For Immediate Release
October 29, 2020 | Tysons Corner, VA

Offit Kurman is proud to congratulate Thomas W. Repczynski and Alison Noll for their recently announced Virginia Supreme Court victory in the case of Cheryl H. Wood, et al. v. Tracey L. Martin, in which the team successfully secured for Ms. Martin affirmation of a favorable $750,000 summary judgment decision in Fairfax Circuit Court and established new law in the process.

With the Supreme Court’s precedent-setting decision, Virginia now recognizes an ex-spouse’s “equitable assignment” rights to life insurance proceeds agreed to under a consensual property settlement agreement incorporated in a divorce decree.  You can read the opinion here.

The team’s pursuit of the case spanned several years, and culminated with Mr. Repczynski appearing virtually before the High Court at the height of the pandemic. He recounts that news of the win brought tears of joy and relief to Ms. Martin for whom the legal ordeal had been overwhelming at times.  “As a litigator,” admits Mr. Repczynski, “I generally hate to lose.  But this win and being able to make such a positive difference in a client’s life, at this time when the world seems utterly upside down, feels pretty amazing right now!”  Ms. Noll’s name does not appear on the briefs but she played a key supporting role throughout the process on behalf of her client.  “From the outset of the case, I advised Tracey that I was confident that the equities favored her and that we absolutely should win,” Ms. Noll shares.  “That said, as we kept peeling away the layers of this case, the novel theories offered by opposing counsel caused me some consternation, but were ultimately thwarted by keeping our focus on the ex-spouse’s direct violation of a court decree coupled with the balance of the equities being so strongly in Tracey’s favor.”