Joyce Walker et al v. LIfe Insurance Company of the Southwest, No. 2:2010cv09198 - Document 1112 (C.D. Cal. 2021)
Court Description: FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE by Judge James V. Selna. IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that: 1. This Judgment and Order of Dismissal with Prejudice ("Judgment") incorporates herein the Stipulation, incl uding the exhibits thereto. Unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms used herein shall have the same meanings as set forth in the Stipulation. 12. The Court hereby approves an Incentive Award to the Lead Plaintiffs in the aggrega te amount of $100,000. Lead Counsel may allocate the Incentive Award amongst Lead Plaintiffs as they choose, with no involvement by or recourse to LICS. 21. Judgment shall be, and hereby is, entered dismissing the Action with prejudice and on the merits. [SEE JUDGMENT FOR FURTHER DETAILS.] (MD JS-6, Case Terminated). (es)
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Joyce Walker et al v. LIfe Insurance Company of the Southwest 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Doc. 1112 Veronica Nauts (SBN 300558) KASOWITZ BENSON TORRES LLP 101 California Street, Suite 3000 San Francisco, California 94111 Tel: (415) 421-6140 Fax: (415) 398-5030 JS-6 Daniel A. Saunders (SBN 161051) KASOWITZ BENSON TORRES LLP 2029 Century Park East, Suite 2000N Los Angeles, California 90067 Tel: (424) 288-7900 Fax: (424) 288-7901 Attorneys for Plaintiffs, JOYCE WALKER, KIM BRUCE HOWLETT, MURIEL SPOONER, TALINE BEDELIAN, and OSCAR GUEVARA, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated 14 15 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA, SOUTHERN DIVISION 16 17 18 19 JOYCE WALKER, KIM BRUCE HOWLETT, MURIEL SPOONER, TALINE BEDELIAN, and OSCAR GUEVARA, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, 20 21 22 23 24 CLASS ACTION Case No.: CV 10-9198-JVS-JDE FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE vs. LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE SOUTHWEST, a Texas corporation, and DOES 1-50 Defendant. 25 26 27 28 [PROPOSED] FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE, 10-09198-JVS-JDE Dockets.Justia.com 1 This matter came before the Court for a hearing pursuant to the Order Regarding 2 Motion for Preliminary Approval of Class Settlement, dated February 22, 2021, that 3 granted preliminary approval of the proposed Settlement (ECF No. 1099) (the 4 “Preliminary Approval Order”), on the motion of Lead Plaintiffs for final approval of 5 the Settlement of this Action as set forth in the Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement 6 dated as of February 5, 2021, including all exhibits thereto (ECF No. 1095-1) (the 7 “Stipulation”). Due and adequate notice having been given to Class Members as 8 required in the Court’s Preliminary Approval Order, and the Court having considered 9 all papers filed and proceedings held herein and otherwise being fully informed, and 10 good cause appearing therefore, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND 11 DECREED that: 12 1. This Judgment and Order of Dismissal with Prejudice (“Judgment”) 13 incorporates herein the Stipulation, including the exhibits thereto. Unless otherwise 14 defined herein, all capitalized terms used herein shall have the same meanings as set 15 forth in the Stipulation. 16 2. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of the Action, and the 17 Settling Parties to the Stipulation have consented to the jurisdiction of the Court for 18 purposes of implementing and enforcing the Settlement embodied in the Stipulation. 19 3. The record shows that notice of the Settlement has been given to all Class 20 Members in the manner approved by the Court in the Preliminary Approval Order. The 21 Court finds that such notice: (a) constitutes reasonable and the best notice practicable 22 under the circumstances; (b) constitutes notice that was reasonably calculated, under the 23 circumstances, to apprise all Class Members who could reasonably be identified of (i) 24 the pendency of the Action, (ii) the terms of the Settlement, (iii) Class Members’ right 25 to be excluded from the Class, (iv) Class Members’ right to object to and to appear at 26 the Settlement Hearing, and (v) the binding effect of the proceedings, rulings, orders, 27 28 -1[PROPOSED] FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE, 10-09198-JVS-JDE 1 and judgments in this Action, whether favorable or unfavorable, on all Persons who are 2 not excluded from the Class; and (c) constitutes due, adequate, and sufficient notice to 3 all Persons or entities entitled to receive notice in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil 4 Procedure 23; the United States Constitution; the Rules of the Court; the Class Action 5 Fairness Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1715; and any other applicable law. 6 4. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23, this Court finds that the 7 terms and provisions of the Settlement set forth in the Stipulation are, in all respects, 8 fair, just, reasonable, and adequate, and in the best interests of the Class. This Court 9 further finds that the Settlement set forth in the Stipulation is the result of arm’s-length 10 negotiations between experienced counsel representing the interests of Lead Plaintiffs, 11 Class Members, and Life Insurance Company of the Southwest (“LICS”). The Court 12 has considered any submitted objections to the Settlement and hereby overrules them. 13 Accordingly, the Court hereby fully and finally approves the Settlement set forth in the 14 Stipulation, and the Settling Parties are hereby directed to implement and consummate 15 the Settlement according to the terms and provisions of the Stipulation. 16 5. Except as to any individual claim of those Persons identified in Exhibit 1 17 attached hereto, if any, who have validly and timely requested exclusion from the Class, 18 the Action, and all claims contained therein, as well as all of the Released Claims 19 (including Unknown Claims), are dismissed on the merits and with prejudice. It is 20 hereby determined that all Class Members who did not timely and properly elect to 21 exclude themselves from the Class by a written Request for Exclusion delivered on or 22 before the date set forth in the Preliminary Approval Order and the Notice are bound by 23 this Judgment. 24 6. All Persons whose names appear on Exhibit 1 hereto are hereby excluded 25 from the Class, are not bound by this Judgment, and may not make any claim with 26 respect to or receive any benefit from the Settlement. Such excluded Persons may not 27 28 -2[PROPOSED] FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE, 10-09198-JVS-JDE 1 pursue any Released Claims on behalf of those Persons who are bound by this 2 Judgment. 3 7. The Settling Parties expect the Settlement Fund to be fully consumed, but 4 if that does not happen, no portion of the Settlement Fund will revert to LICS. If any 5 amounts remain in the Settlement Fund (after the payment of all Administrative Costs, 6 Taxes, Surrender Charge Credits, and Cash Relief) and Lead Counsel determines that it 7 is not economically reasonable to distribute further proceeds, the amount remaining in 8 the Settlement Fund shall be donated to a charity selected by Lead Counsel and 9 unaffiliated with any Party or their counsel. 10 8. Upon the Effective Date, the Releasing Parties, on behalf of themselves, 11 their successors and assigns, and any other Person claiming (now or in the future) 12 through or on behalf of them (regardless of whether any such Releasing Party ever 13 seeks or obtains by any means, including without limitation by submitting a Proof of 14 Claim, any Term Insurance Relief, or any disbursement from the Settlement Fund), 15 shall be deemed to have, and by operation of the Judgment shall have, fully, finally, and 16 forever released, relinquished, and discharged all Released Claims (including Unknown 17 Claims) against the Released Parties and shall have covenanted not to sue the Released 18 Parties with respect to all such Released Claims (including Unknown Claims), and shall 19 be permanently barred and enjoined from asserting, commencing, prosecuting, 20 instituting, assisting, instigating, or in any way participating in the commencement or 21 prosecution of any action or other proceeding, in any forum, asserting any Released 22 Claim, in any capacity, against any of the Released Parties. Nothing contained herein 23 shall, however, release or bar the Releasing Parties from bringing any action or claim to 24 enforce the terms of this Stipulation or the Judgment. The Settling Parties 25 acknowledge, and the Class Members shall be deemed by operation of this Judgment to 26 acknowledge, that the waiver of Unknown Claims, and of the provisions, rights, and 27 28 -3[PROPOSED] FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE, 10-09198-JVS-JDE 1 benefits of any law of any state or territory of the United States or any other 2 jurisdiction, or principle of common law that is, or is similar, comparable, or equivalent 3 to California Civil Code Section 1542 was bargained for and is a key element of the 4 Settlement of which the release in this paragraph is a part. 5 9. The Stipulation (including any exhibits attached thereto), the fact and 6 terms of the Settlement, and any communications relating thereto, shall not be deemed a 7 presumption, inference, concession, or admission by any Settling Party or their counsel, 8 any Class Member, or any of the Released Parties of any fault, liability, injury or 9 damages, or wrongdoing whatsoever, as to any facts or claims alleged or that have been 10 or could have been asserted in the Action, or in any other actions or proceedings, or as 11 to the validity or merit of any of the claims or defenses alleged or that have been or 12 could have been asserted in any such action or proceeding, and shall not be interpreted, 13 construed, deemed, invoked, offered, or received into evidence or otherwise used in any 14 action or proceeding of any nature, whether civil, criminal, or administrative, for any 15 purpose whatsoever, provided, however, that the Stipulation and/or the Judgment may 16 be introduced in any proceeding to enforce the terms of the Settlement or Final 17 Judgment, or as otherwise required by law. 18 10. The Released Parties may file the Stipulation and/or the Judgment in any 19 action that may be brought against them in order to support a defense or counterclaim 20 based on principles of res judicata, collateral estoppel, full faith and credit, release, 21 good faith settlement, judgment bar, or reduction or any other theory of claim 22 preclusion or issue preclusion or similar defense or counterclaim. The Settling Parties 23 may file the Stipulation and/or this Judgment in any proceeding that may be necessary 24 to consummate or enforce the Stipulation, the Settlement, or this Judgment. 25 11. The Settling Parties are to bear their own costs, except as otherwise 26 provided in the Stipulation and in this Judgment. The Court hereby approves the Fee 27 28 -4[PROPOSED] FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE, 10-09198-JVS-JDE 1 and Cost Reimbursement to Lead Counsel provided in the Stipulation. If the Fee and 2 Cost Reimbursement award is reduced or reversed following payment by LICS, Lead 3 Counsel shall refund it to LICS within thirty (30) calendar days following a Court order 4 providing for such reduction or reversal. 5 12. The Court hereby approves an Incentive Award to the Lead Plaintiffs in the 6 aggregate amount of $100,000. Lead Counsel may allocate the Incentive Award 7 amongst Lead Plaintiffs as they choose, with no involvement by or recourse to LICS. If 8 the Incentive Award is reduced or reversed following payment by LICS, Lead Plaintiffs 9 shall refund it to LICS within ten (10) calendar days following a Court order providing 10 for such reduction or reversal. Lead Plaintiffs shall be joint and severally liable for 11 such repayment, unless they have previously disclosed to LICS how the amount has 12 been allocated, in which case each Lead Plaintiff shall be liable for the amount 13 received. 14 13. Neither the portion of this Judgment regarding the Fee and Cost 15 Reimbursement, including any modification or change in the award of attorneys’ fees 16 and expenses that may hereafter be approved, nor Incentive Award shall in any way 17 disturb, affect, or delay the entry of this Judgment or the releases provided hereunder 18 and shall be considered separate from this Judgment. 19 14. Without affecting the finality of this Judgment, the Court retains 20 continuing and exclusive jurisdiction over all matters relating to administration, 21 consummation, enforcement, and interpretation of the Stipulation, the Settlement, and 22 of this Judgment, to protect and effectuate this Judgment, including any proceedings to 23 enjoin the Releasing Parties from instituting, commencing, or prosecuting the Released 24 Claims against the Released Parties, and for any other necessary purpose. Lead 25 Plaintiffs, LICS, and each Class Member are hereby deemed to have irrevocably 26 submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of this Court, for the purpose of any suit, action, 27 28 -5[PROPOSED] FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE, 10-09198-JVS-JDE 1 proceeding, or dispute arising out of or relating to the Settlement or the Stipulation, 2 including the exhibits thereto, and only for such purposes. Without limiting the 3 generality of the foregoing, and without affecting the finality of this Judgment, the 4 Court retains exclusive jurisdiction over any such suit, action, or proceeding. 5 15. The Escrow Agent appointed by Lead Counsel shall maintain the 6 Settlement Fund in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Stipulation. The 7 Released Defendant Parties and Defense Counsel shall have no liability, obligation, or 8 responsibility whatsoever for the administration of the Settlement or disbursement of 9 the Settlement Fund. Lead Counsel, Lead Plaintiffs, the Escrow Agent, and the Claims 10 Administrator shall have no liability to any Class Member with respect to any aspect of 11 the administration of the Settlement Fund, including, but not limited to, the processing 12 of Proof of Claim Forms and the distribution of the Settlement Fund to Class Members. 13 16. No Class Member shall have any claim against LICS, Defense Counsel, or 14 any of the Released Parties with respect to: (a) any act, omission or determination of 15 Lead Counsel, the Claims Administrator, or any of their respective designees or agents, 16 in connection with the administration of the Settlement or otherwise; (b) the 17 management or distribution of the Settlement Fund and/or the Net Settlement Fund; (c) 18 the determination, administration, calculation or payment of claims asserted against the 19 Settlement Fund and/or the Net Settlement Fund; (d) the administration of the Escrow 20 Account; (e) any application for, or award of, Fee and Cost Reimbursement to Lead 21 Counsel, or the allocation or distribution thereof as between them; (f) any application 22 for, or award of, an Incentive Award to Lead Plaintiffs, or the allocation or distribution 23 thereof as between them; (g) any losses suffered by, or fluctuations in the value of, the 24 Settlement Fund and/or the Net Settlement Fund; or (h) the payment or withholding of 25 any Administrative Costs and Taxes incurred in connection with the taxation of the 26 Settlement Fund and/or the Net Settlement Fund or the filing of any tax returns. 27 28 -6[PROPOSED] FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE, 10-09198-JVS-JDE 1 17. The Court finds that during the course of the Action, the Settling Parties 2 and their respective counsel at all times complied with the requirements of Rule 11 of 3 the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and particularly with Rule 11(b) of the Federal 4 Rules of Civil Procedure. 5 18. Nothing in this Judgment constitutes or reflects a waiver, release or 6 discharge of any rights or claims of LICS against its insurers, or its insurers’ 7 subsidiaries, predecessors, successors, assigns, affiliates, or representatives. 8 19. In the event that the Settlement is not consummated or fails to become 9 Final in accordance with the terms of the Stipulation, this Judgment shall be vacated, 10 and all orders entered and releases delivered in connection with the Stipulation and this 11 Judgment shall be null and void, except as otherwise provided for in the Stipulation, 12 and the Settling Parties shall be returned to their respective positions immediately prior 13 to the execution of the Stipulation. 14 20. Without further order of the Court, the Settling Parties may unanimously 15 agree to reasonable extensions of time or other reasonable amendments, modifications, 16 and expansions of the Stipulation necessary to carry out any of the provisions of the 17 Stipulation, provided that such amendments, modifications, and expansions of the 18 Stipulation are not materially inconsistent with this Judgment and do not materially 19 limit the rights of Class Members or the Released Parties under the Stipulation. 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 -7[PROPOSED] FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE, 10-09198-JVS-JDE 1 2 21. Judgment shall be, and hereby is, entered dismissing the Action with 3 prejudice and on the merits. There is no just reason for delay in the entry of Judgment 4 and immediate entry by the Clerk of the Court is expressly directed pursuant to Rule 5 54(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 6 7 IT IS SO ORDERED 8 9 Dated: June 08, 2021 __________________________ 10 HON. JAMES V. SELNA 11 United States District Judge 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 -8[PROPOSED] FINAL JUDGMENT AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL WITH PREJUDICE, 10-09198-JVS-JDE
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