Stevenson et al v. Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company et al

1
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MONTANA
MISSOULA DIVISION
TODD F. STEVENSON, an
individual on behalf of himself, and as
grantor of the Todd Stevenson 2013
Irrevocable Family Trust and the Todd
F. Stevenson Irrevocable Life
Insurance Trust; TERRI L.
STEVENSON, an individual on
behalf of herself, and as grantor of the
Terri L. Stevenson 2016 Irrevocable
Family Trust; TODD J.
STEVENSON, an individual; and
JOSEPH D. STEVENSON, an
individual on behalf of himself, and as
grantor of the Joseph D. Stevenson
Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust; and
FIRST TRUST COMPANY, LLC, on
behalf of and as trustee for the Todd
Stevenson 2013 Irrevocable Family
Trust, the Todd F. Stevenson
Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust, the
Terri L. Stevenson 2016 Irrevocable
Family Trust, and Joseph D.
Stevenson Irrevocable Life Insurance
Trust,
Plaintiffs,
vs.
MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL
LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY;
THE PENN MUTUAL LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY; THE
PENN INSURANCE AND
ANNUITY COMPANY; SUMMIT
FINANCIAL GROUP; GP
CV 24–109–M–DLC
ORDER
Case 9:24-cv-00109-DLC Document 287 Filed 10/09/26 Page 1 of 3

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CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC;
JOSHOA Q. GARDNER, an
individual; WINTRUST LIFE
FINANCIAL, a Division of Lake
Forest Bank & Trust Co., N.A.;
BARRINGTON BANK & TRUST
CO., N.A.; CMS NATIONAL
SERVICES, LLC; LAKE FOREST
BANK & TRUST CO., N.A.; and
JOHN DOES 1–5,
Defendants.
MASSACHUSETTS MUTUAL
LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY;
BARRINGTON BANK & TRUST
CO., N.A.; CMS NATIONAL
SERVICES, LLC DBA
SUCCESSION CAPITAL
ALLIANCE INSURANCE, LLC;
THE PENN INSURANCE AND
ANNUITY COMPANY; THE
PENN MUTUAL LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY;
WINTRUST LIFE FINANCIAL, a
Division of Lake Forest Bank &
Trust CO., N.A.; SUMMIT
FINANCIAL GROUP; and
JOSHOA Q. GARDNER,
Third-Party Plaintiffs,
vs.
COREY JONES, as Personal
Representative of the Estate of
Janette Krutzfeldt Jones;
KRUTZFELDT & JONES LLP; and
TODD S. STEADMAN,
Case 9:24-cv-00109-DLC Document 287 Filed 10/09/26 Page 2 of 3

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Third-Party Defendants.
Before the Court is Plaintiffs Todd F. Stevenson, Terri L. Stevenson, Todd J.
Stevenson, Joseph D. Stevenson, and First Trust Company, LLC’s, Motion for
Leave to File Under Seal. (Doc. 286.) Plaintiffs seek leave to file their response to
Defendant Wintrust Life Finance and Barrington Bank & Trust Co., N.A.’s
(collectively, “Wintrust”) Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. 280) under seal.
Plaintiffs requested conferral on the instant Motion with all other Parties but
received no response; accordingly, the Court treats it as opposed. (Doc. 286 at 2.)
Plaintiffs indicate that their brief and supporting materials reference
documents marked “confidential” pursuant to the Parties’ Stipulated Protective
Agreement. (Id.) The Court finds good cause to permit Plaintiffs to file their
submission under seal to avoid disclosure of these materials.
Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that the Motion (Doc. 286) is GRANTED.
Plaintiffs may file their brief, foundational declaration, supporting exhibits, and
statement of disputed/additional facts under seal.
DATED this 9th day of October, 2026.
Case 9:24-cv-00109-DLC Document 287 Filed 10/09/26 Page 3 of 3