Updated 09/19/2004

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is this case about?

    1. What are the allegations against New York Life?

      The Action alleges that New York Life Insurance Company ("NYLIC") wrongfully failed to pay benefits under life insurance policies it issued in and following 1875 in the Turkish Ottoman Empire on the lives of persons of Armenian descent.

    2. What is New York Life's Response to Plaintiffs' Allegations?

      NYLIC denies these allegations, believes them to be false and misleading, and has asserted numerous defenses to the Plaintiffs' allegations.

     

  2. Who is in the class?

    The Settlement Class is composed of all beneficiaries, heirs of beneficiaries, owners, heirs of owners, and all other persons having claims of any nature under one or more Subject Policies, unless he or she has executed a timely request for exclusion ("Opt Outed") from the Settlement Class, or is subject to a timely request for exclusion submitted by another claimant under the same Subject Policy. A Subject Policy is a life insurance policy that meets all of the following criteria: (i) it insured the life of a person of Armenian descent, (ii) it was issued by New York Life in the Turkish Ottoman Empire in or after 1875, (iii) it was in force as of January 1, 1915, and (iv) it has not been paid in any form, including, without limitation, payment of death benefits, surrender values, cash values, endowments. A list of the Subject Policies of which there are surviving records may be viewed by clicking here.

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  3. What claims have been settled?

    The Settlement resolves and bars any further litigation of Class Claims by Settlement Class members who did not Opt Out of the Settlement. "Class Claims" means any and all claims against New York Life that arise directly or indirectly out of, or are related in any way to, New York Life's handling at any time of policies and/or claims under policies issued by New York Life in the Turkish Ottoman Empire between 1875 and 1915 to or on the lives of persons of Armenian ancestry, including without limitation all claims or causes of action which were, could or should have been brought in the Action.

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  4. Are there any deadlines associated with the settlement?

    General information regarding the status of the proposed Settlement, and the methods of, and requirements for, participating in the Settlement will be posted on this Settlement Web Site as it becomes available. Please visit this site and review the information available here frequently to stay informed about the status of the proposed Settlement and the deadlines and requirements for participating in the Settlement that will apply to you. As the dates of applicable deadlines are determined, they will be posted here:

    1. Opt Out Deadline. The deadline by which a person who wishes to be excluded from the Settlement Class was June 15, 2004, and has passed. Accordingly, no more Opt Out Requests will be accepted.

    2. The Final Fairness Hearing. The Final Fairness Hearing took place on July 30, 2004, before Judge Christina A. Snyder of the United States District Court in Los Angeles, California. At the Final Fairness Hearing, Judge Snyder approved the Settlement, and found that it was fair, adequate, and reasonable. The Final Order and Judgement may be viewed here.

    3. Deadlines and Procedures for Making Claims. Any Settlement Class Member who wishes to make a claim under the Settlement is required to submit a written Notice of Claim to the Settlement Fund Board, postmarked no later than March 16, 2005. Notices of Claim must be submitted to the Settlement Fund Board by first class mail addressed to: Marootian v. New York Life Class Action Settlement, c/o Settlement Administrator, PO Box 5053, Portland, Oregon 97208-5053. Notices of Claim postmarked after March 16, 2005 will not be timely, will not be considered by the Settlement Fund Board, and will not enable the persons who submit them to participate in the Settlement.

      Settlement Class Members who submit timely Notices of Claim will be contacted by the Settlement Fund Board and notified of the requirements, procedures, and deadlines for completing claims so that they may be considered for possible payment by the Settlement Fund Board.

       

  5. Who are the members of the Settlement Fund Board?

    California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi has appointed Berj Boyajian, Paul Krekorian, and Viken Manjikian, M.D. to serve as the Settlement Fund Board, which will evaluate and decide claims made under the Settlement.

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  6. Is there specific information from the board to the claimants?

    The letter from the Board can be viewed here.


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  7. Is there Additional information Request in Armenian?

    Additional information Request in Armenian can be viewed here.

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  8. Is there any forms in English that can be filled to file the claims?

The Questionnaire can be viewed here.

  1. Is there any forms in Armenian that can be filled to file the claims?

The Questionnaire can be viewed here.