ReliaStar Life Insurance Company v. Robinson et al

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS
CENTRAL DIVISION
RELIAST AR LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY
PLAINTIFF/COUNTER
DEFENDANT
v. 	No. 4:23-cv-1053-DPM
CONNIE ROBINSON 	DEFENDANT/CROSS
DEFENDANT
v.
AMANDA ROBINSON
v.
REBECCA L. ROBINSON; 	NATHAN
ROBINSON; WILLIAM R. ROBINSON;
CYNTHIA L. WIRZFIELD; and AL VIN E.
HOLTZ
ORDER
DEFENDANT/CROSS
CLAIMANT/COUNTER
CLAIMANT
DEFENDANTS
Good cause is a capacious concept. 	Amanda Robinson was not
diligent 	in 	meeting 	the 	Scheduling 	Order's 	deadline 	for 	filing
dispositive 	motions. 	Connie 	Robinson 	was. 	Amanda's 	lack 	of
diligence weighs against allowing her to file a late motion for summary
judgment. 	Sherman v. Winco Fireworks, Inc., 532 F.3d 709, 716-17 (8th
Cir. 2008). 	But she is correct that this 	dispute 	about life insurance
proceeds does seem, based on the pleadings and Connie's motion, to be
Case 4:23-cv-01053-DPM Document 63 Filed 11/20/25 Page 1 of 2

one where no material facts are disputed and the questions are legal.
After considering Connie's motion in depth, the Court could give notice
that it was considering granting Amanda judgment, allow the parties
to be heard, and then rule. 	Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(£)(1). 	Allowing a belated
motion from Amanda now gives both sides more opportunity to be
heard fully. 	If the case can be resolved one way or the other on cross
motions, there will be no need for a trial seven months from now .
Doc. 28 at 2. 	The possibility that it can, plus the lack of prejudice, is
good cause for accepting Amanda's late motion.
Opposed 	motion, 	Doc. 	57, 	granted. 	Fed. 	R. 	Civ. P. 16(b)(4).
Amanda's motion for summary judgment due by 4 December 2025.
Final Scheduling Order, Doc. 28, amended.
So Ordered.
~ ~ ~
I'
D .P. Marshall Jr.
United States District Judge
-2-
Case 4:23-cv-01053-DPM Document 63 Filed 11/20/25 Page 2 of 2