Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_12-cv-01380/USCOURTS-cand-4_12-cv-01380-16/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 890
Nature of Suit: Other Statutory Actions
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Fed. Question

---

United States District Court 

For the Northern District of California 

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 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

MAXINE DERRY; and RUSSELL HEMEN, 

individually and on behalf of 

themselves and all others 

similarly situated, 

 

 Plaintiffs, 

 

 v. 

JACKSON NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE 

COMPANY, 

 Defendant. 

________________________________/ 

No. C 12-1380 CW 

ORDER REGARDING 

CLASS MEMBER 

INQUIRIES 

On April 24, 2014, the Court entered an order finally 

approving the settlement in this class action. At the Court’s 

request, counsel for both parties filed a joint letter, describing 

Plaintiffs’ counsel’s and Jackson National’s respective protocols 

for responding to phone calls from potential class members. 

Docket No. 170. After reviewing the parties’ submission, the 

Court directed Plaintiffs’ counsel and counsel for Jackson 

National to meet and confer regarding a joint protocol that 

ensures that potential class members’ inquiries are addressed 

efficiently. The Court advised that, in that joint protocol, 

Plaintiffs’ counsel shall have the primary responsibility of 

ensuring that potential class members get answers to their 

questions. Jackson National’s counsel is responsible for 

providing Plaintiffs’ counsel with the information necessary to 

answer questions. For example, Jackson National’s counsel shall 

confirm that Plaintiffs’ counsel has a complete list of class 

members and their policy numbers. Jackson National’s counsel 

Case 4:12-cv-01380-CW Document 173 Filed 10/06/15 Page 1 of 3
United States District Court 

For the Northern District of California 

 2 

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 

shall also ensure that the list indicates whether each class 

member was sent a check, the date the check was sent and the 

check’s expiration date. If a class member was not sent a check, 

the list should indicate why the person was not entitled to 

receive one. Jackson National’s counsel shall also identify an 

individual in Jackson National’s legal department who will be 

available to respond to questions from Plaintiffs’ counsel 

regarding inquiries from potential class members. Jackson 

National’s counsel shall respond to all such questions from 

Plaintiffs’ counsel within one week of the receipt of the 

question. 

The Court directed the parties to submit a further letter to 

the Court outlining their revised joint protocol. The parties 

have now done so. While the revised joint protocol addresses some 

of the Court’s instructions, the Court notes that it does not 

provide for the resolution of some class members’ questions. 

For example, under item 3.A., the protocol provides that 

Plaintiffs’ counsel will ask a caller “if they received class 

notification and, if not, their basis for their belief that they 

might be a member of the class, and whether they incurred 

surrender charges on a Jackson National annuity before August 16, 

2014.” Docket No. 172 at 2. However, the protocol does not 

indicate what Plaintiffs’ counsel will do with that information. 

If an individual who did not receive class notice makes a 

reasonable showing that he or she incurred surrender charges on a 

Jackson National annuity before August 16, 2014, Plaintiffs’ 

counsel shall investigate whether the individual was wrongfully 

excluded from the class and, if necessary, work with Jackson 

Case 4:12-cv-01380-CW Document 173 Filed 10/06/15 Page 2 of 3
United States District Court 

For the Northern District of California 

 3 

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 

National’s legal department to confirm whether or not the 

individual is a class member and whether he or she is entitled to 

payment. If the individual is entitled to payment, Plaintiffs’ 

counsel will work with Jackson National to ensure that the 

individual receives payment. Similarly, under item 3.C., the 

protocol provides that Plaintiffs’ counsel will ask certain 

callers for “the basis for their belief that they incurred 

surrender charges on a Jackson National annuity before August 16, 

2014” but does not indicate what Plaintiffs’ counsel will do with 

the information. Docket No. 172 at 2. If a class member who did 

not receive a check makes a reasonable showing that he or she 

incurred surrender charges making him or her eligible for payment, 

Plaintiffs’ counsel shall investigate whether the payment was 

wrongfully withheld and, if necessary, work with Jackson 

National’s legal department to confirm whether or not he or she 

should have received payment and that appropriate payments are 

made. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: October 6, 2015 CLAUDIA WILKEN 

United States District Judge 

Case 4:12-cv-01380-CW Document 173 Filed 10/06/15 Page 3 of 3