Scott Peterson was convicted of killing his pregnant wife Laci. We all know that. Laci's mother filed a wrongful death suit against Scott and was awarded a $250,000 judgement from Laci's life insurance policy.
Scott is trying to block the check from the insurance from being issued to the mother.
His reasoning?
He is appealing the verdict. He feels, as do his lawyers, that he should have his appeal heard and decided within the next 10 years. Is it possible for him to get out of jail?
Yes. Think about it...10 years. Witness' forget or can't be found. Evidence can be lost or misplaced. Main characters can pass away. A number of things can happen.
From the insurance company point of view they are stuck in the middle. If they pay the claim to the mother and Scott is aquitted on appeal they are on the hook for paying him also. Scott was named as the beneficiary.
Another stumbling block. Money. While Scott is awarded all the benefits of a free lawyer, thanks to the taxpayers, Laci's mother has to foot the bill on her own. Possibly with some help from friends, family, and special interest groups.
What is your opinion?
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Comments: 23
then the MIL could get the courts to take the money from him, since she's owed a judgment...
and all is well...?
So if the insurance company pays the mother and 10 years from now Scott is aquitted then he is basically found not guilty so he can at that time appeal the suit from the wrongful death and if he wins he can turn around and sue the mother and the insurance company...the mother for the amount and the insurance company for the same. He would more than likely not get the money from the mother...judgements are only good if you can collect on them. So suing the insurance company makes sense. He was the beneficiary so he would be entitled to the money...his defense is...it isnt his fault they paid the mother.
Does that make sense?
I just don't believe that the mother should be allowed to take what does not yet belong to him. If she sued for more than he was (currently) worth, then its her bad luck if she doesn't get it. Nice of her to put a price tag on her daughter's life.
The problem may lie in that there's no secondary beneficiary on the policy. That would put the insurance company in the clear for not having to pay anyone.
Scott should not be allowed to gain anything from Laci's death since he was convicted of causing it!
Ok for the insurance company clause thing. Again my understanding of that. Since most insurances do contain a clause about the beneficiary not benefiting from causing the murder...that doesnt let the insurance company off the hook they still have to pay Laci's estate the policy amount....and since the parents would have been the next in line and since they did get a wrongful death judgement.
Judith sure that is part of it. But even if I was the richest person in the world and someone killed my child I would make damn sure that SOB didnt benefit one penny by it.
By law you can't profit by your crime so he can't get the money anyway. Again, there's almost no chance he will get another trial.
The people who get rich in these situations are usually the lawyers.
Joe thats the common sense train of thought and I would agree but unfortunately the justice division of the united states doesnt agree.
Norm valid point.