Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-05582/USCOURTS-cand-3_15-cv-05582-2/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Estate of James B. Lev
Defendant
Kristina Goth
Defendant
Matthew Lev
Defendant
Rebecca L. Romonek
Defendant
The Lev Trust
Defendant
USAA Life Insurance Company
Plaintiff

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671336 -1- 

STIPULATION AND ORDER DIRECTING DISTRIBUTION OF LIFE INSURANCE PROCEEDS 

CASE NO. 3:15-cv-05582 WHA 

ROBERT S. McLAY (SBN 176661)

rmclay@hayesscott.com

GABRIELLE A. HOLLINGSWORTH (SBN 292955) 

ghollingsworth@hayesscott.com 

HAYES SCOTT BONINO 

ELLINGSON & McLAY, LLP 

203 Redwood Shores Parkway, Suite 480 

Redwood City, California 94065 

Telephone: 650.637.9100 

Facsimile: 650.637.8071 

Attorneys for Plaintiff 

USAA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

USAA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, a Texas 

Corporation, 

 Plaintiff, 

 v. 

REBECCA L. ROMONEK (formerly LEV); 

MATTHEW LEV, a minor by and through his 

guardian, REBECCA L. ROMONEK; KRISTINA 

GOTH; THE LEV TRUST; ESTATE OF JAMES 

B. LEV; and DOES 1 through 25, inclusive, 

Defendants.

CASE NO. 3:15-cv-05582 WHA

STIPULATION AND ORDER 

DIRECTING DISTRIBUTION OF LIFE 

INSURANCE PROCEEDS AND FOR 

DISMISSAL OF CASE WITHOUT 

PREJUDICE 

Case 3:15-cv-05582-WHA Document 44 Filed 03/22/16 Page 1 of 5
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671336 -2- 

STIPULATION AND ORDER DIRECTING DISTRIBUTION OF LIFE INSURANCE PROCEEDS 

CASE NO. 3:15-cv-05582 WHA 

TO THE COURT AND ALL PARTIES AND THEIR ATTORNEYS OF RECORD: 

 This stipulation for an order regarding the distribution of life insurance funds and dismissal 

in the above-referenced matter is made and entered into by and between plaintiff USAA LIFE 

INSURANCE COMPANY (“USAA Life”), and defendants REBECCA L. ROMONEK 

(“Romonek”), KRISTINA GOTH (“Goth”), THE LEV TRUST, and the ESTATE OF JAMES B. 

LEV, referred to collectively as the “Parties.”

RECITALS 

1. USAA Life issued a term life insurance policy to James B. Lev in the amount of 

$500,000 on October 9, 2002 (Policy No. D442277010). USAA Life issued a second term life 

insurance policy to James B. Lev in the amount of $1,000,000 on June 12, 2008 (Policy No. 

D531256245). 

2. James B. Lev changed the beneficiaries on both life insurance policies on or about 

April 1, 2014. Romonek filed a petition for dissolution of marriage on April 1, 2014. 

3. James B. Lev died on or about September 23, 2015. 

4. USAA Life received competing claims to the life insurance proceeds in or about 

October 2015. 

5. USAA Life filed a Complaint in Interpleader on December 12, 2015, seeking 

resolution of the competing claims to the life insurance proceeds following the death of James B. 

Lev. 

6. USAA Life filed a Motion for Discharge and for Order to Deposit Interpleader Funds 

on February 19, 2016. 

7. Defendant Romonek filed a Statement of Non-Opposition to USAA Life’s Motion 

for Discharge on March 4, 2016. 

8. Defendants Goth, the Lev Trust, and the Estate of James B. Lev filed a Conditional 

Statement of Non-Opposition to USAA Life’s Motion for Discharge on March 4, 2016. 

9. This Court granted USAA Life’s Motion for Discharge on March 9, 2016. The 

Court also granted USAA Life’s request for attorney’s fees and costs in the amount of $8,399.68. 

10. This Court Ordered USAA Life to deposit the interpleader funds with the Court’s 

Case 3:15-cv-05582-WHA Document 44 Filed 03/22/16 Page 2 of 5
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671336 -3- 

STIPULATION AND ORDER DIRECTING DISTRIBUTION OF LIFE INSURANCE PROCEEDS 

CASE NO. 3:15-cv-05582 WHA 

registry by noon on March 18, 2016. 

11. Defendants have agreed to distribute the $1,000,000 policy to Kristina Goth, as 

trustee for the James B. Lev Trust, for Matthew Lev’s benefit. USAA Life’s costs and fees will be 

paid from the $1,000,000 policy. Defendants have further agreed to distribute the $500,000 policy 

to Rebecca Romonek. Under the anticipated terms of the settlement agreement, Romonek shall use 

$200,000 of the life insurance proceeds to fund a trust for the benefit of Matthew Lev, Romonek 

will receive $275,000 outright, Lakin Spears, LLP will receive $25,000 as a contribution toward 

Romonek’s legal fees. 

12. The defendants are discussing and finalizing a settlement agreement in the Family 

Court action, which includes an agreement on the distribution of the USAA Life insurance proceeds 

at issue in this case. 

13. USAA Life, having no interest in the life insurance proceeds, has agreed to distribute 

the life insurance proceeds pursuant to the defendant’s settlement in the Family Court action and 

dismiss the instant interpleader action. 

STIPULATION 

1. The Parties hereby stipulate to an order directing USAA Life to pay life insurance 

proceeds as follows: 

A. $1,000,000 USAA Life Policy No. D531256245: USAA Life shall distribute the 

life insurance proceeds to Kristina Goth, as trustee of the James B. Lev 

Revocable Trust, dated April 1, 2014. USAA Life’s costs and fees in the amount 

of $8,399.68 shall be deducted from the distribution of this policy. 

B. $500,000 USAA Life Policy No. D442277010: USAA Life shall distribute the 

life insurance proceeds to Rebecca Romonek. Once received, Rebecca Romonek 

shall allocate the proceeds pursuant to the terms of the final settlement agreement 

in Romonek v. Lev, San Mateo County Superior Court, Case No. FAM0124896. 

2. The Parties hereby stipulate to dismissal of the instant case without prejudice. Upon 

dismissal, USAA Life shall be released from liability as to each defendant with respect 

to the subject matter of the instant interpleader action. 

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671336 -4- 

STIPULATION AND ORDER DIRECTING DISTRIBUTION OF LIFE INSURANCE PROCEEDS 

CASE NO. 3:15-cv-05582 WHA 

Dated: March 17, 2016 HAYES SCOTT BONINO ELLINGSON & McLAY, LLP 

By /s/ Gabrielle A. Hollingsworth 

 Robert S. McLay 

 Gabrielle A. Hollingsworth 

 Attorneys for Plaintiff 

USAA Life Insurance Company 

Dated: March 17, 2016 LAKIN SPEARS LLP 

 By: /s/ Edward R. Fluet 

 Edward R. Fluet 

 Attorney for Defendant 

REBECCA L. ROMONEK 

Dated: March 17, 2016 VIOLA LAW FIRM 

 By: /s/ Peter W. Daniel 

 Peter W. Daniel 

 Attorney for Defendants 

KRISTINA GOTH, THE LEV TRUST, AND 

ESTATE OF JAMES B. LEV 

SIGNATURE ATTESTATION 

 I hereby attest that all of the signatories electronically listed above concur in this filing’s 

content and have authorized the filing in compliance with Local Rule 5-1(i)(3). 

 

 /s/ Gabrielle A. Hollingsworth 

GABRIELLE A. HOLLINGSWORTH 

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671336 -5- 

STIPULATION AND ORDER DIRECTING DISTRIBUTION OF LIFE INSURANCE PROCEEDS 

CASE NO. 3:15-cv-05582 WHA 

[PROPOSED] ORDER 

The Court, having reviewed the stipulation for an order directing the distribution of life 

insurance proceeds and for dismissal of the case without prejudice, and GOOD CAUSE 

APPEARING THEREFOR, hereby orders as follows: 

1. USAA Life is hereby ordered to distribute the life insurance proceeds of USAA Life 

Policy No. D531256245 to Kristina Goth, as trustee of the James B. Lev Revocable 

Trust, dated April 1, 2014. USAA Life’s costs and fees in the amount of $8,399.68 

shall be deducted from the distribution of this policy. 

2. USAA Life is hereby ordered to distribute the life insurance proceeds of USAA Life 

Policy No. D442277010 to Rebecca Romonek. 

3. Rebecca Romonek shall allocate the proceeds of the $500,000 policy pursuant to the 

terms of the final settlement agreement in in Romonek v. Lev, San Mateo County 

Superior Court, Case No. FAM0124896. 

4. This case is dismissed without prejudice. Upon dismissal, USAA Life shall be 

released from liability as to each defendant with respect to the subject matter of the 

instant interpleader action. 

IT IS SO ORDERED. 

Dated: _ ______ 

HONORABLE WILLIAM H. ALSUP 

JUDGE OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT 

COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF 

CALIFORNIA 

March 22, 2016.

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