NRA Unfairly Denies Member's Insurance Policy

While the National Rifle Association is known by many as nothing more than an advocacy group, it is also an insurance company of sorts, offering and endorsing insurance policies for its members.

However, the NRA’s questionable handling of a member’s policy following his death has led to his widow’s bringing a bad faith insurance lawsuit against the organization.

In 2009, Minnesota resident John Balk purchased a life insurance policy through the NRA that his wife - Annalee – as the $150,000 beneficiary if he were to pass away. Nearly one year later on Sept. 28, 2010, Balk died at the age of 59 after being crushed by a 9,435 lb. tractor he was using at his house while doing some landscaping work.

While Annalee expected the NRA to follow through on her husband’s claim, the organization instead refused to pay the $150,000 death benefit. The reason given for the insurance denial was that the organization was not liable for "any death that is caused by or resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle while intoxicated," according to the Duluth News Tribune.

In Annalee’s bad faith insurance lawsuit that followed, she contended that the tractor her husband was using is not defined as a "motor vehicle" in the state of Minnesota. Because of this, she claims the NRA acted in bad faith with her husband’s claim.

Annalee’s bad faith insurance denial lawsuit was transferred to a U.S. District Court on June 5, at the NRA’s request.

If you or a loved one has had an insurance policy denied unfairly by a claimholder, call Sokolove Law today to learn more about possibly pursuing a bad faith lawsuit. Call us today at 800-581-6358.

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