HOUSTON (CN) - When an Amegy Bank manager began thinking "illogically" after two brain surgeries, the bank persuaded him to let it buy a $150,000 life insurance policy for him, without disclosing that it would get $1.5 million upon his death - then it fired him, his widow says. And she says she discovered this only when a $1.5 million check to Amegy was misdirected to her house.
Daniel Johnson died of cancer in the summer of 2008, his widow Irma Johnson says in Harris County Court. Around Christmas she received a strange letter that stated, "The enclosed was found loose in the mails or has been damaged in handling in the Postal Service," according to her complaint.
A $1.5 million check made payable to Amegy was in the envelope. The check referred to Daniel Johnson, so the Postal Service sent it to his address.
"Irma received the check and became aware of the amount of insurance the bank had on Dan - by accident," the complaint states. "The bank has paid nothing from the policy benefits it received as a result of Dan's death to his heirs or estate."
She wants the court to put the $1.5 million in trust until they determine how much she gets, and to declare the "consent to be insured" and "life insurance agreement" she signed be declared null and void because her late husband lacked the capacity to make the agreements. In the alternative, she wants to be paid the $150,000 life insurance policy.
She is represented by Michael Myers.
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