Defendant's Attorney: Sandra Hauser

Description: San Diego, California insurance law lawyer represented the Plaintiff claiming right to receive notice and a grace period before termination of coverage.

In 2003, Michael Pitt purchased a $2,000,000 term life insurance policy from Metropolitan Tower Life Insurance
Company (“Tower”) in Illinois. He maintained this policy for several years by regularly paying premiums to Tower.
When he and his wife, Susan, moved to California in 2014, he notified Tower of his move and continued to pay his
premiums. Tower provided him with a reminder in December 2015 that his quarterly premium payment was due
on January 6, 2016. Michael Pitt failed to make this payment. On February 8, 2016, Tower sent him a “Special
Courtesy Offer” that would have allowed him to maintain his policy if he paid his overdue premium by February 27, 2016.
But Pitt did not respond to this offer, and Tower sent him a letter in March 2016 informing him that his policy had
lapsed. Tower’s letter also provided him with instructions to apply for reinstatement. Michael Pitt tendered the full
annual premium amount in September 2016 and, based on Tower’s instructions, formally applied for reinstatement the
following month. In February 2017, Tower rejected his reinstatement application.

Outcome: Certified to the California Supreme Court for answer to a question of law.

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