UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):
March 13, 1996 (February 21, 1996)
TORCHMARK CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-8052 63-0780404
(State or other (Commission (IRS employer
jurisdiction of file number) identification no.)
incorporation or
organization)
2001 Third Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama 35233
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(205) 325-4200
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On February 21, 1996, purported class action litigation was
filed in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, Alabama against
Liberty National Life Insurance Company ("Liberty"), a Torchmark
Corporation subsidiary by three husband-wife couple policyholders
of Liberty (Lawson v. Liberty National Life Insurance Company,
Civil Action No.: CV 96-01119). The lawsuit, which was served on
Liberty on March 12, 1996, alleges that in the early 1980's and
1990's Liberty induced persons to exchange Liberty life insurance
policies for new coverages where either the cash value of the
existing policy was depleted or the benefits were reduced.
Unspecified compensatory and punitive damages as well as equitable
relief are sought. Liberty expects that this litigation will be
aggressively pursued by plaintiff's counsel. Liberty intends to
vigorously defend this action and to vigorously oppose any
classification treatment.
Item 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(a) Financial statements of businesses acquired.
Not applicable
(b) Pro forma financial information.
Not applicable
(c) Exhibits
(99) Press Release dated March 13, 1996<PAGE>
<PAGE>
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
TORCHMARK CORPORATION
Date: March 13, 1996 By: /s/ William C. Barclift
Name: William C. Barclift
Title: Vice President & General
Counsel
M. Lee Bartlett FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(205) 325-4204
PURPORTED CLASS ACTION FILED AGAINST TORCHMARK SUBSIDIARY
Birmingham, Alabama, March 13, 1996. . . .Liberty National
Life Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Torchmark Corporation (NYSE
Symbol: TMK), announced that it had been served with a purported
class action lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County,
Alabama (Lawson v. Liberty National Life Insurance Company), which
alleges that in the 1980's and early 1990's the Company had induced
persons to exchange existing Liberty National life insurance
policies for new coverages whereby either the cash value of the
existing policy was depleted or the benefits were reduced. Liberty
National anticipates this lawsuit will be aggressively pursued by
plaintiffs' counsel. The Company plans to vigorously defend this
action and to vigorously oppose any class action treatment.
