Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ared-4_23-cv-00068/USCOURTS-ared-4_23-cv-00068-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 28:1335 Interpleader Action

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS 

NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, 

Plaintiff, 

-againstSHIRLEY JOHNSON, KATHLEEN JOHNSON, 

ROBERTA MESPELT, JANETTE JOHNSON, and 

THE ESTATE OF JAMES JOHNSON, 

Defendants. 

Case No. 4:23-cv-68-JM 

ORDER FOR 

DISCHARGE, DISMISSAL AND OTHER RELIEF IN INTERPLEADER 

Based on the Stipulation and Request for an Order for Discharge, Dismissal and Other 

Relief in Interpleader submitted by Plaintiff, New York Life Insurance Company (the 

“Company”), and Defendants Shirley Johnson, Kathleen Johnson, Roberta Mespelt and Jeanette 

Johnson (collectively, the “Adverse Claimants”), through their respective undersigned counsel, the 

Court hereby orders the following: 

1. the Estate of James Johnson shall be, and hereby is, dismissed without prejudice as 

a party in this action, and the action shall continue as between the Adverse Claimants; 

2. the Company shall be, and hereby is, discharged from any and all liability in 

connection with life insurance certificate number A10669751 (the “Policy”), which was issued by 

the Company to James Johnson (the “Insured”), and/or the Policy’s death benefits payable as a 

result of the death of the Insured and at issue in this litigation (the “Death Benefit”), which funds 

have been placed on deposit with the registry of the Court (the “Interpleader Funds”), and all 

claims, rights, interests and actions that the Adverse Claimants might otherwise have held against 

the Company and its present and former parents, subsidiaries and affiliated corporations, 

Case 4:23-cv-00068-JM Document 21 Filed 06/27/24 Page 1 of 2
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predecessors, successors and assigns and their respective officers, directors, agents, employees, 

representatives, attorneys, fiduciaries and administrators with respect to the Policy, Death Benefit 

and/or Interpleader Funds are hereby released; 

3. the Adverse Claimants shall be, and hereby are, permanently enjoined from making 

any further actual or implied claims, demands and causes of action, asserted or unasserted, express 

or implied, foreseen or unforeseen, real or imaginary, suspected or unsuspected, known or 

unknown, liquidated or unliquidated, of any kind or nature or description whatsoever, that the 

Adverse Claimants, jointly and severally, ever had, presently have, may have, or claim or assert to 

have, or hereinafter have, may have, or claim or assert to have, against the Company with respect 

to the Policy, Death Benefit and/or Interpleader Funds; 

4. the Company shall be, and hereby is, dismissed from this action, with prejudice, 

and without fees or costs to any party; and 

5. this action shall be retained on the Court’s docket for resolution of claims to the 

Interpleader Funds and distribution thereof. 

This ORDER shall be deemed a final judgment in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(b), 

there being no just reason for delay. 

ORDERED this 27th day of June, 2024. 

_________________________________ 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

Case 4:23-cv-00068-JM Document 21 Filed 06/27/24 Page 2 of 2