State Farm Life Insurance Company v. Ablaza

Filing 65

AMENDED JUDGMENT (approving 64 ). Signed by Judge Beth Labson Freeman on 3/27/2024. (blflc1, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 3/27/2024)

1
2
3
4
5

John E. Walker, SBN: 166270
E-Mail: [e-mail]
SACRO & WALKER LLP
700 North Brand Boulevard, Suite 610
Glendale, California 91203
Tel.: [phone]; Fax: [phone]
Attorneys for Plaintiff STATE FARM LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

6
7

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

8

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19

STATE FARM LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY, an Illinois corporation,

) Case No. 5:20-cv-06519-BLF
)
) [PROPOSED] AMENDED
Plaintiff,
) JUDGMENT
)
vs.
)
)
MICHAEL R. ABLAZA, an individual;)
and JAIME GARCES, the
)
Administrator of the Estate of Maribeth )
Garces Ablaza,
)
)
Defendants.
)
)
)

20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
1

[PROPOSED] AMENDED JUDGMENT
Case No. 5:20-cv-06519-BLF

1

Plaintiff State Farm Life Insurance Company (“State Farm”) and defendant

2

Jaime Garces, Administrator of the Estate of Maribeth Garces Ablaza, through their

3

counsel, have stipulated to entry of an amended judgment to clarify that interest

4

accrued on the funds interpleaded by State Farm is payable to Jaime Garces as

5

Administrator of the Estate of Maribeth Garces Ablaza.

6

stipulation of the parties and good cause appearing therefore, IT IS HEREBY

7

ORDERED AND ADJUDGED as follows:

8

A.

Having reviewed the

On March 7, 2023, Judgment was entered against defendant Michael

9

Ablaza in this action following a felony conviction against him for causing the death

10

of Maribeth Garces Ablaza (the “Insured”). The conviction disqualified Michael

11

Ablaza from entitlement to any of the insurance proceeds at issue in this interpleader

12

matter.

13

B.

The life insurance proceeds State Farm deposited into the Court registry

14

shall be distributed forthwith by the Clerk as follows: (1) $12,000.00 shall be paid

15

to State Farm Life Insurance Company as partial reimbursement for its reasonable

16

attorney’s fees and costs incurred in bringing this interpleader action; and (2) the

17

remaining balance on deposit with the Court (after deducing the $12,000.00 payment

18

to State Farm), including all interest accrued on the interpleaded funds, shall be paid

19

to Jaime Garces, Administrator of the Estate of Maribeth Garces Ablaza.

20

C.

Defendants Michael R. Ablaza and Jaime Garces, the Administrator of

21

the Estate of Maribeth Garces Ablaza are enjoined by the Court from instituting or

22

prosecuting any proceeding, including without limitation in any State or United States

23

district court, with respect to State Farm policy number LF-3554-3706 (the “Policy”)

24

insuring the life of Maribeth Garces Ablaza or the life insurance proceeds deposited

25

with the Court in this action.

26

D.

State Farm is discharged from any further liability relating to the Policy

27

or payment of the death benefit attributable to the Policy, including interest due

28

thereon or otherwise. All claims that could have been raised against State Farm
2

[PROPOSED] AMENDED JUDGMENT
Case No. 5:20-cv-06519-BLF

1

relating to the Policy, payment of the Policy death benefit, interest on the Policy death

2

benefit or otherwise in connection with the Policy, including without limitation any

3

unknown or unsuspected claims, are hereby dismissed with prejudice.

4
5
6

E.

Except as provided in this Judgment, the parties are to bear their own

attorney’s fees and costs.
F.

This is a final judgment in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(b), there

7

being no just reason for delay.

8

March 27
Dated: _______________,
2024

9
10
11

____________________________
Hon. Beth Labson Freeman
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
3

[PROPOSED] AMENDED JUDGMENT
Case No. 5:20-cv-06519-BLF