Dear Claudienne,

I reside in the United States. My son, who worked at the Total gas station in Ocho Rios, was shot at his workplace on Sunday, January 22, 2017.

He was rushed to the St Ann’s Bay hospital from where he was airlifted to the University Hospital in Kingston. He was later taken to the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) where he died on Tuesday January 24 .

An autopsy was done on my son’s body on March 2, 2017, after which I submitted the autopsy report and other documents to CUNA Mutual. I had hoped to get money from the insurance policy to pay the funeral expenses.

However, the agent told me that because CUNA had received the police report late I would have to find money for the funeral expenses from another source.

My son was buried on March 12, 2017.

When I phoned the CUNA agent on March 15, 2017, I was told that the police were investigating the circumstances under which my son was shot. I was told that there would be no payout on the policy until the police investigation was completed.

The lawyer whom I engaged to act on my behalf informed me that there was talk that my son’s death was the result of his involvement in criminal activities. However, when I checked with the policeman who was doing the investigations, he told me that he was awaiting the ruling of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

All my attempts to find out from CUNA if and when I will get the payout have been unsuccessful.

I would appreciate your help in getting a resolution to this matter.

CW

Dear CW,

When Tell Claudienne contacted CUNA Mutual, the spokesperson told us that they had not denied your claim on the policy. CUNA told us that when they asked the St Ann police for a report on how your son was killed, they were told that the investigation into the circumstances of his death had not been completed. The police had told them that the DPP had been asked to make a ruling on your son’s death.

CUNA said that under the terms of the policy you bought, you would not be paid if the deceased died while taking part in criminal activity. They said that payments to you would be on hold until the police confirmed that criminal activity had not caused your son’s death.

After Tell Claudienne learnt that the police in St Ann had received the DPP’s ruling on your son’s death, we spoke to the Superintendent who heads the St Ann Divisional Headquarters of the Jamaica Constabulary. He confirmed that the police had received the DPP’s ruling, and advised that CUNA would have to send a written request to the police in order to obtain a copy of the report. He added that the request should be accompanied by a receipt from the tax office showing that the fee for the police report had been paid.

Tell Claudienne contacted CUNA and advised them of the conditions stipulated by the police. CUNA subsequently informed us that they had prepared a letter to send to the St Ann police requesting a copy of the DPP’s ruling, and that they were waiting for you to send them the receipt from the tax office proving that the fee for the report had been paid.

On Tuesday December 5, CUNA informed us that they had received the receipt and would be immediately asking the St Ann police to send them the DPP’s report.

Please inform us of the decision taken by CUNA concerning payment to you after they receive the DPP’s report.

All the best.

Have a problem with a store, utility or company? Telephone 936-9436 or

write to: Tell Claudienne c/o Sunday Finance, Jamaica Observer, 40-42

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