INSURER WANTS TO AVOID PAYING HEATH LEDGER'S DAUGHTER
By CLEMENTE LISI
September 29, 2008 --
An insurance company is trying to get out of paying Heath Ledger's toddler daughter $10 million, claiming the actor's accidental overdose was a suicide, a lawyer for the "Dark Knight" star's estate claims.
John LaViolette has sued Minnesota-based ReliaStar Life Insurance Company, claiming the company is trying to avoid paying the claim to Ledger and actress Michelle Williams' 2-year-old Matilda Rose.
The suit, filed in Los Angeles, doesn't mention Ledger or his daughter by name.
Instead, it states that it was filed on behalf of a man who died of "accidental causes on January 22, 2008" - the same day Ledger was found dead of an accidental prescription drug overdose.
A spokesman for ReliaStar says the insurer has made no decision about whether to pay the claim.
ReliaStar Life wrote the policy in June 2007 - six months before Ledger died.
Instead of paying the $10 million, TMZ.com reports that ReliaStar has set out to investigate whether Ledger took his own life - despite the fact that the New York City Medical Examiner ruled the death accidental.
LaViolette claims ReliaStar acted in bad faith by not promptly paying the $10 million and by wrongfully prying into Ledger's life after his death.
Sources told TMZ.com that lawyers for the insurance company have claimed Ledger's death was "suspicious" - possibly suicide - in a bid to nullify the policy.
ReliaStar's lawyers have informed Matilda's lawyers they intend to take the depositions of Mary-Kate Olsen, as well as the masseuse, who was at Ledger's home when he died, Ledger's colleagues on his last film, his agents, doctors and psychologists.
