Transamerica $110M Life Insurance Settlement, Check If You Qualify, Wren v. Transamerica Life Insurance Co., No. 5:21-cv-00178-JGB-SP

There’s a $110 million fund set aside for people who own or owned certain Transamerica life insurance policies — and you don’t have to file anything to get your share. Transamerica agreed to pay after a lawsuit claimed it failed to credit cash value increases on Direct Recognition Life policies. You have until October 2, 2026, if you want to opt out or object instead.

Transamerica Life Insurance Settlement — Key Facts

Settlement Amount	$110,000,000
Claim Deadline	None — payment is automatic, no claim form
Who Qualifies	Owners/former owners of TLIC “Direct Recognition Life 10” or “11” policies (DRL-10, DRL-11) in effect Jan. 1, 2016
Estimated Payout	Pro-rata share of the Net Settlement Fund; minimum $100 per policy
Proof Required	No
Settlement Status	Preliminarily approved; Fairness Hearing set for Nov. 9, 2026
Court & Case Number	U.S. District Court, C.D. Cal., No. 5:21-cv-00178-JGB-SP
Law Alleged	Breach of contract and breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing
Administrator	JND Legal Administration
Official Claim Site	www.WrenCVISettlement.com
Last Updated	August 22, 2026

Who Is Transamerica and Why Are They Being Sued Over Cash Value Increases?

Transamerica Life Insurance Company sold group universal life policies under the names “Direct Recognition Life 10” and “Direct Recognition Life 11” through employer and trade-group plans. Those policies promised scheduled cash value bumps — called Cash Value Increases, or CVIs — at set anniversaries. Policyholders William Wren and John Murphy say Transamerica quietly skipped some of those credits and didn’t deal with them in good faith.

What Did Transamerica Do to DRL Policyholders Between 2016 and 2026?

Wren first sued back in February 2021. The claim was narrow: Transamerica’s DRL-10 and DRL-11 policies were supposed to get CVI credits at the 20th, 30th, and 40th policy anniversaries, calculated as a percentage of premiums paid in the first ten years. Wren and Murphy argued Transamerica “did not act in good faith” in how it handled those credits — and in some cases just didn’t pay them.

The case dragged on for years, through an amended complaint in 2025 and formal discovery that included actuarial experts and depositions. Two mediation sessions with a JAMS mediator finally produced a deal in January 2026. Transamerica still denies doing anything wrong — that’s standard in a settlement like this. But $110 million says the risk of losing at trial was real enough to write a check.

Who Qualifies for the Transamerica DRL Settlement?

Here’s exactly how to know if this case includes you.

• Anyone who owns a TLIC universal life policy that was active on January 1, 2016
• Policies known as “Direct Recognition Life 10” or “Direct Recognition Life 11” — or coded DRL-10 / DRL-11
• Group policies set up through a Group Master Policy, Group Insurance Certificate, and Issue Illustration
• Former owners whose DRL policy has since lapsed or terminated are still included

You’re not in the class if you’re a TLIC officer or director, you work at one of the plaintiffs’ law firms, or you already filed a valid request to be excluded. TLIC also confidentially identified some policyowners as excluded under prior agreements — a narrow group, but it exists.

Related article: SitusAMC $5.3M Data Breach Settlement, Check If You Qualify In re SitusAMC Holdings Corp. Data Breach Litigation, No. 1:25-cv-9748

Transamerica DRL Policyholders Outside California — Are You Still Covered?

This is a nationwide settlement class. It doesn’t matter what state your policy was issued or serviced in — if your DRL-10 or DRL-11 policy was active on January 1, 2016, you’re covered no matter where you live now.

Not sure if you qualify for the Transamerica life insurance settlement? A free consultation with an insurance bad faith attorney can help you understand your options before the October 2 deadline.

How Much Can Transamerica DRL Settlement Class Members Get?

Each current policyowner gets a check equal to their pro-rata share of the Net Settlement Fund — the $110 million minus administration costs, attorneys’ fees, and service awards. Nobody’s guessing at your number; it’s tied directly to how much CVI credit your specific policy was owed.

There’s a floor built in. Every recipient gets at least $100, even if their calculated share comes out lower — unless their policy was already covered by TLIC’s earlier “Bonus Crediting Project.” More filers doesn’t shrink your check here, since payment isn’t claims-based. It’s calculated straight from TLIC’s own records.

Two other pieces of relief matter beyond cash. Transamerica agreed to credit the 40-Year Guaranteed CVI on eligible policies still active at their 40th anniversary. And it agreed not to challenge certain death claims based on old paperwork issues from when the policy was first issued.

Payments over $600 may show up on a 1099. Check with a tax professional before you spend it.

Here’s the number worth sitting with: attorneys’ fees are capped at one-third of the settlement, and TLIC separately agreed to pay class counsel $5,835,397.97 outside the main fund. That figure comes straight from the settlement agreement — most coverage of this case won’t have it.

What Should You Do Right Now?

1. Do nothing — if TLIC’s records show you as a current policyowner, you’re already in and a check is coming
2. Confirm your mailing address hasn’t changed since your last policy statement
3. Decide if you want to opt out — you’d give up the payment but keep your right to sue separately
4. If objecting, file your written objection with the court by October 2, 2026
5. Watch for a check by mail; the administrator has 60 days after final approval to send them
6. Call JND Legal Administration at 1-888-305-6486 with any questions about your specific policy

Takes zero minutes if you’re staying in. That’s the whole point of a no-claim-form settlement.

Should You Opt Out or Object Before October 2, 2026?

What Opting Out Actually Means

If you opt out, you get no payment from this settlement — but you keep the right to sue Transamerica yourself over the same CVI issue, at your own expense. Most people shouldn’t opt out without talking to a lawyer first. The deadline is October 2, 2026.

How to Object to the Settlement

You can stay in the class and still tell the court you don’t like the deal. Objections must be filed with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and served on both parties’ counsel by October 2, 2026, following the format specified in the settlement notice.

Talk to a class action lawsuit attorney before October 2 if you’re weighing either option.

Transamerica DRL Settlement — Key Dates, 2026

Milestone	Date
Settlement Agreement Filed	July 10, 2026
Preliminary Approval	UNVERIFIED — exact order date not stated in notice documents
Opt-Out / Objection Deadline	October 2, 2026
Final Fairness Hearing	November 9, 2026
Expected Payment Date	Within 60 days of Final Settlement Date — exact date depends on any appeals

Transamerica DRL — Frequently Asked Questions, No. 5:21-cv-00178-JGB-SP

Do I need a lawyer to get paid from the Transamerica DRL settlement?

 No. Payment is automatic based on TLIC’s own policy records — there’s no claim form for you or a lawyer to file.

Is the Transamerica $110 million settlement legitimate?

 Yes. It’s a court-supervised settlement in Wren v. Transamerica, Case No. 5:21-cv-00178-JGB-SP, administered by JND Legal Administration and subject to final court approval.

When will Transamerica settlement payments be sent? 

Checks go out within 60 days of the Final Settlement Date, which follows the November 9, 2026 Fairness Hearing and any appeal period.

What if I own more than one DRL policy?

 You get a separate pro-rata payment calculated for each qualifying policy, based on that policy’s own CVI history.

Will my Transamerica settlement check show up on a 1099? 

Possibly. Payments over $600 may be reported. Talk to a tax advisor about your specific situation.

What does the 40-Year Guaranteed CVI Benefit mean for my policy?

 If your DRL policy is still active on its 40th anniversary, Transamerica has agreed to credit that guaranteed CVI amount — separate from your settlement check.

How much of the $110 million goes to attorneys? 

Class counsel can seek up to one-third of the fund, plus TLIC separately agreed to pay $5,835,397.97 in additional fees outside the main $110 million.

What if I already excluded myself from this case?

 Then you’re not part of the Settlement Class and won’t receive a payment — but you keep your right to pursue your own claim against Transamerica.

Sources Used in This Transamerica Life Insurance Article

• Official Postcard Notice — Wren v. TLIC Settlement, JND Legal Administration: https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com/1eeb16db-4934-006e-40a6-38fa91285ebb/c98b7c32-ed45-4fc9-ab6c-c7ad4e7b8602/Wren%20v%20TLIC%20Settlement%20-%20Postcard%20Notice.pdf
• Settlement Agreement and Release, Case No. 5:21-cv-00178-JGB-SP: https://assets-us-01.kc-usercontent.com/1eeb16db-4934-006e-40a6-38fa91285ebb/89004e03-d6b5-4b15-a4ee-dd996f458e23/Wren%20v%20TLIC%20-%20Settlement%20Agreement.pdf
• Official Settlement Website, JND Legal Administration: https://www.wrencvisettlement.com/faq

Related coverage: Transamerica’s earlier $57M cost-of-insurance settlement — a different case against the same insurer, over rate increases rather than unpaid CVI credits.

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against the Wren v. TLIC Settlement Agreement and official postcard notice from JND Legal Administration, as of August 22, 2026. Last Updated: August 22, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by state and individual circumstances differ. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified attorney.