被告：JanelleM.Bay
由新泽西州致上述被告： 上述原告已在新泽西州高等法院对您提起诉讼。本传票所附的诉状说明了诉讼的依据。如果您对此诉状有异议，您或您的律师必须在收到本传票之日起35天内（不包括收到本传票之日），向上述县高等法院副书记官提交书面答复或动议以及送达证明。（高等法院各位副书记官的地址目录可在上述县的民事法庭管理办公室查阅，也可登录http://www.nicourts.gov在线查阅）。如果是关于取消抵押品赎回权的诉状，您必须将书面答复或动议以及送达证明提交给高等法院书记官 ，地址 HughesJusticeComplex,P.O.Box971,Trenton,NJ08625-0971。在提交答复或动议时，必须随附应支付给新泽西州财政部长的申请费和填妥的《案件信息声明》（可向高等法院副书记官索取）。您还必须将您的答复或动议的副本发送给原告的律师，其姓名和地址如上所述，如果上面没有指定律师，则发送给原告。一通电话并不能保护您的权利；如果您希望法院审理您的辩护，您必须提交并送达书面答复或动议（费用为175美元，以及填妥的《案件信息声明》）。
如果您未在本传票发布日期35天内提交并送达书面答复或动议，法院可能会对您作出判决，要求您提供原告要求的救济，外加利息和诉讼费用。如果对您做出了判决，治安官可能会扣押您的钱款、工资或财产，以支付全部或部分判决金额。如果您请不起律师，您可以致电您居住地所在县的法律服务办公室，或新泽西州全州法律服务热线1-888-LSNJ-LAW（1-888-576-5529）。如果您没有律师，也不符合免费法律援助的条件，您可以致电一家律师转介服务机构，获得律师转介服务。当地法律服务办公室和律师转介服务机构的联系信息目录可在上述县的民事法庭管理办公室查阅，也可登录http://www.njcourts.gov在线查阅。法院名称及地址：新泽西州高等法院(SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY)衡平法庭(CHANCERY DIVISION)巴赛克县(PASSAIC COUNTY)原告律师的姓名、地址和电话号码：格林斯庞·马德律师事务所(GREENSPOON MARDER LLP)Kory Ann Ferro律师（ID号码065932013）河滨广场一号大厦(One Riverfront Plaza)雷蒙德大道1037号900室(1037 Raymond Blvd., Suite 900)纽瓦克市，新泽西州07102(Newark,New Jersey 07102)电话：(732)456-8746 电子邮箱：KoryAnn.Ferro@gmlaw.com 高等法院书记官：/s/Michelle M.Smith,Esq.日期：2025年8月4日GREENSPOON MARDER LLPKory Ann Ferro, Esq.(ID No. 065932013)One Riverfront Plaza 1037 Raymond Blvd.,Suite 900 Newark,New Jersey 07102 Tel.:(732)456-8746 KoryAnn.Ferro@gmlaw.comSUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY CHANCERY DIVISION PASSAIC COUNTY,DOCKET NO.:PAS-C-000019-24 CIVIL ACTION CIVIL ACTION SUMMONS IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF KAREN BAY,deceased.FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY to The Defendant(s)Named Above: The plaintiff, named above, has filed a lawsuit against you in the Superior Court of New Jersey. The complaint attached to this summons states the basis for the lawsuit. If you dispute this complaint, you or your attorney must file a written answer or motion and proof of service with the deputy clerk of the Superior Court in the county listed above with 35 days from the date of the publication of this Summons,not counting the date you received it.(A directory of the addresses of each deputy clerk of the Superior Court is available in the Civil Division Management Office in the county listed above and online at http://www.njcourts.gov.)If the complaint is one in foreclosure, then you must file your written answer or motion and proof of service with the Clerk of the Superior Court, Hughes Justice Complex, P.O. Box 971, Trenton. NJ 08625-0971. A filing fee payable to the Treasurer, State of New Jersey and a completed Case Information Statement(available from the deputy clerk of the Superior Court)must accompany your answer or motion when it is filed. You must also send a copy of your answer or motion to plaintiff's attorney whose name and address appear above, or to plaintiff, if no attorney is named above. A telephone call will not protect your rights; you must file and serve a written answer or motion(with fee of $175.00 and completed Case Information Statement)if you want the court to hear your defense.
If you do not file and serve a written answer or motion within 35 days the court may enter a judgment against you for the relief plaintiff demands, plus interest and costs of suit. If judgment is entered against you, the Sheriff may seize your money, wages or property to pay all or part of the judgment.
If you cannot afford an attorney, you may call the Legal Services office in the county where you live or the Legal Services of New Jersey Statewide Hotline at 1- 888-LSNJ-LAW(1-888-576-5529). If you do not have an attorney and are not eligible for free legal assistance, you may obtain a referral to an attorney by calling one of the Lawyer Referral Services. A directory with contact information for local Legal Services Offices and Lawyer Referral Services is available in the Civil Division Management Office in the county listed above and online at http://www.njcourts. gov Dated：August,4, 2025 /s/ Michelle M. Smith. Esq. Clerk of the Superior Court Name of Defendant to be served: Janelle M. Bay, Address of Defendant to be served: 17c, tower 2, Zhongliang Tianyue Yihao, Baoan District, Shenzhen City, Guangdong Province.
关于已故KARENBAY遗产的事宜经核实的确认判决的诉状案件编号：PAS-C-000019-24 被告：Principal Life Insurance Company、JanelleM.Bay
原告KarenBay的遗产
（“遗产”或“原告”）通过其在下方签名的律师，特此申诉如下，作为对利害关系人被告Principal Life Insurance Company("Principal")和 JanelleMBay("Janelle")的确认判决的诉状：
一、初步声明遗产根据新泽西州注释法规《新泽西州统一确认判决法》2A:16-50及以下各款，提起本诉讼请求宣告性救济，要求声明Principal必须将年金合同7305项下的年金资金（“年金”）分配给遗产，因为Janelle已经放弃其在年金项下的权利和/或被取消该等权利的继承权。
二、管辖权和审判地
1.各方之间就标的年金认判决法2A:16-50及以下各款，本法院对本诉讼具有管辖权，这规定根据规则4:3-1（a）（1）,本法院对确认判决程序拥有管辖权。
3.根据规则4:3-2,将审判地设在巴赛克县是正确的，因为诉因是在巴赛克县产生的，遗产是在巴赛克县进行遗嘱认证的。
三、事实背景
1.2016年4月4日，死者KarenBay("Bay")与Principal签订了年金合同。参见《附件A》中AllisonStoveken的宣誓书（“Stoveken宣誓书”）1。2.年金指定Bay疏远的女儿Janelle为主要受益人。6.Bay的遗嘱日期为2022年7月5日（“遗嘱”），指定AllisonStoveken("Stoveken")为遗产执行人。参见《附件B》中的Stoveken宣誓书。3.Bay的遗嘱取消了Janelle的继承权，包括非遗嘱认证财产的继承权，遗嘱中写道：“出于我自己最清楚的原因，我没有在这份遗嘱中作出任何安排，也没有在本遗嘱之外，将我的任何财产作为非遗嘱认证财产转移给我的女儿JANELLEM.BAY。我的女儿已经多年没有和我联系，我甚至不知道在哪里可以找到她。”参见同上，第3页（着重部分由作者标明）。4.Bay于2022年8月6日去世。5.2022年10月3日，该遗嘱进行遗嘱认证，Stoveken获发遗嘱认证书，案卷编号为228276。参见《附件C》中的Stoveken宣誓书。6.尽管Bay明确表示要取消Janelle的继承权，但Stoveken仍在Janelle母亲去世前后费尽周折寻找她，其中包括：（1）向Janelle在加州的最后已知地址寄信，但因无法投递而被退回；（2）利用“peoplefinder”等付费在线搜索平台；（3）拨打可能属于Janelle的电话号码，但毫无成效；（4）在加州付费查询死亡证明，结果显示档案中没有死亡证明；以及（5）聘请FLRiskManagement的私家侦探（“侦探”）提供服务。参见Stoveken宣誓书第8-14段和《附件D》、《附件E》。Stoveken宣誓书作为附件“1”随附在本文件中。7.Stoveken聘请的侦探对信贷和银行业务、破产、留置权、判决、公共援助和社交媒体进行了各种搜索。侦探确定Janelle的最后已知地点是加州洛杉矶。因此，他去了加州亲自拜访了Janelle的最后已知地址、工作地点和无家可归者营地。参见Stoveken宣誓书第15-16段；MilesSoto宣誓书（“Soto宣誓书”）2 第3-5段。8.2023年4月25日，侦探前往Janelle的前雇主处，即Josie's Flowers,一名员工在侦探在场的情况下与Janelle取得了联系。一个自称是Janelle的人接听了电话，并告知她住在中国深圳，自2017年8月以来一直在那里教英语。侦探告诉Janelle Bay过世的消息和留给Janelle的年金，但Janelle告知侦探她不想要年金资金，对这笔钱不感兴趣，不想和这笔钱有任何关系，拒绝进一步讨论，并挂断了电话。参见Stoveken宣誓书第17段、第22段和Soto宣誓书第6段。9.2023年5月1日，侦探回到花店，花店的员工再次给Janelle打电话。侦探试图向Janelle解释，年金里有很多钱，并要求合作，以免这些钱无人认领。他索要了Janelle的联系方式，以便转发给Principal。然而，Janelle重申，她不想与年金有任何关系，也不想让侦探、Stoveken或Principal与她联系3,然后挂断了电话。参见Stoveken宣誓书第18段和Soto宣誓书第7段。10.2023年5月4日，Stoveken与花店商量，让他们再次给Janelle打电话，以便向她提供Stoveken的联系方式。Stoveken一直没有收到Janelle的消息。参见Stoveken宣誓书第20段。11.2024年1月12日，Stoveken通过律师向Principal提交了一份宣誓书，并基于Bay取消Janelle的继承权的明确意图以及Janelle对年金的放弃，要求Principal将年金资金分配给遗产。2 Soto宣誓书作为附件“2”随附在本文件中。3 Janelle甚至拒绝提供联系电话，只提供了一个不属于她的电子邮件地址。参见Stoveken宣誓书第11段和Soto宣誓书第7段。12.2024年1月24日，Principal告知它需要法院命令才能将年金资金分配给遗产。13.因此，遗产提起诉讼，要求宣告性救济，以确保年金资金按照Bay的意愿和Janelle的口头弃权分配给遗产。任由这些资金没有丝毫进展，无限期地滞留在Principal,然后充公交给国家，这将有违公平原则，也不符合本案的事实。四、确认判决的第一诉因。14.上述各段并入此处，如同完整陈述。15.新泽西州注释法规《新泽西州统一确认判决法》2A:16-50及以下各款授权法院宣布权利、地位和其他法律关系，以便为诉讼当事人提供救济，使其免于不确定性和不安全性。16.各方之间就标的年金能否分配给遗产有实际和可裁判的争议。17.指示Principal将年金分配给遗产的司法声明对于裁决和解决本案各方之间的争议至关重要。18.鉴于Bay明确取消了Janelle的继承权，且Janelle也放弃了对年金的继承权，遗产有权要求法院解决年金分配方面的权利、地位和其他法律关系并给予救济，以免除不确定性和不安全性。因此，原告，即遗产，谨请求判决和救济如下：A.宣布Bay取消了Janelle对年金的继承权；B.Janelle放弃她拥有的关于领取年金的任何和所有权利；C.由于Bay取消了Janelle的继承权和/或Janelle口头放弃了年金，Principal应将年金分配给遗产；D.此处未明确要求的、解决本案所必需的有关各方权利和义务的任何和所有声明；以及E.法院认为公平、公正的其他进一步救济。法院名称及地址：新泽西州高等法院(SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY)衡平法庭(CHANCERY DIVISION)巴赛克县(PASSAIC COUNTY)
原告律师的姓名、地址和电话号码：格林斯庞·马德律师事务所(GREENSPOON MARDER LLP)Kory Ann Ferro, 律师（执照号：065932013）One Riverfront Plaza 1037 Raymond Blvd., Suite 900Newark, New Jersey 07102 电话：（732）456-8746 邮箱：KoryAnn.Ferro@gmlaw.com日期：2024年2月21日谨此提交庭审律师指定根据规则4:25-4,特此指定Kory Ann Ferro为本案原告的庭审律师。根据规则4:5-1的证明根据规则4:5-1,本人证明本案不属于任何法院待决的任何其他诉讼的标的，也不属于待决仲裁程序的标的，目前也没有其他正在考虑中的诉讼或仲裁程序。本人不知道应参加此次诉讼的任何一方。符合规则1:38-7（c）的证明本人证明，根据规则1:38-7的规定，目前提交给法院的所有文件中的机密个人身份信息均已经过编辑，今后提交的所有文件中的机密个人身份信息也将根据规则1:38-7（b）的规定进行编辑。日期：2025年8月4日 签字人：
GREENSPOON MARDER LLP
原告律师
/s/Kory Ann Ferro , Esq.(ID No. 065932013)
GREENSPOON MARDER LLP Kory Ann Ferro, Esq.(ID No. 065932013)One
Riverfront Plaza 1037 Raymond Blvd., Suite 900 Newark, New Jersey 07102
Tel.:(732)456- 8746
KoryAnn.Ferro@gmlaw.com
SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY CHANCERY DIVISION PASSAIC COUNTY DOCKET NO.: PAS C- 19-24 CIVIL ACTION VERIFIED COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY JUDGMENT IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF KAREN BAY, deceased.Plaintiff the Estate of Karen Bay(the "Estate" or "Plaintiff")by and through its undersigned counsel, as and for a Complaint for Declaratory Judgment against Interested Party Defendants Principal Life Insurance Company("Principal")and Janelle M. Bay("Janelle"), hereby complains as follows:
I. PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
The Estate files this action for declaratory relief pursuant to the Uniform Declaratory Judgment Act of New Jersey, N.J.S.A. 2A:16-50, et seq., seeking a declaration that Principal must distribute the annuity funds under Annuity Contract 7305(the "Annuity")to the Estate because Janelle has disclaimed her rights under the Annuity and/or was disinherited with respect to same.
II. JURISDICTION, AND VENUE，1. There exists an actual and justiciable controversy between and among the parties concerning whether the subject annuity can be distributed to the Estate. 2. This Court has jurisdiction over this action, pursuant to the Uniform Declaratory Judgment Act of New Jersey, N.J.S.A. 2A:16-50, et seq., which provides for this Court's jurisdiction over declaratory judgment proceedings, pursuant to Rule 4:3- 1(a)(1). 3. Venue is properly placed in Passaic County pursuant to Rule 4:3-2 because the cause of action arose in Passaic County where the Estate was probated.
III.FACTUALBACKGROUND，4. On April 4, 2016, Decedent Karen Bay("Bay")contracted with Principal for the Annuity. See Affidavit of Allison Stoveken("StovekenAff.")'at Ex. A. 5. The Annuity designates Bay's estranged daughter, Janelle, as the primary beneficiary thereof. 6. Bay's Last Will and Testament dated July 5, 2022(the "Will")names Allison Stoveken("Stoveken")as the executor of the Estate. SeeStovekenAff.at Ex. B. 7. Bay's Will disinherits Janelle, including as to non-probate assets, stating: "For reasons best known to me, I make no provisions in this my Last Will and Testament or any [of] my assets passing outside of this Will asnon-probate assets for my daughter, JANELLE M. BAY. My daughter has not kept in contact with me for years and I do not even know where to locate her." Seeid at p. 3(emphasis added). 8. Bay passed away on August 6, 2022. 9. The Will was probated and a Testamentary Certificate issued to Stoveken on October 3, 2022 under docket no. 228276. See StovekenAff. at Ex. C. 10. Despite Bay's clear intent to disinherit Janelle, Stoveken went to great lengths to locate Janelle before and after her mother's passing, including:(1)sending a letter to Janelle's last known address in California — which was returned as undeliverable;(2)utilizing paid on-line searching platforms such as "people finder";(3)calling phone numbers potentially belonging to Janelle, but to no avail;(4)paying for a death certificate search in California that showed no death certificate on file; and(5)retaining the services of a private investigator, FL Risk Management(the "Investigator"). See StovekenAff. at?? 8-14 andExs. D-E.11.Stoveken's Investigator performed various searches for credit and banking, bankruptcies, liens, judgments, public assistance, and social media. The Investigator determined that Janelle's last known location was Los Angeles, California. As such, he went to California and personally visited Janelle's last known addresses, employment locations and homeless encampments. See StovekenAff. at?? 15-16; Affidavit of Miles Soto("Soto Aff.")at?6.73-5.12. On April 25, 2023, the Investigator went to Janelle's former employer, Josie's Flowers where an employee contacted Janelle with the Investigator present. Someone claiming to be Janelle answered the phone and advised she lives in Shenzen, China where she has been teaching English since August 2017. The Investigator informed Janelle of Bay's passing and the Annuity left to Janelle, but Janelle advised the Investigator that she did not want the Annuity funds, was not interested in the money, wanted nothing to do with the money, refused to discuss it further, and terminated the call. See StovekenAff. at?17, 22; Soto Aff at ?6. 13. On May 1, 2023, the Investigator returned to the floristand the employee there called Janelle again. The Investigator tried to explain to Janelle that the Annuity held a lot of money and asked to work together so that the money did not go unclaimed. He asked for Janelle's contact information to forward to Principal. However, Janelle reiterated that she wants nothing to do with the Annuity and does not want to be contacted by the Investigator, Stoveken, or Principal and she terminated the call. See StovekenAff. at? 18; Soto Aff. at ? 7. Janelle refused to provide even a contact number and instead only provided an email address that does not belong to her. SeeStovekenAff.at? 19; Soto Aff. at? 7.14. On May 4, 2023, Stoveken spoke with the florist and asked that they call Janelle again to provide her with Stoveken's contact information. Stoveken has never heard from Janelle. See StovekenAff. at? 20. 15. On January 12, 2024, Stoveken, through counsel, submitted an Affidavit to Principal and requested, based on Bay's clear intent to disinherit Janelle and Janelle's disclaimer of the Annuity, that Principal distribute the Annuity funds to the Estate. 16. On January 24, 2024, Principal advised it would require a Court Order to distribute the Annuity funds to the Estate. 17. As such, the Estate files this action for declaratory relief to ensure that the Annuity funds are distributed to the Estate in accordance with Bay's wishes and consistent with Janelle's oral disclaimer. To allow the funds to languish indefinitely with Principal and then escheat to the state would be contrary to equity and inconsistent with the facts of this matter.
IV. FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION FOR DECLATORY JUDGMENT 18. The foregoing paragraphs are incorporated herein as if set forth in full. 19. The Uniform Declaratory Judgment Act of New Jersey, N.J.S.A., 2A:16-50, et seq. authorizes the Court to declare rights, status, and other legal relations so as to afford litigants relief from uncertainty and insecurity. 20. There is an actual and justiciable controversy between and among the parties concerning whether the subject annuity can be distributed to the Estate. 21. Judicial declaration directing Principal to distribute the Annuity to the Estate is essential to adjudicate and resolve the controversy between the Parties hereto. 22. The Estate is entitled to have this Court settle and afford relief from uncertainty and insecurity with respect to the rights, status, and other legal relations regarding the distribution of the Annuity in light of Bay's unequivocal disinheritance of Janelle and Janelle's disclaimer as to the Annuity. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff, the Estate, respectfully request judgement and relief as follows: A. A declaration that Bay's disinherited Janelle with respect to the Annuity; B. Janelle disclaimed any and all right she had to receipt of the Annuity; C. Principal shall distribute the Annuity to the Estate due to Bay's disinheritance of Janelle and/ or Janelle's oral disclaimer of the Annuity; D. For any and all declarations not expressly requested herein regarding the rights and duties of the Parties that are necessary for the resolution of this matter; and E. Such other and further relief as the Court deems equitable and just. DATED: February 21, 2024 Respectfully submitted, /s/ Kory Ann Ferro Kory Ann Ferro, Esq.(ID No. 065932013)GREENSPOON MARDER LLP One Riverfront Plaza 1037 Raymond Blvd., Suite 900 Newark, New Jersey 07102 Tel.:(732)456-8746 KoryAnn.Ferro@gmlaw.com Attorneys for Plaintiff Janelle refused to provide even a contact number and instead only provided an email address that does not belong to her. SeeStovekenAff.at? 19; SotoAff. at? 7.
DESIGNATION OF TRIAL COUNSEL: Pursuant to Rule 4:25- 4, Kory Ann
Ferro is hereby designated as trial counsel on behalf of Plaintiff in the within matter.
CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO RULE 4:5- 1: Pursuant to Rule 4:5- 1, I certify that the within matter is not the subject of any other action pending in any court or the subject of a pending arbitration proceeding, and no other action or arbitration proceeding is presently contemplated. I am not aware of any parties who should join this action.
CERTIFICATION IN COMPLIANCE WITH R.1:38-7(c): I certify that confidential personal identifiers, as defined in Rule 1:38-7, have been redacted from all documents now submitted to the Court, and will be redacted from all documents submitted in the future in accordance with Rule 1:38-7(b)DATED: February 21, 2024 GREENSPOON MARDER LLP Attorneys for Plaintiff By: /s/ Kory Ann Ferro, Esq.(ID No. 065932013)
VERIFICATION:I, Allison Stoveken, do hereby certify that I am the executor of the Estate of Karen Bay, Plaintiff in the within action. I have read the foregoing Verified Complaint and know the contents thereof. I certify that the factual statements made therein are true to my own knowledge. except as to the matters stated therein to be alleged upon information and belief and. as to those matters, I believe them to be true based on information and belief. Dated: February 20, 2024(signed)Allison Stoveken