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PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY v. LOCKER, 12-CV-882 (ENV)(RML). (2014)

Court: District Court, E.D. New York Number: infdco20140424b76 Visitors: 2
Filed: Apr. 23, 2014
Latest Update: Apr. 23, 2014
Summary: MEMORANDUM & ORDER ERIC N. VITALIANO, District Judge. Plaintiff Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey filed this action on February 22, 2012 against defendant The Estate of Jeffrey Locker and Lois Locker d/b/a The Locker Group, seeking a declaratory judgment that Pruco Term Essential 10 life insurance policy number L8 366 722, with a contract date of December 21, 2008, and with the designated beneficiary of "Jeff Locker Doing Business As The Locker Group" was void ab initio , or, in the
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MEMORANDUM & ORDER

ERIC N. VITALIANO, District Judge.

Plaintiff Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey filed this action on February 22, 2012 against defendant The Estate of Jeffrey Locker and Lois Locker d/b/a The Locker Group, seeking a declaratory judgment that Pruco Term Essential 10 life insurance policy number L8 366 722, with a contract date of December 21, 2008, and with the designated beneficiary of "Jeff Locker Doing Business As The Locker Group" was void ab initio, or, in the alternative, seeking rescission of the policy. By Order dated March 18, 2013, this Court granted plaintiffs motion for a default judgment and referred this matter to Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy to determine the appropriate judgment. On February 25, 2014, Judge Levy issued his Report and Recommendation ("R&R"), recommending that the Court enter a declaratory judgment that the policy was void from its inception, and that plaintiff is not obligated to pay any claims on the policy that may be submitted by the insured.

Standard of Review

In reviewing an R&R of a magistrate judge, a district judge "may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made by the magistrate judge." 28 U.S.C. § 6360)(4 A district judge is required to "make a de novo determination upon the record, or after additional evidence, of any portion of the magistrate judge's disposition to which specific written objection has been made" by any party, Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b). But, where no timely objection has been made, the "district court need only satisfy itself that there is no clear error on the face of the record" to accept a magistrate judge's report and recommendation. Urena v. New York, 160 F.Supp.2d 606, 609-10 (S.D.N.Y. 2001) (quoting Nelson v. Smith, 618 F.Supp. 1186, 1189 (S.D.N.Y. 1985)).

The R&R gave proper notice that any objection must have been filed within 14 days. Neither plaintiff nor defendant has objected to Judge Levy's R&R, much less within the time prescribed by 28 U.S.C. § 6360)(4 In accord with the applicable standard of review, the Court finds Judge Levy's R&R to be correct, well-reasoned, and free of any clear error. The Court, therefore, adopts it in its entirety as the opinion of the Court.

Conclusion

Accordingly, as recommended by Judge Levy, a declaratory judgment in favor of plaintiffs will be entered (1) that Pruco Term Essential 10 life insurance policy number L8 366 722, with a contract date of December 21, 2008, was void from its inception, and (2) that plaintiff is not obligated to pay any claims on that policy that may be submitted by the insured.

The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment for plaintiff and to close this case.

SO ORDERED.

Source:  Leagle

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