THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA v. HOWARD et al

Filing 64

ORDER to Disburse Funds. Ordered by US DISTRICT JUDGE W LOUIS SANDS on 11/19/2021. (sbd)

Case 7:20-cv-00198-WLS Document 63-1 Filed 11/18/21 Page 1 of 2

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
VALDOSTA DIVISION

THE PRUDENTIAL INS. CO.
No: 7:20-CV-198 (WLS)

v.
VICKIE V. HOWARD, et al.,
Defendant

ORDER

On October 6, 2020, Prudential Insurance Company of America filed the Intcrpleader action
in the captioned case. (Doc. 1). Prndential had no means other than the Interpleader action of
protecting itself against multiple conflicting or potentially conflicting claims and/ or possible
multiple litigation on the part of the defendants as to the Death Benefit. At all relevant times,
the Insured, Matthew Howard, Sr. was covered under the Prndential Group Policy in the
amount of $60,000.00
On November 17, 2020 Prudential Insurance Company of America deposited funds
equal to the total sum of the Death Benefit into the Registry of the Comt pursuant to this
Court's October 19, 2020 order. (Doc. 13.) The exact amount deposited by Prudential Insurance
Company of America was $60,259.84, the death benefit plus accrued interest. (Receipt Number
42491).
A jury trial was held in this case on November 9-10, 2021. The jury returned a verdict in
favor of Monica Howard, Felisa Sumlin and Matthew Howard Jr. During the trial, Monica Howard,

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Case 7:20-cv-00198-WLS Document 63-1 Filed 11/18/21 Page 2 of 2

Felisa Sumlin and Matthew Howard Jr. were represented by their attorney of record, Rick D. Collum
of The Collum Law Finn.
The jury found upon the preponderance of the evidence that the Beneficiary Designation
Change Form received by Prudential Insurance on March 25, 1994 was the will of Matthew Howard,
Sr. and therefore the March 25, 1994 note dividing Matthew Howard Sr.'s Veterans Group Life
Insurance benefit in equal shares between Felisa Sumlin and Matthew Howard Jr. was Matthew
Howard Sr.' s will at the time of his death on April 13, 2020.
Thus, the Clerk of Court is hereby ORDERED to issue a check in the amount of $60,259.84,
the funds deposited into the Registry of the Court, made payable to Felisa Sumlin, Matthew Howard,
Jr., and The Collum Law Firm Trust Account. Said Check shall be mailed to Monica Howard, Felisa
Sumlin and Matthew Howard Jr. 's attorney of record for distribution of funds.
SO ORDERED, this ( '1/4Jay of November, 2021.

10/<~

w. LOUIS SANDS,SR.JUDE

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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