Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States v. McKay

OPINION PREGERSON, Circuit Judge: The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States (“Equitable Life”) brought this interpleader action to determine the beneficiary of two life insurance policies purchased by the decedent, David McKay. The district court granted summary judgment in favor of McKay’s children and against his widow, Carolyn McKay, on the ground that the Washington Dead-man’s Statute, Wash.Rev.Code § 5.60.030, required the exclusion of testimony that was critical to Carolyn McKay’s recovery. BACKGROUND H. David McKay, a Washington resident, died in November 1983. At the time of his death he was married to Carolyn McKay. He had previously been married to Marjorie McKay. He had three children by his first marriage: Harlan David McKay, Jr., Dana Williford, and Sean McKay. Under decedent’s will, executed in July 1983, Carolyn McKay was the sole devisee. The will provided in part: In recognition of the fact that at the present time I have provided certain benefits for my children through life insurance proceeds that will pass outside of my Estate, I give, devise and bequeath to my wife all the residue of my Estate, both real and personal, separate and community, of every nature and description whatsoever and wherever situated. At the time of his death, the decedent had six life insurance policies. Decedent named his children beneficiaries of the first four policies, totaling together about $45,-000. All parties agree that he intended that his children be the beneficiaries of those four policies. In May 1982, decedent purchased a fifth life insurance policy, No. 32-0333-81, for $50,000. Originally, he named his wife Carolyn as beneficiary under the policy. However, in April 1983, decedent changed the policy, making his children beneficiaries. Carolyn asserts that this was done without her knowledge. However, she signed the change of beneficiary form as a witness. In June 1983, decedent purchased a sixth life insurance policy, No. 83-1997-39, for $100,000. According to the testimony of decedent’s insurance agent, Michael Gajad-har, decedent instructed Gajadhar to make Carolyn beneficiary of the policy and Ga-jadhar mistakenly made decedent’s children beneficiaries. In September 1984, Carolyn McKay filed suit against Gajadhar in Washington State Superior Court for professional negligence in failing to make her sole beneficiary of the sixth policy. In November 1984, Equitable Life filed this interpleader action in Oregon District Court to sort out the claims against its policies. Equitable Life deposited the proceeds of both the $50,000 and $100,000 dollar policies with the district court and [905] was dismissed from the action. The parties stipulated in a pretrial order of the district court that Carolyn McKay was entitled to fifty percent of both policies under the community property laws of the State of Washington. The district court granted summary judgment for decedent’s children, holding that there were no genuine issues of material fact because the Washington State Deadman’s Statute, Wash.Rev.Code § 5.60.030, barred the testimony of Carolyn McKay and Michael Gajadhar, the two witnesses who would testify that decedent intended Carolyn to be the beneficiary of the two policies. Carolyn McKay appeals. DISCUSSION We review a grant of summary judgment de novo. Darring v. Kincheloe, 783 F.2d 874, 876 (9th Cir.1986). Our review is governed by the same standard used by the trial court under Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). We must determine, viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the nonmoving party, whether there are any triable issues of material fact and whether the district court correctly applied the relevant substantive law. Ashton v. Cory, 780 F.2d 816, 818 (9th Cir.1986). We must first decide whether the Washington State Deadman’s Statute should have been applied in this case. Because this action is an interpleader action brought under 28 U.S.C. § 1335, the federal district court was required to apply the substantive law that a court of the forum state would apply. See American Re-Insurance Co. v. Insurance Comm’n of California, 527 F.Supp. 444, 450 (C.D.Cal.1981). The Washington Deadman’s Statute concerns the competency of witnesses. When state law provides the rule of decision, Fed.R.Evid. 601 requires that the competency of witnesses also be determined by state law.1 However, in cases in which a district court in one state is applying substantive law from another state, rule 601 does not specify under which state law competency is to be determined. That question must be resolved under the choice-of-law rules of the forum state. Klaxon Co. v. Stentor Electric Manufacturing Co., 313 U.S. 487, 496, 61 S.Ct. 1020, 1021, 85 L.Ed. 1477 (1941) (federal courts in diversity of citizenship cases are governed by the conflict of law rules of the courts of the states in which they sit); see Griffin v. McCoach, 313 U.S. 498, 503, 61 S.Ct. 1023, 1025, 85 L.Ed. 1481 (1941) (applies the Klaxon rule to inter-pleader actions); Hoffa v. Fitzsimmons, 673 F.2d 1345, 1360 n. 41 (D.C.Cir.1982) (“The determination of which statute governs ... depends on the forum choice-of-law rules.”). The subjects of this action are two insurance policies insuring the life of a Washington resident, David McKay, entered into in Washington and contested by another Washington resident, Carolyn McKay. All the parties agree that the substantive law of Washington applies. Under Oregon law, when an Oregon court applies substantive law from another jurisdiction, it applies Oregon procedural law. See Geris v. Burlington Northern, Inc., 277 Or. 381, 561 P.2d 174 (1977) (applying Oregon procedure in a ease involving a federal substantive claim); Hust v. Moore-McCormack Lines, Inc., 180 Or. 409, 177 P.2d 429 (1947) (same). Thus, an Oregon court hearing this case would apply Washington substantive law and Oregon procedural law. Because district courts must apply the law that a court of the forum state would apply, the district court in this case was required to apply Washington substantive law and Oregon procedural law. The question before us therefore reduces itself to whether the Washington Dead-man’s Statute is substantive or procedural. If it is substantive, it should be applied as Washington substantive law. If it is procedural, it should not be applied because only Oregon procedural rules should be applied. [906] The district court found that Washington’s Deadman’s Statute was substantive and applied it. Neither Washington courts, Oregon courts, nor the Ninth Circuit have ruled on whether a deadman’s statute is substantive or procedural. We cannot ascertain how an Oregon court would answer this question. Therefore, we believe it appropriate to refer this question to the Oregon Supreme Court pursuant to the Uniform Certification of Questions of Law Act, Or.Rev. Stat. §§ 28.200-28.255 (1985). Footnotes [1] Fed.RJEvid. 601 provides: Every person is competent to be a witness except as otherwise provided in these rules. However, in civil actions and proceedings with respect to an element of a claim or defense as to which State law supplies the rule of decision, the competency of a witness shall be determined in accordance with state law. (Emphasis added.)