Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-01871/USCOURTS-caed-2_14-cv-01871-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 791
Nature of Suit: Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
Cause of Action: 28:1132 E.R.I.S.A.

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

20196876v1

STIPULATION AND ORDER RE FUNDS AND DISCHARGE

SEDGWICK LLP

MARK J. HANCOCK SBN 160662

mark.hancock@sedgwicklaw.com

REBECCA A. HULL SBN 99802

rebecca.hull@sedgwicklaw.com

ERIN A. CORNELL SBN 227135

erin.cornell@sedgwicklaw.com

333 Bush Street, 30th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94104-2834

Telephone: 415.781.7900

Facsimile: 415.781.2635

Attorneys for Plaintiff

METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE 

COMPANY

WILLIAM L. DUNBAR SBN 68849

dunbar@surewest.net

Attorney at Law

3430 American River Drive, Suite 100

Sacramento, CA 95864

Telephone: 916.485.4300

Facsimile: 916.484.7197

Attorney for Defendant

EDNA G. LOPEZ

THE LAW OFFICE OF FRANK J. CRUM

A Professional Corporation

FRANK J. CRUM SBN 155125

frank@fjclegal.com

P.O. Box 2390

Woodland, CA 95776-2390

Telephone: 530.668.1515

Facsimile: 530.668.1651

Attorneys for Defendants

MICHAEL LITHGOW, JENISE K. LITHGOW, 

and SCHELENE LITHGOW 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE 

COMPANY,

Plaintiff,

v.

MICHAEL LITHGOW, JENISE K. 

LITHGOW, SCHELENE M. LITHGOW, and 

EDNA LOPEZ,

Defendants.

Case No. 2:14-cv-01871 MCE-AC

STIPULATION AND ORDER REGARDING 

DEPOSIT OF FUNDS WITH COURT, 

DISCHARGE OF STAKEHOLDER AND 

DISMISSAL OF ACTION WITH 

PREJUDICE

Case 2:14-cv-01871-MCE-AC Document 20 Filed 07/09/15 Page 1 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

20196876v1 2

STIPULATION AND ORDER RE FUNDS AND DISCHARGE

Plaintiff Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”), defendant Michael Lithgow 

(“Michael”), defendant Jenise K. Lithgow (“Jenise”), defendant Schelene M. Lithgow 

(“Schelene”),1 and defendant Edna Lopez (“Edna”) hereby jointly submit the following Stipulation 

and [Proposed] Order for MetLife’s deposit of funds with the Court into an interest-bearing 

account, pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 67, and for the discharge of Metropolitan Life 

Insurance Company (“MetLife”), Pacific Gas and Electric Company Employee Welfare Plan 503

(“the Plan”), and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (“PG&E”):

WHEREAS, MetLife issued a group life insurance policy to Pacific Gas and Electric 

Company (“PG&E”) to fund life and accidental death and dismemberment benefits under the 

Pacific Gas and Electric Company Employee Welfare Plan 503 (“the Plan”). The Plan is an 

employee welfare benefit plan regulated by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 

1974, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 1001, et seq., and is sponsored by PG&E. 

WHEREAS, Scot Lithgow (“the Decedent”) was a participant in the Plan. At the time of 

his death, the Decedent was enrolled under the Plan for Basic Life insurance coverage in the 

amount of TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($10,000.00) and for Optional Life insurance coverage 

in the amount of TWO HUNDRED THIRTY SIX THOUSAND ($236,000.00) for a total of TWO 

HUNDRED FORTY SIX THOUSAND ($246,000.00) (the “Plan Benefits”). The Plan Benefits 

became payable upon the Decedent’s death.

WHEREAS, the Decedent died on August 23, 2013. 

WHEREAS, the Lithgow Defendants, on the one hand, and Edna, on the other hand, have 

competing claims for the Plan Benefits. 

WHEREAS, MetLife is unable to determine the validity of the conflicting claims of the 

Lithgow Defendants and Edna, and therefore has not paid the Plan Benefits to either the Lithgow 

Defendants or to Edna.

WHEREAS, MetLife has no interest in the Plan Benefits.

 1 Michael, Jenise and Schelene are collectively referred to herein as “the Lithgow 

Defendants”.

Case 2:14-cv-01871-MCE-AC Document 20 Filed 07/09/15 Page 2 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

20196876v1 3

STIPULATION AND ORDER RE FUNDS AND DISCHARGE

NOW, THEREFORE, MetLife, the Lithgow Defendants and Edna, through their respective 

counsel of record herein, hereby stipulate and respectfully request that the Court order that MetLife 

may deposit the Plan Benefits with the Court to await distribution as the Court may order.

It is additionally stipulated that, once the Plan Benefits have been deposited, MetLife shall 

be discharged from this action and dismissed with prejudice, with each party bearing their own 

attorneys’ fees and costs with respect to MetLife’s participation in the Action.

It is further stipulated that, once the Plan Benefits have been deposited, the Lithgow 

Defendants and Edna shall be restrained and enjoined from instituting or prosecuting, directly or 

indirectly, any claim or action of any type or kind in any state or federal court against MetLife, the 

Plan and/or PG&E, arising from or in any manner connected with the Plan Benefits and/or their 

respective claims for payment of some or all of such Plan Benefits. 

IT IS SO STIPULATED, AGREED AND RESPECTFULLY REQUESTED:

DATED: July 7, 2015 SEDGWICK LLP

By: /s/ Erin A. Cornell

Mark J. Hancock

Erin A. Cornell

Attorneys for Plaintiff

METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

DATED: July 7, 2015 THE LAW OFFICE OF FRANK J. CRUM

By: /s/ Frank J. Crum (as authorized on 7/2/2015)

Frank J. Crum

Attorney for Defendants

MICHAEL LITHGOW, JENISE K. LITHGOW, and 

SCHELENE M. LITHGOW

DATED: July 7, 2015 WILLIAM L DUNBAR, Attorney at Law

By: /s/ William L. Dunbar (as authorized on 6/23/2015)

William L. Dunbar

Attorneys for Defendant

EDNA G. LOPEZ

Case 2:14-cv-01871-MCE-AC Document 20 Filed 07/09/15 Page 3 of 4
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

20196876v1 4

STIPULATION AND ORDER RE FUNDS AND DISCHARGE

ORDER

Pursuant to the Stipulation above, it is ordered that:

1. Plaintiff Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) shall deposit TWO 

HUNDRED FORTY-SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS AND NO CENTS ($246,000.00) plus any 

applicable interest (“the Plan Benefits”) with this Court into an interest-bearing account. MetLife 

shall deposit said funds within thirty (30) days of the electronic filing of this Order. 

2. Upon deposit of the Plan Benefits with the Court, Plaintiff MetLife, the Pacific Gas 

and Electric Company Employee Welfare Plan 503, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company shall 

be discharged from any further liability for payment of the Plan Benefits, and MetLife will then be 

dismissed with prejudice from this action. Each party shall bear their own attorneys’ fees and 

costs with respect to MetLife’s participation in the action. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: July 8, 2015

Case 2:14-cv-01871-MCE-AC Document 20 Filed 07/09/15 Page 4 of 4