ReliaStar insurance company is refusing to pay out $10 million in benefits to Heath Ledger’s daughter. The insurance company is claiming that the actor may have committed suicide. ReliaStar is being sued by Ledger’s estate in Los Angeles.

The 28-year-old Australian star of “Dark Knight” was found dead in his New York condo in January. Officials ruled it was an accidental death from an overdose of painkillers but lawyers for the ReliaStar insurance company, where Ledger took out a life insurance policy in 2007, claim his death was suspicious and possibly a suicide which would nullify the policy.

Ledger’s has a daughter, Matilda, with actress Michelle Williams. Matilda, 3, was named as the beneficiary in the policy. “ReliaStar wants to investigate the possibility of suicide, and we think that is inappropriate because the coroner’s report and all the official reports say it was accidental,” said William Shernoff, a lawyer who filed the suit on behalf of Ledger’s daughter. “It is distressing for everybody. The insurance company wants to spend months, if not years, investigating this so they can hold on to their money,” Shernoff said.

ReliaStar was not immediately available for comment. According to the insurance policy, ReliaStar is entitled to an investigation because Ledger’s death was within 2 years purchasing the policy.

The New York residence where late Hollywood actor HEATH LEDGER was found dead
has been put back on the market for rent. Ledger was found in the downtown Manhattan
apartment in January (08), after an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.

 The SoHo loft flat has been listed for $26,000 (£14,054) a month - $4,000
(£2,162) more than the actor paid before his tragic death. Ledger moved into the
loft last September (07) after finishing work on his role as The Joker in his last
completed film, Batman sequel The Dark Knight.

 According to the New York Post, the apartment was quietly being shopped
around in February (08). A New York real-estate broker told the newspaper at
the time: "You don't wait around in a hot rental market like this. As ghoulish
as it sounds, people will rent that place in a heartbeat."

The apartment includes three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, an office,
laundry room, gourmet kitchen, sprawling balcony and wood-burning fireplace.

 The apartment's agent at New York's Corcoran Group did not return calls on
the listing. As WENN went to press, the building's owner, Donald Burns, could not be
reached.

Source: WENN