Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-cv-01708/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-cv-01708-2/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company
Plaintiff
Jeanie Zatkulak
Defendant
Kimberly Zatkulak
Defendant
Linda Zatkulak
Defendant
Thomas Zatkulak
Defendant

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

THE NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL LIFE 

INSURANCE COMPANY,

Plaintiff,

v.

LINDA ZATKULAK, et al.

Defendants.

No. 2:24-cv-01708-CKD

ORDER TO DISBURSE FUNDS

AND DISCHARGE INTERPLEADER 

PLAINTIFF

This is an interpleader action involving conflicting claims by defendants Linda Zatkulak, 

Thomas Zatkulak, Kimberly Zatkulak, and Jeanie Zatkulak to life insurance proceeds under a 

policy issued by plaintiff The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (“Northwestern 

Mutual”). After all parties consented to the jurisdiction of a United States Magistrate Judge for all 

purposes pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c), this action was assigned to the undersigned for all 

further proceedings and entry of final judgment. (ECF No. 25.) The parties’ joint stipulation for 

discharge and dismissal of the interpleader plaintiff is before the court. (ECF No. 29.)

I. Background

In 1981, Northwestern Mutual issued Policy No. 8459919 to Ryan Zatkulak (“Ryan”) as 

the insured. Ryan’s father, Thomas Zatkulak, was the applicant and owner of the Policy. The 

Policy’s direct beneficiaries were identified as Thomas Zatkulak and Linda Zatkulak, who are 

Case 2:24-cv-01708-CKD Document 30 Filed 11/13/24 Page 1 of 5
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Ryan’s father and mother. Ryan died on February 20, 2024. There are existing and/or potentially 

adverse and conflicting claims to the life insurance death benefits payable under the Policy as 

between Linda Zatkulak, on the one hand, and Thomas Zatkulak, Kimberly Zatkulak, and Jeanie 

Zatkulak, on the other hand.

As a result of the conflicting claims to the proceeds under the Policy, Northwestern 

Mutual filed this interpleader action. Pursuant to motion, Northwestern Mutual deposited the 

amount of $37,925.23 into the Registry of the Court representing the insurance proceeds at issue.

On November 1, 2024, the parties filed a joint stipulation for discharge and dismissal of 

Northwestern Mutual with prejudice and disbursement of the sum of $6,000 as reasonable 

attorney’s fees and costs incurred with this interpleader action, to be paid out of the proceeds 

deposited with the Clerk of the Court. 

II. Legal Standard

“Both Rule 22 and the interpleader statute allow a party to file a claim for interpleader if 

there is a possibility of exposure to double or multiple liability.” Lee v. W. Coast Life Ins. Co., 

688 F.3d 1004, 1009 (9th Cir. 2012) (citing 28 U.S.C. § 1335; Fed. R. Civ. P. 22(a)(2)); Mack v. 

Kuckenmeister, 619 F.3d 1010, 1024 (9th Cir. 2010) (“The purpose of interpleader is for the 

stakeholder to protect itself against the problems posed by multiple claimants to a single fund.”) 

(internal quotation marks and citation omitted).

In the first stage of an interpleader action, the district court decides whether the 

requirement for a rule or statutory interpleader action have been met by determining if there is a 

single fund at issue and whether there are adverse claimants to that fund. Lee, 688 F.3d at 1009. 

“If the district court finds that the interpleader action has been properly brought the district court 

will then make a determination of the respective rights of the claimants.” Id. (citation and internal 

quotation marks omitted).

III. Discussion

Northwestern Mutual has pleaded facts establishing this court’s jurisdiction over this 

matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1335 because there are at least two adverse claimants of diverse 

citizenship (California and North Carolina) and the amount plaintiff sought to (and now has) 

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deposited with the court exceeds $500. (ECF No. 1, ¶ 6; ECF No. 19.) See 28 U.S.C. § 1335; 

State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. Tashire, 386 U.S. 523, 530 (1967) (noting the interpleader statute 

only requires “minimal diversity,” that is, diversity of citizenship between two or more 

claimants).

In addition, Northwestern Mutual has articulated a “good faith belief that there are or may 

be colorable competing claims to the stake.” Michelman v. Lincoln Nat. Life Ins. Co., 685 F.3d 

887, 894 (9th Cir. 2012). The parties agree that Northwestern Mutual may be properly discharged 

from this action at this time. Discharge of the stakeholder is proper because there is no indication 

Northwest Mutual commenced the action in bad faith. See Field v. United States, 424 F. Supp. 3d 

904, 910 (E.D. Cal. 2019). Thus, the court will order the discharge and order the funds 

interpleaded by plaintiff to be disbursed as set forth below. See Local Rule 150.

Northwestern Mutual requests attorney’s fees and costs in the amount of $6,000. The 

interpleader defendants agree that the $6,000 sum should be deducted.

The court has discretion to award attorney’s fees to a disinterested stakeholder in an 

interpleader action from interpleader fund deposited with the court. Trustees of Directors Guild of 

Am.-Producer Pension Benefits Plans v. Tise, 234 F.3d 415, 426-27, opinion amended on denial 

of reh’g, 255 F.3d 661 (9th Cir. 2000). Such fee awards should include fees that are incurred in 

filing the action and in pursuing the plaintiff-stakeholder's release from liability. Tise, 234 F.3d at

426. In the Ninth Circuit, “[c]ompensable expenses include... preparing the complaint, obtaining 

service of process on the claimants to the fund, and preparing an order discharging the plaintiff 

from liability and dismissing it from the action.” Id. at 426–27.

Northwestern Mutual proffers that its total fees and costs incurred in bringing this 

interpleader matter are $6,000. (ECF No. 29, ¶ 3.) The burden of establishing entitlement to a fee 

award lies with the claimant. See Blum v. Stenson, 465 U.S. 886, 895 n.11 (1984). Although 

Northwestern Mutual does not proffer any supporting evidence such as declarations or billing 

statements, the court sees no reason to dispute that Northwestern Mutual spent reasonable costs 

and the hours claimed litigating this action. The interpleader defendants, who have an interest in 

the remaining funds, have stipulated to Northwestern Mutual’s fee request. Courts in this district 

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have awarded fees and costs in interpleader actions in amounts similar to that requested by 

Northwestern Mutual. See Transamerica Life Ins. Co. v. Shubin, No. 1:11-cv-01958-LJO-SKO, 

2012 WL 2839704, at *12 (E.D. Cal. July 10, 2012) (awarding $7,164.25 in attorneys’ fees and 

costs); Wells Fargo Bank v. PACCAR Fin. Corp., No. 1:08-CV-00904 AWI SMS, 2009 WL 

211386, at *4 (E.D. Cal. Jan. 28, 2009) (awarding $5,575.55 in attorneys’ fees and costs); see 

also Metro. Life Ins. Co. v. Concepcion Flores Molina, No. 1:23-CV-01553-CDB, 2024 WL 

713446, at *4 (E.D. Cal. Feb. 21, 2024) (awarding fees and costs to interpleader plaintiff in the 

amount of $4,500.00 without declarations or supporting evidence based on lack of opposition by 

the defendants). Consistent with other cases, and in light of the stipulation of the parties, the court 

will grant the request for reasonable attorney’s fees in its broad discretion to award fees and costs.

IV. Conclusion and Order

For the foregoing reasons, IT IS ORDERED as follows:

1. The parties’ joint stipulation for discharge and dismissal (ECF No. 29) is approved.

2. Northwestern Mutual is hereby and shall be discharged from any liability to defendants 

to the full extent permitted by law with respect to Group Insurance Policy No. 8459919 issued by 

Northwestern Mutual to Ryan Zatkulak (“Policy”).

3. Defendants shall be restrained from taking, or proceeding with or commencing any 

action against Northwestern Mutual or its present, former, and future officers, directors, 

shareholders, employers, employees, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, reinsurers, insurers, 

administrators, agents, predecessors, successors, attorneys and assigns, for or on account of any 

transaction, matter, happening or thing in any way arising out of or relating to the rights and

obligations of the parties with respect to the Policy, and/or with respect to benefits due under the

Policy.

4. Northwestern Mutual shall be awarded the sum of $6,000 as reasonable attorney’s

fees and costs incurred in connection with this interpleader action, to be paid out of the proceeds

deposited with the Clerk of this Court. The sum of $6,000 does not constitute any amount of

accrued interest or disbursement from accrued interest. The check shall be made payable to “The

Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company” and mailed to:

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Keiko J. Kojima

Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP

444 South Flower Street, Suite 2400

Los Angeles, CA 90071-2953

5. Northwestern Mutual is dismissed from this action with prejudice.

Dated: November 12, 2024

8, nort24cv1708.disburse

_____________________________________

CAROLYN K. DELANEY

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

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