or Theresa
<a href="mailto:theresa@glgmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:#467886">theresa@glgmail.com</span></a>. My co-counsel is Attorney Spencer Clower with paralegal, Kristin Jacobs, for Estate litigation (<a href="mailto:spencer@glgmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:#467886">spencer@glgmail.com</span></a>
<a href="mailto:kristin@glgmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:#467886">kristin@glgmail.com</span></a>) & Carrie Ulrich and Candace Wilkerson, co-counsel in probate (<a href="mailto:carrie@glgmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:#467886">carrie@glgmail.com</span></a>
and <a href="mailto:candace@glgmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:#467886">candace@glgmail.com</span></a> ).</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto"><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua",serif">LICENSED IN WASHINGTON. IMPORTANT/CONFIDENTIAL: This e-mail message (and any attachments accompanying it) may contain confidential
information, including information protected by attorney-client privilege. The information is intended only for the use of the intended recipient(s). Delivery of this message to anyone other than the intended recipient(s) is not intended to waive any privilege
or otherwise detract from the confidentiality of the message. If you are not the intended recipient, or if this message has been addressed to you in error, do not read, disclose, reproduce, distribute, disseminate or otherwise use this transmission, rather,
please promptly notify the sender by reply e-mail, and then destroy all copies of the message and its attachments, if any.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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