Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York, now known as Wilton Reassurance Life Company of New York (WRNY), has filed a lawsuit seeking the return of over $137,000 in death benefit proceeds that were allegedly overpaid to two beneficiaries. The complaint was filed on December 8, 2025, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against defendants Daniel Jonah and Samilia Beckley.
The case centers around a life insurance policy issued by WRNY to Emma Beckley on October 28, 1988. This policy had an initial face value of $220,000, which decreased over time according to a specified schedule. Emma Beckley passed away on August 22, 2023, at which point the policy's face value was $82,813.25. Despite this, both defendants received a total payout of $110,023.58—far exceeding their entitled amount of $41,406.62 each—resulting in an overpayment of $68,616.96 per defendant.
WRNY claims that despite numerous attempts to recover the excess funds through letters and outreach efforts sent via FedEx to both defendants' addresses in Texas and New York respectively, neither Jonah nor Beckley have returned the money. The plaintiff asserts that these actions constitute unjust enrichment and conversion as they knowingly retained funds not rightfully theirs.
In its complaint, WRNY argues that it is entitled to restitution for the full amount of the overpayment plus interest and legal fees incurred due to this issue. Additionally, WRNY seeks punitive damages against both defendants for their intentional refusal to return what it claims is its rightful property.
The legal representation for WRNY is provided by Lawrence Kurtz from Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP based in New York City. The case has been assigned Civil Action No.: 1:25-cv-6768 with jurisdiction established under U.S.C §1332 due to diversity between parties involved and an amount exceeding $75,000 being contested.
Source: 125cv06768_Allstate_Life_Insurance_Company_v_Jonah_Complaint_Eastern_District_New_York.pdf