OPINION AND ORDER1

SHERI POLSTER CHAPPELL, District Judge.

This matter comes before the Court on the parties' Joint Motion for Order for Distribution and Other Relief (Doc. 35) filed on June 30, 2017.2 This matter is ripe for review.

BACKGROUND

This interpleader action involves an Individual Life Insurance Policy3 ("Policy") issued by Pruco Life Insurance Company ("Pruco") to the late Teresa Sievers ("Insured") and the uncertainty surrounding the benefits recipient. In 2005, Pruco issued the Policy to the Insured for $2,500,000.00. (Doc. 1-1). Mark Sievers was the designated sole beneficiary, and J.S., a minor, was the contingent beneficiary. (Doc. 1-1). In 2015, the Insured died, and her death was ruled a homicide. (Doc. 35 at 2). Thereafter, Mark Sievers was charged with first degree murder of the Insured. (Doc. 3 at 2).

That charge is the basis for the uncertainty in this action. Under Florida law, a named beneficiary is not entitled to any benefit under a life insurance policy if he or she unlawfully and intentionally kills the principal. See Fla. Stat. 732.802(3). In fact, it is treated as if the killer predeceased the principal. See id. Accordingly, if Mark Sievers is found to have forfeited his right, then J.S., the contingent beneficiary, is entitled to the Policy benefits. Because of this potential divergence, Pruco brought this interpleader action against Mark Sievers and J.S.

Now, the parties jointly seek dismissal of this action, a discharge of liability for Pruco, deposit of Policy benefits with a neutral third party, fees for Pruco's attorneys, and a permanent injunction against Defendants "from making any further actual or implied claims . . . against Pruco with respect to the Policy and/or Death Benefit." (Doc. 35 at 3-4). For the reasons stated below, the Joint Motion is granted.

DISCUSSION

"Interpleader is the means by which an innocent stakeholder, who typically claims no interest in an asset and does not know the asset's rightful owner, avoids multiple liability by asking the court to determine the asset's rightful owner." In re Mandalay Shores Co-op. Hous. Ass'n, Inc., 21 F.3d 380, 383 (11th Cir. 1994). A party may bring an interpleader action "under [28 U.S.C. § 1335] or Rule 22 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure." Fulton v. Kaiser Steel Corp., 397 F.2d 580, 582 (5th Cir. 1968).4 Here, Pruco, without explicitly stating as such, brought its interpleader action under Rule 22 because § 1335 was not available.5 See (Doc. 1). The distinction is important because the "statutes governing § 1335 interpleader actions explicitly permit permanent injunction; the rules governing Rule 22 actions do not." Life Ins. Co. of N.A. v. Champion, 7:16-CV-143, 2016 WL 9185288, at *1 (M.D. Ga. Dec. 13, 2016) (citations omitted). Nonetheless, permanent injunctions are available under a Rule 22 interpleader action. See Genworth Life Ins. Co. v. Reyes, 12-20959-CIV, 2013 WL 12140965, at *2 (S.D. Fla. Jan. 4, 2013), report and recommendation adopted sub nom. Genworth Ins. Co. v. Reyes, 12-20959-CIV, 2013 WL 12141335 (S.D. Fla. Jan. 29, 2013). They are simply governed by 28 U.S.C. § 2283 and Rule 65 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Id.

Because a permanent injunction is available, and all parties stipulate to its language, this Court will grant the parties' request for a permanent injunction. The Court will also grant the additional relief sought. Therefore, this Court will dismiss this action once the parties inform it that the Policy benefits have been distributed in accordance with this Order.

Accordingly, it is now

ORDERED:

Parties Pruco Life Insurance Company, Mark Sievers, and J.S.'s Joint Motion for Order for Distribution and Other Relief (Doc. 35) is GRANTED.

DONE and ORDERED.