In October 2010, "The Wall Street Journal" reported that the Tomlinson family was allowed to join a civil suit involving AIG for its alleged complicity in a 'stranger-originated life insurance' scheme. The case involved JB Carlson and Germaine Tomlinson, and alleged that AIG managers allowed Carlson to take out life insurance policies against Tomlinson without an insurable interest, which some labeled a "death bet". AIG initially filed a suit against Carlson in 2008 to invalidate the claim altogether, arguing that it was filed fraudulently. The case was settled and dismissed with prejudice by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker on May 25, 2011.