Colonial Life and Accident Insurance Company v. Deloris Jean Gillis, et al.

W.D. Washington

Colonial Life and Accident Insurance Company v. Deloris Jean Gillis, et al.

DecidedOctober 17, 2025

Docket2:25-cv-00350

StatusUnknown

This text of Colonial Life and Accident Insurance Company v. Deloris Jean Gillis, et al. (Colonial Life and Accident Insurance Company v. Deloris Jean Gillis, et al.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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Colonial Life and Accident Insurance Company v. Deloris Jean Gillis, et al., (W.D. Wash. 2025).

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4 5 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 6 WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE 7 COLONIAL LIFE AND ACCIDENT CASE NO. C25-0350-KKE 8 INSURANCE COMPANY, ORDER DIRECTING DEFENDANT TO 9 Plaintiff(s), OBTAIN COUNSEL v. 10

DELORIS JEAN GILLIS, et al., 11

Defendant(s). 12

13 This matter comes before the Court sua sponte. On February 2, 2025, Plaintiff Colonial 14 Life and Accident Insurance Company (“Colonial”) filed this interpleader action against seven 15 potential claimants to disputed death benefits under life insurance policies issued by Colonial. Dkt. 16 No. 1. Among the claimants are D.E. and D.D.E., both of whom are minors residing in Collin 17 County, Texas. Id. ¶¶ 6, 7. On June 18, 2025, Defendant Jennifer Edmonds—D.E. and D.D.E.’s 18 mother—filed a letter, which the Court construes as an answer, on behalf of herself and both 19 children. Dkt. No. 30. Edmonds is deemed to be acting as D.E.’s and D.D.E.’s representative 20 under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17(c). The Ninth Circuit requires non-attorneys 21 representing minors to obtain legal counsel. Johns v. Cty. of San Diego, 114 F.3d 874, 877 (9th 22 Cir. 1997) (“[A] non-attorney parent must be represented by counsel in bringing an action on 23 behalf of his or her child.”). 24 1 Accordingly, D.E. and D.D.E. have 30 days in which to obtain legal counsel to represent 2 them in this action. By November 17, 2025, D.E. and D.D.E., through their representative, must 3 file a status report with the Court identifying their counsel or, if unsuccessful in obtaining counsel,

4 a status report detailing the efforts taken to obtain counsel. 5 The Clerk is instructed to mail a copy of this order to the last known address of Edmonds 6 and her children (see Dkt. Nos. 22, 23, 24) and email a copy to the email address 7 jcedmonds2010@gmail.com. 8 Dated this 17th day of October, 2025. 9 A 10 Kymberly K. Evanson 11 United S tates District Judge

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4 5 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 6 WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON AT SEATTLE 7 COLONIAL LIFE AND ACCIDENT CASE NO. C25-0350-KKE 8 INSURANCE COMPANY, ORDER DIRECTING DEFENDANT TO 9 Plaintiff(s), OBTAIN COUNSEL v. 10

DELORIS JEAN GILLIS, et al., 11

Defendant(s). 12

13 This matter comes before the Court sua sponte. On February 2, 2025, Plaintiff Colonial 14 Life and Accident Insurance Company (“Colonial”) filed this interpleader action against seven 15 potential claimants to disputed death benefits under life insurance policies issued by Colonial. Dkt. 16 No. 1. Among the claimants are D.E. and D.D.E., both of whom are minors residing in Collin 17 County, Texas. Id. ¶¶ 6, 7. On June 18, 2025, Defendant Jennifer Edmonds—D.E. and D.D.E.’s 18 mother—filed a letter, which the Court construes as an answer, on behalf of herself and both 19 children. Dkt. No. 30. Edmonds is deemed to be acting as D.E.’s and D.D.E.’s representative 20 under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17(c). The Ninth Circuit requires non-attorneys 21 representing minors to obtain legal counsel. Johns v. Cty. of San Diego, 114 F.3d 874, 877 (9th 22 Cir. 1997) (“[A] non-attorney parent must be represented by counsel in bringing an action on 23 behalf of his or her child.”). 24 1 Accordingly, D.E. and D.D.E. have 30 days in which to obtain legal counsel to represent 2 them in this action. By November 17, 2025, D.E. and D.D.E., through their representative, must 3 file a status report with the Court identifying their counsel or, if unsuccessful in obtaining counsel,

4 a status report detailing the efforts taken to obtain counsel. 5 The Clerk is instructed to mail a copy of this order to the last known address of Edmonds 6 and her children (see Dkt. Nos. 22, 23, 24) and email a copy to the email address 7 jcedmonds2010@gmail.com. 8 Dated this 17th day of October, 2025. 9 A 10 Kymberly K. Evanson 11 United S tates District Judge

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Colonial Life and Accident Insurance Company v. Deloris Jean Gillis, et al., Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/colonial-life-and-accident-insurance-company-v-deloris-jean-gillis-et-al-wawd-2025.