Life insurance company stirs the anger of Tom Blakely’s friends
By Matt Friedman | May 22nd, 2008 - 5:42pmOn March 7, 46-year-old Republican political consultant Tom Blakely and his wife, Deborah, sent off a check to Transamerica Life Insurance Corp, beginning the family’s second life insurance policy with the company.
The timing of the Blakelys' decision to take on that policy turned out to be a tragic coincidence.
On March 15, while running a weekend 5K race in Bordentown, Blakely suffered a heart attack, collapsed and died on the spot. Shockwaves immediately reverberated through the political community, many of whom had known Blakely, a fit former Marine with two children ages three and one, for decades, and who had used his company, Jamestown Associates, to run their campaigns.
But two months after Blakely’s death, Transamerica is disputing his family’s claim for the second life insurance policy, and still has not paid their first one.
That has led Blakely’s close friend and partner at Jamestown, Larry Weitzner, to organize a lawsuit and a tough public relations push against Transamerica on behalf of Blakely’s family.
Weitzner has enlisted the help of some Republican bigwigs, including state legislators who have asked the Department of Banking and Insurance to investigate the company’s business practices and are thinking about calling hearings and authoring legislation to change the way life insurance companies do business in the state.
“It’s a case of an insurance company trying to find ways out of fulfilling an obligation,” said Weitzner. “It’s everyone’s worst image of an insurance company being practiced by Transamerica.”
Weitzner has even set up a Web site, www.dumptransamerica.com, that doesn’t yet include details about Blakely’s case but solicits users to submit complaints about the company. If the company continues to hold out, he plans to produce a Youtube ad of Deborah Blakely talking about her experience with the company and distribute it through Jamestown’s 300,000 member email list.
In the months leading up to his death, Blakely underwent a physical with a Transamerica approved doctor and passed, said attorney Hersh Kozlov, a major figure in Republican circles who has taken on the case pro-bono. Also working the case for free is attorney Greg Lomax.
According to Kozlov, the company’s paperwork told the Blakelys that their new policy would be approved as soon as they received their first premium check. But, Kozlov said, they added a condition after-the-fact. Shortly after Tom Blakely’s death – and well after the check had been mailed -- Debbie Blakely received a letter saying that the policy would be valid as soon as they received a “statement of good health” signed by her recently deceased husband.
That, according to Kozlov, was never part of the deal.
”He couldn’t sign it. He was dead. So the insurance statement seems to be saying you didn’t sign the statement of good health, but that was never a condition of the policy.”
Kozlov said that he presumes the company did not know that Blakely had died.
“But I don’t think you can change the conditions of a contract once the contract is signed,” he said. “It strikes me that they ought to just honor their contract. That’s why people buy life insurance.”
Kozlov preferred not to discuss how much the policies were worth.
A letter written to the insurance department by state Sen. Joe Kyrillos and signed by fellow Republican legislators Kevin O’Toole, Leonard Lance, Diane Allen and Marcia Karrow requested that the Department “review this matter and find resolution for the Blakely family.” The letter also expressed concerns that the two policies were issued by direct mail, and that the family had no contact with an agent.
“I’m looking very carefully at the ability of life insurers to do business via direct mail, rather than have a physical agent that can communicate directly what is a major life financial decision,” said Kyrillos in a phone interview. “And if this is at all indicative of how Transamerica conducts business in New Jersey or how the industry conducts itself in general, then we’re going to be speaking to change the rules in a dramatic way for the better.”
O’Toole, for his part, said that his first priority is to make sure that Debbie Blakely is taken care of.
“I would volunteer my efforts to go to the end of the world to make sure his kids and wife are taken care of,” he said. “And anyone out there with similar circumstances, we’re happy to help them as well.”
O’Toole said that he plans to hold hearings on the company’s conduct, since others are likely to have had a similar experience.
It’s not the first time he’s dealt with insurance companies. While an assemblyman, he helped guide a constituent after her insurance company refused to pay for her child’s ear implant procedure.
“As legislators we’ve had, from time to time, to wrestle with insurance companies. It’s not the first time but it strikes close to home because we knew Tom Blakely very well, and it strikes me from the facts that I have that it’s very unfair,” he said. “We’re going to get to the bottom of it.”
PolitickerNJ.com could not get Transamerica’s side of the story. The company is represented by M. Paige Berry, a former official in the Whitman gubernatorial administration who works at the Princeton branch of Saul Ewing. Berry referred inquiries to Transamerica’s corporate headquarters in California.
Spokeswoman Nichole Lorey said that company policy forbids her from commenting on pending litigation.“Due to privacy laws and regulations, and the company’s internal policies and procedures, specific details about transactions or life insurance policies cannot be disclosed without the written consent of the claimant or the insured. However, we work to be very diligent in our claim handling procedures and are confident that this process is being handled in a fair manner,” she said in a statement. “In general, and in keeping with industry practice, all requirements need to be completed before a life insurance contract can take effect.”
That response didn’t appease Weitzner.
"It's consistent with the cold-hearted and unfair treatment Transamerica has exhibited throughout this tragic process,” he said. “The Blakely family deserves better than this. They deserve the insurance that Transamerica promised them."
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Hypocrisy
It's amazing. Republicans never mobilize the government to take care of people until it affects one of their own.
This kind of thing happens to thousands of people in New Jersey every year whether it's denying health, auto or life insurance claims. It's what insurance companies do.
But the Republicans always try to stop reform or regulation of these industries -- until it affects one of their own.
It's the same with causes. A GOP legislator opposes spending money on stem cell research -- until a kid he knows gets a spinal cord injury.
How about we have some empathy and care about people BEFORE it affects us personally? That's called being a Democrat.
Being a Republican means only caring when it affects yourself.
This is SOP for insurance companies
Insurance companies deny millions of claims from hard working, premium paying Americans every day. Insurance companies have huge reserves gained by collecting premiums and denying coverage. Then they have their attack lawyers go to work. BTW thier lawyers are paid by your premiums.
Republicans nationally and in NJ regularly support these companies. This is just one example of how slimey these companies are. Then there CEO's retire with hundred million dollar buyouts.
This is not a partisan
This is not a partisan issue. How disgusting that you would try and turn this into one. This is about a tragic death, and how a widow supports her children.
Apparently being a Democrat means you hide behind anonymous like a coward and trash people who try to help a others (apparently the bleeding heart only goes so far). So sad, and ironically hypocritical. Why not just say yes What TransAmerica did was wrong?
Transamerica is the worst
Its sad to read about this. I hope anyone who reads this who has a Transamerica policy drops them and goes to a more reputable company.
Insurance Companies
Insurance Companies are the worst. Good luck to his family. Its a shame they'll have to spend money prosecuting a lawsuit to get what they deserve.
FormerlyAnonymous = idiot
FormerlyAnonymous...you are a cold hearted partisan bafoon! No politician--democrat or Republican--acts on things like this until it comes to their attention. Democrat leaders should react the same way upon hearing about what transpired after this tragedy. Give them time. For the good of all people-many having suffered the same problem--I am sure they too will come to the aide of not just the Blakely family, but all who suffer the same plight in attempt to reverse this insureres callous money hungry disregard for what appears to be their committed obligation. Tom Blakely just happened to be a Republican and his allies just happen to know Republicans so that is to whom they turned for help. Again, Democrat political leaders should also pick up on this cause, not just for Tom Blakely’s family, but for the many other who likely suffered the same problem. Their failure to do so, would make them the same partisan bafoon as you! As for your selfish and shortsighted partisan spin on this, Republican Senator O'Toole did say: “And anyone out there with similar circumstances, we’re happy to help them as well.” Emphesis on "we're happy to help them as well." And O’Toole said that he plans to hold hearings on the company’s conduct, since others are likely to have had a similar experience. Democrat legislative leaders should join him! Again, not just for justice for the Blakely's, but all who suffer the same blight. Be like Mr. Democrat and put your partisanship aside. Show some caring for the pain afflicted upon a now struggling family as a result of their traggic loss. Grow up FormerlyAnonymous and start reacting like you profess would be in character with ONLY a Democrat. This is about a human tragedy, not politics! Shame on you!
NewsFlash for ShoreKid
Democrats have been in control of NJ for quirte a while now. It it there fault then that this happened? Don't interject politics into a human tragedy! You too, like, FormerlyAnonymous, are a too partisan idiot!
I do wish the GOP would care
I do wish the GOP would care this much about the plight of the less fortunate before it affects one of their own and I do not believe that it is a partisan shot. If they were this compassionate all the time, people might be willing to support them more often.
Give 'em Hell, Larry!
Break those scumbags in half!
Compassionate Democrats???
Why do some people turn everything into a partisan issue? This one certainly is not. Yet, FormerlyAnonymous and nj_politics_2008 seem to think that only Democrats know how to be compassionate. Not in this state! The sad truth is that most NJ Democrats currently holding office seem to have compassion only for those who serve them or fill their pockets.
"nj_politics_2008 seem to
"nj_politics_2008 seem to think that only Democrats know how to be compassionate" I NEVER said that.
However, modern day republican policies do not represent compassion. It seems that you are no longer a good Republican if you are not bashing immigrants, gays, athiests, welfare recepients, or bilingual advertising everytime you give a speech.
The reason today's GOP is seen as insensitive is because of the polarizing and sometimes outdated policies they represent. The issue before us is an example of the GOP being compassionate. All
I am suggesting is that the GOP realize they are in 2008 and show some more compassion towards underrepresented groups - which they have negelected to do in my lifetime. This does expose the irony in the current situation, in my opinion.
I agree with you
Specifically, it is non-Republicans who are the only compassionate people on Earth. I, like nj politics 2008, have heard every single speech by a good Republican ever made. I can vouch for the fact that those groups listed above are targeted by good Republicans every single time with out deviation. I too see the irony in people (Republican people!) coming together to help their deceased friend's family. Thank you for your time and for allowing me to join the classy ranks of FormerlyAnonymous and nj politics 2008 on a soap box in the wake of a family's personal tragedy.
This seems like a sad case
This seems like a sad case of passing away before the life insurance check was in place. Per the article, the letter stated that "Debbie Blakely received a letter saying that the policy would be valid as soon as they received a “statement of good health” signed by her recently deceased husband." This is not the first time this statement appeared in a life insurance policy. It's simple, the policy was not in place, regardless of the check being mailed. If I apply for a car loan, get approved, but then lose my job, should I still be entitled to the car loan. Obviously not. I trust it is more complicated than that, but who is on the soapbox. This case could have been handled the exact same way with vanity press releases from the GOP. So who is exploting who here and who is using the death of an apparant good guy to further whose ambition. I don't care what party it is. I do not like when Dems or Republicans try to use the power of the government to influence private businesses when if they feel they have recourse, they can go to court without the fanfare.
This is a very sad case
I'm happy Ms. Blakely has friends in high places. That way if they change their ruling it'll pave the way for "regular folk" too, who go through the same bureaucratic nonsense with insurance companies but have no high powered friends. I hope she wins!!
Question for nj_politics_2008
Are not the unborn aborted less fortunate than the children of Republican Congressman Chris Smith? Is Democrat Joe Doria uncaring because he holds the same view on this as Chris Smith? Republican Governor Tom Kean actively promoted the election of African Americans and other minorities. Did he ignore the underrepresented? Is Republican Presidential candidate John McCain not showing some compassion for the plight of the less fortunate when he joins with Senator Kennedy in sponsoring the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act, S. 1033? Was Senator Hillary Clinton being compassionate when she liked her staying in the race to Bob Kennedy's assasination?
Don't lump everyone into the same mold simply because of their political affiliation, especially over a tragedy like this!
Blakely's Mistake
As tragic as it is for the surviving Blakely family Transamerica did no wrong. All insurance companies require an updated statement of health before they issue a policy. The company required medical exam was conducted weeks ago. The insureds health may have changed since the exam and before the policy was issued. If their health has changed they need to charged the correct premium for the risk the company is undertaking.
Imagine if you could by auto insurance based on your driving record three months before you received those three speeding tickets and DUI. Auto insurance companies would not be around long.
The Blakely's mistake was two-fold. One, always prepay life insurance with the application. Had they done so the claim would be paid. Two, work with a reputable life agent who would have told them this fact and helped them with those delivery requirements. Had they sent the statement of health along with the check the policy would have been inforce and the claim paid.
The reason today's GOP
The reason today's GOP is seen as insensitive is because of the polarizing and sometimes outdated policies they represent. The issue before us is an example of the GOP being compassionate.
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