ReliaStar Life Insurance Company v. Robinson et al

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
CENTRAL DIVISION
RELIASTAR LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY
PLAINTIFF/COUNTER
DEFENDANT
v. 	No. 4:23-cv-1053-DPM
CONNIE ROBINSON 	DEFENDANT/CROSS
DEFENDANT
v.
AMANDA ROBINSON
v.
REBECCA L. ROBINSON; 	NATHAN
ROBINSON; WILLIAM R. ROBINSON;
CYNTHIA L. WIRZFIELD; and AL VIN E.
HOLTZ
ORDER
DEFENDANT/CROSS
CLAIMANT/COUNTER
CLAIMANT
DEFENDANTS
ReliaStar moves unopposed to be discharged from liability and
dismissed from this interpleader case. It also seeks attorney's fees and
costs.
ReliaStar already deposited Mark Robinson's life insurance policy
proceeds, plus interest, into the Court's registry. 	Doc. 45. 	It has met all
the requirements for interpleader relief; it's now disinterested; and the
Court therefore dismisses it from this action with prejudice. 	Fed . R.
Case 4:23-cv-01053-DPM Document 62 Filed 11/20/25 Page 1 of 3

Civ. P. 22. 	ReliaStar is discharged from any liability relating to life
insurance 	policy 	number 	AD20464888 	issued 	to 	the 	late 	Mark
Robinson. While ReliaStar has proceeded with a Rule-22-based action,
rather than a statutory one based on 28 U.S.C. § 2361, it has sought an
•injunction 	against 	other 	lawsuits 	about 	this policy 	from 	the 	start.
Doc. 1 at 6. 	All parties were on notice of this request. The Court knows
of no other pending cases about this policy. 	And the Court agrees that
none 	should 	be filed hereafter. 	The 	Court 	therefore 	permanently
enjoins 	the 	seven 	named 	defendants 	(Connie 	Robinson, 	Amanda
Robinson, 	Rebecca 	L. 	Robinson, 	Nathan 	Robinson, 	William 	R.
Robinson, Cynthia L. Wirzfield, and Alvin E. Holtz) from prosecuting
any action against ReliaStar about policy AD20464888. 28 U.S.C. § 2361.
ReliaStar is also entitled to a reasonable attorney's fee and costs
incurred. It submitted an itemized bill. ReliaStar requests $9,536 in fees
and 	$402 for 	the 	filing fee, 	which 	is a recoverable cost. 	Doc. 	61.
Some of the hourly rates are a bit high for this district, and precedent
contemplates a 	modest rate. 	E.g., Federated Mutual 	Insurance 	Co. 	v.
Moody Station and Grocery, 821 F.3d 973, 979 (8th Cir. 2016); 	Hunter v.
Federal Life Insurance Co., 111 F.2d 551, 557 (8th Cir. 1940). But no party
has objected to the fee; 	ReliaStar discounted the time actually spent;
and 	the 	request 	is 	less 	than 	4% 	of 	the 	$250,000 	death 	benefit.
All material things considered, the Court exercises its discretion and
awards ReliaStar a reasonable fee of $9,536 and costs of $402 for a total
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of 	$9,938. 	Federated 	Mutual 	Insurance 	Co., 	821 	F.3d 	at 	979;
Hunter, 111 F.2d at 557.
Motion, Doc. 50, granted. The Court directs the Clerk to disburse
$9,938 from the registry to ReliaStar.
So Ordered.
• 	II
D .P. Marshall Jr.
United States District Judge
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