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EXHIBIT 9
[LETTERHEAD OF PACIFIC LIFE]
DAVID R. CARMICHAEL
Senior Vice President
General Counsel
Law Department
(949) 219-3326 Telephone
(949) 219-3706 Facsimile
[email protected]
December 22, 2000
Pacific Life Insurance Company
700 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, California 92660
Dear Sirs:
In my capacity as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Pacific Life
Insurance Company ("Pacific Life"), I, or attorneys employed by Pacific Life
under my general supervision, have supervised the establishment of Separate
Account A of Pacific Life Insurance Company on September 7, 1994, which has been
authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors of Pacific Life adopted on
November 22, 1989, and Memorandum dated September 7, 1994 concerning Separate
Account A as the separate account for assets applicable to Pacific Odyssey
individual flexible premium deferred variable annuity contracts ("Contracts"),
pursuant to the provisions of Section 10506 of the Insurance Code of the State
of California. Moreover, I have been associated with the preparation of the
Registration Statement on Form N-4 ("Registration Statement"), filed by Pacific
Life and Separate Account A (File No. pending) with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, for the registration of
interests in the Separate Account A funding the Contracts.
I have made such examination of the law and examined such corporate records and
such other documents as in my judgment are necessary and appropriate to enable
me to render the following opinion that:
1. Pacific Life has been duly organized under the laws of the State of
California and is a validly existing corporation.
2. Pacific Select Separate Account A is duly created and validly existing
as a separate account pursuant to the aforesaid provisions of
California law.
3. The portion of the assets to be held in Separate Account A equal to
the reserves and other liabilities under the Pacific Odyssey Contracts
and any other contracts issued by Pacific Life that are supported by
Separate Account A is not chargeable with liabilities arising out of
any other business Pacific Life may conduct.
4. The Pacific Odyssey Contracts have been duly authorized by Pacific
Life and, when issued as contemplated by the Registration Statement,
will constitute legal, validly issued and binding obligations of
Pacific Life, except as limited by bankruptcy or insolvency laws
affecting the rights of creditors generally.
I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.
Very truly yours,
David R. Carmichael
Senior Vice President and General Counsel
