Opinion ID: 787527
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Dismissal of the Additional Counts

Text: 20 Tropp's four additional counts were premised on the argument that Western-Southern had violated the Kriedler settlement by failing to immediately pay the settlement benefit to the Mikos estate upon her death (and, of course, that further discovery is needed to determine if this same thing has happened to other class members). Western-Southern counters that it simply has been waiting to receive the death certificate to complete the processing of the claim before payment. 21 After ensuring that Western-Southern obtained a copy of the death certificate and that Tropp was paid the life insurance benefit (with the additional settlement amount), 3 the district court properly dismissed the four remaining counts because the Ohio trial court had retained exclusive jurisdiction over the administration of the settlement, and Tropp's claims alleged nothing more than violations of the settlement agreement. By retaining exclusive jurisdiction, the Ohio court asserted that it was in the best position to effectively monitor the administration of the settlement so that the interests of all class members are protected. See generally In re VMS Sec. Litig., 103 F.3d 1317, 1321 (7th Cir.1996); Alexander v. Chicago Park Dist., 927 F.2d 1014, 1022-23 (7th Cir.1991). If Tropp wishes to contest the propriety of the Kriedler settlement and its administration, the proper place to litigate such a claim is the Kriedler trial court. 4