Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_02-cv-06213/USCOURTS-caed-1_02-cv-06213-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 29:1001 E.R.I.S.A.: Employee Retirement

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PLAINTIFF’S EX PARTE MOTION FOR ORDER RELEASING SETTLEMENT FUNDS

FROM COURT REGISTRY AND ORDER THEREON

07:01:03:02:17

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Michael J. Seng - 069384

Beth Maxwell Stratton - 138049

SENG & STRATTON

P. O. Box 14180

Fresno, California 93650-4180 

Telephone: (559) 436-6111

Facsimile: (559) 431-2654

mseng@seng-stratton.com

Attorneys for Plaintiff Beth Maxwell Stratton, 

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee for SGP Benefit Plan, Inc.,

and Independent Fiduciary of the SGP Benefit Plan and Trust

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

BETH MAXWELL STRATTON,

CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY TRUSTEE

FOR THE SGP BENEFIT PLAN, INC.,

 Plaintiff,

vs.

GLACIER INSURANCE

ADMINISTRATORS, INC.; GLACIER

INSURANCE ENTERPRISES, INC.;

FRESNO AGENT SERVICE TEAM, INC.

DOING BUSINESS AS BEN MAR

INSURANCE SERVICES; BEN MAR

INSURANCE SERVICES; LAWRENCE

THOMPSON; BRAD STARK; PIERRE

TADA; NORMA SPALDING; DICK

NEECE, SR.; WILLIAM WOLHAUPTER;

and DOES 1 through 250 inclusive,

 Defendants.

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CASE NO. CIV-F-02-6213 OWW DLB

PLAINTIFF’S EX PARTE MOTION

FOR ORDER RELEASING

SETTLEMENT FUNDS

FROM COURT REGISTRY

AND 

ORDER THEREON

Plaintiff hereby moves the Court ex parte for an order authorizing and directing the Clerk of

this Court to release to plaintiff funds on deposit in the Registry of this Court pursuant to approved

settlements and the Judgment entered in this case.

As discussed at the November 22, 2006, hearing in this case, this request is being made ex

parte but with advance notice having been given to the Glacier Defendants and the Former Trustee

Case 1:02-cv-06213-LJO-GSA Document 184 Filed 01/19/07 Page 1 of 3
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PLAINTIFF’S EX PARTE MOTION FOR ORDER RELEASING SETTLEMENT FUNDS

FROM COURT REGISTRY AND ORDER THEREON

07:01:03:02:17

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Defendants (who advise they have no objections to it) and to others, all as indicated on the attached

Proof of Service and Declaration of Michael J. Seng.

This motion arises out of the following factual history:

On November 27, 2006, this Court entered its Judgment approving the terms of various

settlement agreements between plaintiff and parties generally referred to in this case as the “Glacier

Defendants” and between plaintiff and defendants generally referred to as the “Former Trustee

Defendants”. 

The various agreements provided that upon this Court’s preliminary approval of the

settlements (and that approval was given on October 14, 2004) the Glacier Defendants would deposit

the sum of $2 million into an interest-bearing account in the Court’s Registry and the Former Trustee

Defendants would deposit the sum of $1 million into an interest-bearing account in the Court’s

Registry. Both deposits and all interest accrued thereon were to be paid over to plaintiff if and when

applicable terms of the settlements were met. 

The Glacier Defendants deposited their settlement funds with the Court’s Registry on or about

January 6, 2005, and the Former Trustee Defendants did so on or about January 11, 2005. Those

funds remain on deposit with the Court. 

The settlement agreements between the parties provided, in pertinent part, that once the

Court’s Judgment approving the terms of the settlements became final, the funds on deposit with the

Registry of the Court and all accumulated interest thereon were to be released to plaintiff for

distribution in accordance with the Court’s judgment. 

As noted, the Court entered its judgment approving the settlements on November 27, 2006.

Notice of entry of that judgment was served by the Clerk that day (and also by plaintiff the following

day) to all parties who had formally appeared in the action and all who had filed objections or requests

for special notice. More than thirty-three (33) days have passed since the notices of entry were served.

The time for filing notice of appeal has expired. (Fed. Rules App.Proc., rule 4.) Plaintiff has received

no notice of appeal. Court records do not reveal any notice of appeal having been filed. The Court’s

November 27, 2006, Judgment thus has become final.

Therefore, pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreements between these parties and

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PLAINTIFF’S EX PARTE MOTION FOR ORDER RELEASING SETTLEMENT FUNDS

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paragraph 3 of the Court’s Judgment, plaintiff therefore moves this Court for an order directing the

Clerk of the Court to release the settlement funds and all interest accumulated thereon from the Court’s

Registry to plaintiff Beth Maxwell Stratton, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee for the SGP Benefit Plan,

Inc., for her use in payment of expenses and claims in accordance with the Court’s Judgment. (SGP

Benefit Plan’s taxpayer identification number is 770260926.) 

Respectfully submitted,

Dated: January 3, 2007 SENG & STRATTON

By /s/ MICHAEL J. SENG 

Michael J. Seng, Attorneys for Plaintiff Beth

Maxwell Stratton, Chapter 7Bankruptcy Trustee for

SGP Benefit Plan, Inc., and Independent Fiduciary

of the SGP Benefit Plan and Trust

ORDER

GOOD CAUSE APPEARING, the Clerk of this Court is hereby authorized and directed to

release at this time by check made payable to “Beth Maxwell Stratton, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee

for the SGP Benefit Plan, Inc.” (SGP Benefit Plan taxpayer identification number 770260926), all sums

deposited into the Registry of this Court by or on behalf of Glacier Insurance Administrators, Inc.;

Glacier Insurance Enterprises, Inc.; Fresno Agent Service Team, Inc. doing business as Ben Mar

Insurance Services; Ben Mar Insurance Services; and Lawrence Thompson and by or on behalf of Dick

Neece, Sr.; Norma W. Spalding; D. Bradford Stark; Pierre Y. Tada; and William F. Wolhaupter) and

all interest accumulated thereon. 

Dated: 1/17/07

/s/ Oliver W. Wanger

_____________________________________

Oliver W. Wanger, Judge of the United States

District Court, Eastern District of California

Case 1:02-cv-06213-LJO-GSA Document 184 Filed 01/19/07 Page 3 of 3