Sorrells v. Sun Life Assur. Co. of Canada

**Sorrells v. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada** This case involved a dispute over life insurance benefits. An employee died in a car accident while driving drunk, and their beneficiary (Sorrells) filed a claim for accidental death and dismemberment benefits from the employer's insurance policy provided by Sun Life. The insurance company refused to pay the benefits, arguing that the death resulted from an illegal act that was specifically excluded from coverage. The court sided with Sun Life and granted their request to dismiss the case. The judge ruled that the insurance policy clearly excluded coverage for deaths resulting from illegal activities, including drunk driving. Since the employee's death was directly caused by driving under the influence—an illegal act—the beneficiary was not entitled to receive the accidental death benefits. **What this means for workers:** This ruling highlights the importance of understanding what's covered and excluded in employer-provided life insurance policies. Workers should review their insurance documents carefully, as illegal activities can void certain benefits even if the death appears accidental. Employees may want to consider additional personal life insurance coverage to ensure their families are protected in all circumstances, regardless of the cause of death.