Judge Rules Against the Killer and the Insurer

Under Virginia's "slayer statute," murderers are prevented from profiting from victims' deaths. But Boston Mutual argued that because Ludwig was convicted of a lesser crime than murder, he wasn't barred under the law.

"We looked at the law," said Peter Jason, Boston Mutual's attorney. "And we concluded that under the Virginia slayer statute, Mr. Ludwig was not precluded. That is really why we took the position we did."

In some states, voluntary manslaughter is covered by slayer statutes. One of those states is Pennsylvania. In his opinion, Cacheris ruled that because Karen Ludwig obtained her insurance through her Pennsylvania-based employer, the law in that state applies and not Virginia law, making Snider eligible for the money.

But Cacheris also wrote that the result would have been the same under Virginia law, something that many lawyers said was not clear before the ruling. Jason said the insurance company thinks that Cacheris has interpreted the law too broadly and might appeal.

Another reason Boston Mutual backed Ludwig was financial, Jason said. Karen Ludwig's insurance policy included an accidental death benefit of an another $100,000, which would kick in if the court determined that she died through no fault of her own.

If the court found that Karen Ludwig somehow brought on her own death -- for example, by aiming a gun at her husband -- then the company probably would not have to pay the accidental death benefit, Jason said. But because the court favored Snider over John Ludwig, the company probably will owe $200,000, including the accidental death benefit, he said. The court has yet to decide on that issue.

"Boston Mutual has an interest in whether Mr. Ludwig or Ms. Snider is entitled to the proceeds because it likely will affect the determination of whether the accidental death benefit is payable," Jason said.

Snider has been battling Ludwig in civil suits since his conviction, pressing her claim to be her mother's heir. So far, all she has received through the suits is a few thousand dollars from the sale of the couple's home and her mother's Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

Despite mounting legal bills, she said, she plans to continue this case and a wrongful death lawsuit she has filed against Ludwig.

"I feel like I should keep fighting," Snider said. "It's something my mom can't do for herself, so I want to do it for her."