JOHN E. STEELE, Senior District Judge.
This matter comes before the Court on plaintiff Sally Motherway's Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. #127) filed on August 21, 2017. Sally Motherway (plaintiff) moves for summary judgment as to the potential claims of remaining cross-defendants Christine Engustian, Megan Motherway, Mara Motherway, Mavis Motherway, and Carmel Motherway, and as to the defaulted cross-defendants Joseph E. Motherway, Edward J. Motherway, First American Bank, Melita M. Motherway, Suzanna M. Murray, and William D. Motherway. (
Summary judgment is appropriate only when the Court is satisfied that "there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). "An issue of fact is `genuine' if the record taken as a whole could lead a rational trier of fact to find for the nonmoving party."
In ruling on a motion for summary judgment, the Court views all evidence and draws all reasonable inferences in favor of the non-moving party.
This matter arises out of payouts on annuity contracts maintained by TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC. (Doc. #2.)
In 2004, plaintiff Sally Motherway created an estate plan pursuant to Florida law, which included a Living Revocable Trust and a durable power of attorney. (Doc. #2, ¶ 11; Doc. #127, p. 2.) Her assets included Annuity Contracts with Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America — College Retirement and Equities Fund Individual & Institutional Services, LLC ("TC Services"),
Plaintiff, exercising her rights under the annuity contracts, gave instructions to TC Services to deposit funds paid from the annuity contracts into her Florida trust account. (
On December 4, 2014, Sally Motherway filed this action in Florida state court for declaratory and injunctive relief, seeking to enjoin TC Services from distributing funds from her retirement account administered by TC Services. (Doc. #2; Doc. #127, p. 4.) On February 4, 2015, TC Services removed the action to this Court. (Doc. #1.) On April 27, 2015, TC Services answered and filed a third-party interpleader complaint against Christine Engustian, Megan Motherway, Mara Motherway, Mavis Motherway, and Carmel Motherway, and other alleged beneficiaries of the accounts, seeking clarification as to whose instructions it should follow and where payments should be made. (Docs. ##14, 18.)
Since the filing of the third-party interpleader complaint, some of the interpleaded parties have been dismissed from the matter by stipulation or have had a clerk's default entered against them for failure to respond to the third-party interpleader complaint. (Docs. ##100-02, 104.) Specifically, Sherry Goldin was dismissed with prejudice by stipulation, and a clerk's default was entered as to Joseph E. Motherway, Edward J. Motherway, American Bank, as Temporary Co-Trustee of the Sally D. Motherway Living Revocable Trust, Melita M. Motherway, Suzanne M. Murray, and William D. Motherway. (
On August 21, 2017, plaintiff filed a Motion for Summary Judgment against the remaining cross-defendants, Christine Engustian, Megan Motherway, Mara Motherway, Mavis Motherway, and Carmel Motherway, and also as to the parties against whom the clerk's default was entered, Joseph E. Motherway, Edward J. Motherway, American Bank, as Temporary Co-Trustee of the Sally D. Motherway Living Revocable Trust, Melita M. Motherway, Suzanne M. Murray, and William D. Motherway. (Doc. #127.) On January 5, 2018, plaintiff and Christine Engustian filed a Stipulation for Dismissal, agreeing to the dismissal with prejudice of all claims and counterclaims (Doc. #139), and on January 8, 2018, an Order was entered dismissing Christine Engustian with prejudice (Doc. #140). On January 2, 2018, Carmel filed an Opposition to plaintiff Sally Motherway's Motion for Summary Judgment. (Doc. #138.) The other parties have not responded and the time to do so has expired.
The only remaining claims in this action are those at issue in the third-party interpleader complaint. (
Plaintiff also seeks entry of summary judgment as to the parties against whom a clerk's default was entered. (Doc. #127, pp. 13-14.) Because a Clerk's Entry of Default (Doc. #104) was issued against all potential claimants who failed to file a timely claim or answer, the Court will grant summary judgment as to the parties against whom a clerk's default was entered.
Lastly, plaintiff asserts that Mara Motherway should be dismissed from this action because she was never served with process. (Doc. #127, pp. 14-15.) Pursuant to Rule 4(m), if service is not effectuated within ninety days of the filing of the complaint, the court "must dismiss the action without prejudice against that defendant." Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m). Therefore, Mara Motherway is dismissed without prejudice from this action.
Accordingly, plaintiff is the only party entitled to the funds at issue in this matter, and therefore instructions regarding payments should be taken from, and payments should be made to, plaintiff Sally Motherway.
Accordingly, it is hereby
1. Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. #127) is
2. Cross-defendants Megan Motherway, Mavis Motherway, Carmel Motherway, and Mara Motherway are
3. Summary judgment is granted in favor of plaintiff and against the defaulted cross-defendants, Joseph E. Motherway, Edward J. Motherway, American Bank, as Temporary Co-Trustee of the Sally D. Motherway Living Revocable Trust, Melita M. Motherway, Suzanne M. Murray, and William D. Motherway, who have neither answered nor presented any claims to the proceeds at issue. Judgment shall enter in favor of plaintiff as to entitlement of the funds at issue. Plaintiff is the sole party entitled to the funds and entitled to instruct as to the distribution of the funds.
4. The Clerk shall terminate all remaining deadlines and motions and close the file.