Jackson National Life Refusal to pay Annuity Claim to Primary Beneficiary Lansing Michigan

Jackson has failed to pay death benefits on an annuity. I am the 100% primary beneficiary of this annuity. Jackson revoked me and said they would not pay without an AL Court Order which was difficult as I live in NC. Policy owner lived in AL. I hire an attorney in AL at 20% if we settle our of Court. The attorney provides them the law and Jackson files Interpleader in NC. I now know they did this as they can get a $6000 fee in NC whereas in AL they couldn't but my attorney thought it was for my convenience. So I had to get an attorney in NC. This has been dragging on for 6 months and now my attorney says she'll lower her fee from 33 1/3% to 33% if we offer Jackson $1000 which would be a good deal as it's customary for Jackson to receive $6000 in attorney fees.

Retainer Agreement states I am only responsible for 20% attorney fees if settled before trial. I haven't signed anything with Jackson. There is no trial here. What attorney lowers their fee so that an Insurance Company can collect fees because they refused to pay a claim? This is going from bad to worse. I can't for the life of me, pay attorney fees to Jackson for a death benefit that should have been paid 6 months ago. And now I can't trust my attorney who has given me two options to pay Jackson's fees or she warns this could go on indefinitely. I'm filing report on her next if this doesn't resolve. I believe Jackson should pay my attorney fees as they instigated this whole thing. A strong attorney would have filed action against them long ago.