John Herzfeld v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. et al, No. 2:2018cv09784 - Document 91 (C.D. Cal. 2020)
Court Description: ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART DEFENDANTS MOTIONS TO DISMISS 39 , 40 by Judge Otis D. Wright, II: The Court GRANTS in part and DENIES inpart the Meritain & Aetna Motion (ECF No. 40) and DENIES the Plan Motion (ECFNo. 39). To the extent the Court grants leave to amend as discussed above, Herzfeld may file an amended complaint addressing the deficiencies herein within 21 days of the date of this order. (lc)
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John Herzfeld v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. et al Doc. 91 1 O 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 United States District Court Central District of California 9 10 11 Plaintiff, 12 v. 13 14 15 Case 2:18-CV-09784-ODW (SSx) JOHN HERZFELD, TEVA PHARMACEUTICALS USA, INC. OMNIBUS WELFARE PLAN, et al., ORDER GRANTING IN PART AND DENYING IN PART DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS TO DISMISS [39][40] Defendants. 16 17 I. INTRODUCTION 18 Plaintiff John Herzfeld brings this denial of benefits action against his 19 ERISA-governed welfare benefit plan, its administrator, claim fiduciary, insurance 20 network, and an independent review organization. 21 Defendants Teva Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. Omnibus Welfare Plan (the “Plan”), 22 Meritain Health, Inc. (“Meritain”), and Aetna Life Insurance Company (“Aetna”) 23 move to dismiss. (Plan Mot. to Dismiss (“Plan Mot.”), ECF No. 39; Meritain & Aetna 24 Mot. to Dismiss (“M&A Mot.”), ECF No. 40.) For the reasons that follow, the Court 25 GRANTS in part and DENIES in part the Meritain & Aetna Motion and DENIES 26 the Plan Motion. (ECF Nos. 39, 40.)1 (See Compl., ECF No. 1.) 27 28 1 Having carefully considered the papers filed in connection with the Motions, the Court deemed the matters appropriate for decision without oral argument. Fed. R. Civ. P. 78; C.D. Cal. L.R. 7-15. Dockets.Justia.com II. 1 BACKGROUND 2 The Court addressed the relevant factual allegations in its Order granting 3 Defendant MCMC, LLC’s2 motion to dismiss and incorporates that discussion here by 4 reference. (See Order Granting MCMC Mot. to Dismiss, ECF No. 34.) Jack Herzfeld (“Herzfeld”) is a dependent of Jeffrey Herzfeld, who was 5 6 employed by Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. 7 Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. is the Plan Administrator and Sponsor of the Plan, an 8 ERISA-governed welfare benefit plan. (Compl. ¶ 9.) Herzfeld, eighteen years old at 9 the initiation of this lawsuit, was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (Compl. ¶ 14.) (Compl. ¶¶ 2, 8.) Teva 10 (“DMD”) at the age of six. Herzfeld’s DMD “has caused 11 degeneration and weakness in his muscles such that he requires a wheelchair for 12 mobility and effectively has no use of his arms without assistance.” (Compl. ¶ 4.) 13 At his doctors’ recommendation, Herzfeld requested coverage for a 14 myo-electric elbow-wrist orthoses (“EWO”) called the MyoPro. (Compl. ¶¶ 22–27, 15 57–60.) Although Herzfeld alleges the MyoPro has gained widespread acceptance in 16 the medical community, Quantum Health Inc. (“Quantum”) denied Herzfeld’s request 17 for coverage, finding the MyoPro to be “Experimental and/or Investigational.” 18 (Compl. ¶¶ 32, 61.) Herzfeld submitted first and second level internal appeals of the 19 denial, both of which Quantum denied. (Compl. ¶¶ 51–54, 62–73.) Herzfeld alleges 20 that Quantum did not consider relevant evidence or follow procedures required for the 21 appeals. (See Compl. ¶¶ 57–75.) Herzfeld requested an external review and Quantum 22 assigned MCMC. (Compl. ¶¶ 74–75.) MCMC upheld Quantum’s coverage denial, 23 finding the MyoPro to be “experimental and investigational,” and Herzfeld alleges 24 MCMC’s review was biased, predetermined, and failed to comply with required 25 procedures. (Compl. ¶¶ 76–89.) Herzfeld alleges Meritain was obligated to ensure 26 the integrity of these reviews but did not. (Compl. ¶ 106.) 27 2 28 The Court granted MCMC’s motion to dismiss, and concurrently denies Herzfeld’s motion for reconsideration of that dismissal. (Mot. for Recons., ECF No. 65.) MCMC is no longer a party to this action. 2 1 Herzfeld filed the instant suit against the Plan, Quantum as a Plan 2 Administrator, Meritain as the Plan’s Claims Fiduciary and Third Party Administrator, 3 Aetna as the provider of network health care services under the Plan, and MCMC as 4 the external reviewer (collectively, “Defendants”). (Compl. ¶¶ 9–13.) He claims that 5 Defendants wrongfully denied pre-certification coverage for the MyoPro, given its 6 widespread acceptance in the medical community, and also breached their fiduciary 7 duties and denied a full and fair review in the process. (Compl. ¶ 6.) He asserts three 8 causes of action under ERISA: (1) denial of benefits under 29 U.S.C. § 1132(a)(1)(B), 9 (2) violation of fiduciary duties under 29 U.S.C. § 1132(a)(3), and (3) denial of full 10 11 12 13 and fair review under 29 U.S.C. § 1133. (Compl. ¶¶ 94–115.) Meritain and Aetna move to dismiss all causes of action against them. The Plan moves to dismiss Herzfeld’s second and third causes of action. III. LEGAL STANDARD 14 A court may dismiss a complaint under Rule 12(b)(6) for lack of a cognizable 15 legal theory or insufficient facts pleaded to support an otherwise cognizable legal 16 theory. Balistreri v. Pacifica Police Dep’t, 901 F.2d 696, 699 (9th Cir. 1988). To 17 survive a dismissal motion, a complaint need only satisfy the minimal notice pleading 18 requirements of Rule 8(a)(2)—a short and plain statement of the claim. Porter v. 19 Jones, 319 F.3d 483, 494 (9th Cir. 2003). The factual “allegations must be enough to 20 raise a right to relief above the speculative level.” Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 21 U.S. 544, 555 (2007). That is, the complaint must “contain sufficient factual matter, 22 accepted as true, to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Ashcroft v. 23 Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009) (internal quotation marks omitted). 24 The determination of whether a complaint satisfies the plausibility standard is a 25 “context-specific task that requires the reviewing court to draw on its judicial 26 experience and common sense.” Id. at 679. A court is generally limited to the 27 pleadings and must construe all “factual allegations set forth in the complaint . . . as 28 true and . . . in the light most favorable” to the plaintiff. Lee v. City of Los Angeles, 3 1 250 F.3d 668, 679 (9th Cir. 2001). However, a court need not blindly accept 2 conclusory allegations, unwarranted deductions of fact, and unreasonable inferences. 3 Sprewell v. Golden State Warriors, 266 F.3d 979, 988 (9th Cir. 2001). 4 Where a district court grants a motion to dismiss, it should generally provide 5 leave to amend unless it is clear the complaint could not be saved by any amendment. 6 See Fed. R. Civ. P. 15(a); Manzarek v. St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co., 519 F.3d 7 1025, 1031 (9th Cir. 2008). However, leave to amend “is properly denied . . . if 8 amendment would be futile.” Carrico v. City and Cty. of San Francisco, 656 F.3d 9 1002, 1008 (9th Cir. 2011). IV. 10 DISCUSSION 11 Meritain and Aetna seek dismissal of all three causes of action, arguing 12 Herzfeld fails to allege sufficient facts to state a claim against them. (See M&A 13 Mot. 5–6.) The Plan moves to dismiss Herzfeld’s second and third causes of action, 14 arguing that the equitable relief Herzfeld seeks is barred as duplicative of the first 15 cause of action, which provides an adequate remedy. (See Plan Mot. 5.) The Court 16 addresses each motion in turn. 17 A. Meritain & Aetna Motion [40] 18 1. Denial of Benefits, 29 U.S.C. § 1132(a)(1)(B) 19 Herzfeld asserts a first cause of action for denial of benefits under 29 U.S.C. 20 § 1132(a)(1)(B). (Compl. ¶¶ 94–101.) He claims that Defendants, including Meritain 21 and Aetna, breached the terms of the Plan by refusing to pre-certify coverage for the 22 MyoPro. (Compl. ¶ 99.) Meritain and Aetna argue that Herzfeld fails to allege 23 sufficient facts to support that either of them breached the terms of the Plan or could 24 be liable for denial of benefits. (M&A Mot. 10–12.) 25 ERISA provides that a plan participant or beneficiary may bring a civil action 26 “to recover benefits due to him under the terms of his plan, to enforce his rights under 27 the terms of the plan, or to clarify his rights to future benefits under the terms of the 28 plan.” 29 U.S.C. § 1132(a)(1)(B). Potential liability for denial of benefits under 4 1 subsection (a)(1)(B) is not limited to a Plan or the Plan administrator, but the 2 defendant must be someone “responsible for paying legitimate benefits claims” or 3 who can “redress[] the act or practice which violates any provision of” ERISA. Cyr v. 4 Reliance Standard Life Ins. Co., 642 F.3d 1202, 1206, 1207 (9th Cir. 2011) (internal 5 quotation marks omitted). “[P]roper defendants under § 1132(a)(1)(B) . . . at least 6 include ERISA plans, formally designated plan administrators, insurers or other 7 entities responsible for payment of benefits, and de facto plan administrators that 8 improperly deny or cause improper denial of benefits.” Spinedex Physical Therapy 9 USA Inc. v. United Healthcare of Ariz., Inc., 770 F.3d 1282, 1297 (9th Cir. 2014). 10 Suits may also be brought “against the plan as an entity and against the fiduciary of 11 the plan.” Id. (emphasis omitted); see 29 U.S.C. § 1002(21)(A) (a fiduciary is any 12 entity that exercises discretionary authority or control over the plan’s management, 13 administration, or disposition of assets). 14 defendant is one of the listed entities or a de facto plan administrator with 15 discretionary authority over claims. Thus, a plaintiff must allege that the 16 As to Aetna, Herzfeld appears not to oppose dismissal of the first cause of 17 action. (See generally Opp’n M&A Mot. (“Opp’n M&A”), ECF No. 48; M&A 18 Reply 2, ECF No. 51.) “Failure to oppose constitutes a waiver or abandonment of the 19 issue.” Heraldez v. Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC, No. CV 16-1978-R, 2016 WL 20 10834101, at *2 (C.D. Cal. Dec. 15, 2016), aff’d, 719 F. App’x 663 (9th Cir. 2018) 21 (citing Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP v. Countrywide Fin. Corp., 802 F. Supp. 2d 22 1125, 1132 (C.D. Cal. 2011)). Further, Herzfeld alleges only that Aetna provides 23 healthcare services for the Plan through its network (Compl. ¶ 12), but otherwise 24 includes no allegations that Aetna was responsible for resolving or paying claims, nor 25 that it played any role in the benefit denial (see generally Compl.). As such, dismissal 26 of the first cause of action against Aetna is appropriate. The Court DISMISSES this 27 cause of action against Aetna, with leave to amend. 28 5 1 As to Meritain, the parties agree that Meritain did not make the benefit 2 determination here; Quantum did. (M&A Mot. 12; Opp’n M&A 12–13.) However, 3 under Spinedex and Cyr, whether a party actually makes the ultimate determination is 4 not dispositive. 5 contemplated entities and “den[ies] or cause[s] improper denial of benefits.” 6 Spinedex, 70 F.3d at 1297. Plaintiff need only allege that the defendant is one of the 7 Herzfeld alleges Meritain is the Claims Fiduciary and Third Party 8 Administrator of the Plan, which arguably brings Meritain within the universe of 9 proper defendants. (Compl. ¶ 11.) However, he fails to describe Meritain’s role as 10 Claims Fiduciary and Third Party Administrator and his remaining allegations against 11 Meritain do little to show how Meritain played any part in the benefit denial. Herzfeld 12 alleges that Meritain, as the Claims Fiduciary, was supposed to notify Herzfeld of the 13 Medical Benefit’s determination and provide him certain information if the benefit 14 was denied. (Compl. ¶¶ 50–51.) Additionally, Meritain was obligated and failed to 15 ensure that Quantum followed required procedures in the claims reviews. (Compl. 16 ¶ 106.) Although a close call, the Court finds this insufficient to plausibly establish 17 that Meritain played a role in or somehow caused the benefit denial. Accordingly, 18 Herzfeld’s first cause of action for denial of benefits against Meritain fails. 19 In his opposition, Herzfeld argues that Meritain had the authority to resolve 20 claims. (Opp’n M&A 13.) Specifically, he argues Meritain was obligated under the 21 Plan to (1) make the benefit determination, (2) determine experimental/investigational 22 status, and (3) ensure that the initial claim and subsequent appeals were decided by 23 different fiduciaries. 24 complaint and thus do not save the claim from dismissal. However, such allegations 25 could support Herzfeld’s claim that Meritain had the authority to determine claims and 26 its failure to do so in some way caused the allegedly improper denial. Accordingly, 27 the Court DISMISSES the first cause of action against Meritain, with leave to 28 amend. (Opp’n M&A 13.) 6 These assertions do not appear in the 1 2. Breach of Fiduciary Duties, 29 U.S.C. § 1132(a)(3) 2 Herzfeld asserts his second cause of action for breach of fiduciary duties under 3 29 U.S.C. § 1132(a)(3). (Compl. ¶¶ 102–09.) He claims Defendants are ERISA 4 fiduciaries that breached their duties of care and loyalty. (Compl. ¶¶ 105–08.) 5 “To establish an action for equitable relief [for breach of fiduciary duties] under 6 [29 U.S.C. § 1132(a)(3)], the defendant must be an ERISA fiduciary acting in its 7 fiduciary capacity, and must ‘violate [] ERISA-imposed fiduciary obligations.’” 8 Mathews v. Chevron Corp., 362 F.3d 1172, 1178 (9th Cir. 2004) (quoting Varity Corp. 9 v. Howe, 516 U.S. 489, 498, 506 (1996)). ERISA imposes a duty of care on 10 fiduciaries to discharge duties prudently and in accordance with the Plan and a duty of 11 loyalty to discharge duties “solely in the interest of the” beneficiaries. See 29 U.S.C. 12 § 1104(a)(1). There are two types of ERISA fiduciaries, “named fiduciaries” and 13 “functional” fiduciaries. Depot, Inc. v. Caring for Montanans, Inc., 915 F.3d 643, 653 14 (9th Cir. 2019), cert. denied, 140 S. Ct. 223 (2019). A “named fiduciary” is a party 15 “designated ‘in the plan instrument’ as a fiduciary.” Id. In contrast, a “functional 16 fiduciary” is anyone who exercises discretionary authority or control respecting the 17 management or administration of an employee benefit plan or its assets. 18 Santomenno v. Transamerica Life Ins. Co., 883 F.3d 833, 837 (9th Cir. 2018). The 19 determination of benefits is generally a fiduciary act. Aetna Health Inc. v. Davila, 542 20 U.S. 200, 220 (2004). Id.; 21 Thus, Herzfeld must allege that Meritain and Aetna are “ERISA fiduciar[ies],” 22 named or functional, “acting in [their] fiduciary capacity,” and they “violate[d] . . . 23 ERISA-imposed fiduciary obligations” to comply with the Plan and to act solely in the 24 interest of beneficiaries. Mathews, 362 F.3d at 1178. 25 a. Meritain 26 Herzfeld alleges the Plan documents identify Meritain as a named fiduciary, the 27 “Claims Fiduciary.” (Compl. ¶ 11; Opp’n M&A 14.) He alleges that Meritain owed a 28 fiduciary duty of care under the Plan to oversee the conduct of Quantum and MCMC, 7 1 and breached that duty when it failed to ensure that Quantum followed all required 2 procedures and that MCMC conducted a compliant, impartial review. (Compl. ¶ 106.) 3 Further, Herzfeld alleges how Quantum failed to comply with required procedures 4 under the Plan and ERISA (Compl. ¶¶ 61–75) as well as how MCMC failed to 5 conduct a compliant and impartial review (Compl. ¶¶ 76–89). 6 sufficiently alleges that Meritain is an ERISA fiduciary as well as how it breached its 7 fiduciary duty of care.3 Thus, Herzfeld 8 Herzfeld also alleges that Meritain, along with all Defendants, breached its 9 fiduciary duty of loyalty by “refusing to cover the Myomo MyoPro, to [Defendants’] 10 own advantage, at the expense of the Plan’s participants and beneficiaries.” (Compl. 11 ¶¶ 107–08.) Yet Herzfeld offers no allegations specific to Meritain regarding how 12 Meritain participated in the benefit denial or otherwise acted with an interest other 13 than for the beneficiaries such that it breached its duty of loyalty. 14 Accordingly, the Court DENIES dismissal of Herzfeld’s claim against Meritain 15 for breach of fiduciary duty of care, and GRANTS dismissal of Herzfeld’s claim 16 against Meritain for breach of fiduciary duty of loyalty. As it is not clear that 17 amendment would be futile, dismissal is with leave to amend. 18 b. Aetna 19 Herzfeld argues Aetna is a “functional” fiduciary. (Opp’n M&A 9–12.) 20 However, the only allegations in the complaint concerning Aetna are that it supplies 21 the network for provision of healthcare services (Compl. ¶ 12) and that MCMC 22 reviewed an “unspecified ‘Aetna Clinical Policy Bulletin’” in upholding the benefit 23 denial (Compl. ¶ 82.) Neither of these allegations support Herzfeld’s contention that 24 25 26 27 28 3 In his opposition, Herzfeld argues that Meritain, as Claims Fiduciary, owes a duty of care under the Plan to make the final benefit determination, determine experimental status of a device, and ensure the initial claim and subsequent appeals are handled by different fiduciaries. (Opp’n M&A 14–15.) He contends that Meritain breached its fiduciary duty by failing to carry out these obligations. (Opp’n M&A 15.) However, these assertions do not appear in the complaint (see Compl.), and, as the Court finds the claim sufficiently stated, it does not consider Herzfeld’s additional assertions concerning Meritain’s fiduciary duty of care. 8 1 Aetna is a functional fiduciary with discretionary authority over management of the 2 Plan or its assets, or that it engaged in any fiduciary act. Indeed, Herzfeld alleges no 3 conduct by Aetna, fiduciary or otherwise. (See Compl.) 4 Herzfeld argues that Aetna “was part of the benefit determination process” in 5 that it “created the Clinical Policy Bulletin” that MCMC relied on in upholding the 6 benefit denial. 7 complaint. Rather, the complaint alleges that MCMC claimed to have reviewed “an 8 unspecified ‘Aetna Clinical Policy Bulletin’” but that Aetna “has not created a Clinical 9 Policy Bulletin” that would apply. (Compl. ¶ 82.) Thus, instead of alleging that Aetna 10 provided a bulletin that supported the benefit denial, the complaint alleges that no 11 such Aetna bulletin exists. Second, even assuming Aetna created a relevant policy 12 bulletin and that it was used in the benefit denial, Herzfeld’s argument does not 13 establish that Aetna created Clinical Policy Bulletins to participate in claims 14 administration or develop coverage guidelines. See Kazda v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., 15 No. CV 19-02512-WHO, 2019 WL 6716306, at *4 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 10, 2019) (finding 16 allegations that defendant participated in claims administration by developing internal 17 coverage guidelines sufficient to state a claim for fiduciary breach); Bradford v. 18 Anthem Inc., No. CV 17-05098-AB (KSx), 2017 WL 8292780, at *3 (C.D. Cal. Nov. 19 2, 2017) (same). Thus, Herzfeld offers nothing to support that Aetna was at any time 20 acting as a fiduciary. 21 (Opp’n M&A 10.) First, this assertion does not appear in the Finally, Herzfeld alternatively argues the complaint states a nonfiduciary claim 22 against Aetna. (Opp’n M&A 11–12.) “[A] party in interest—including a non- 23 fiduciary third party—may be sued under [§ 1132(a)(3)] for its participation in a 24 prohibited transaction.” Depot, Inc., 915 F.3d at 659–60 (quoting Harris Tr. & Sav. 25 Bank v. Salomon Smith Barney, Inc., 530 U.S. 238, 246, 249–51 (2000)); see Bush v. 26 Liberty Life Assurance Co. of Bos., 130 F. Supp. 3d 1320, 1331 (N.D. Cal. 2015) 27 (citing Cyr and Harris Trust) (“[A] non-fiduciary may be liable for knowingly 28 participating in the administrator’s breach of [fiduciary] duty.”). First, the complaint 9 1 does not assert a claim for nonfiduciary breach, and instead expressly premises the 2 second cause of action on a breach of ERISA-fiduciary duties. 3 ¶¶ 102–09.) Herzfeld argues “Aetna knowingly provided to the Plan and its other 4 fiduciaries its flawed policy bulletin that improperly stated the MyoPro was 5 experimental and/or investigational.” (Opp’n M&A 11–12.) However, no allegations 6 consistent with this argument appear in the complaint, and thus it does not save the 7 claim from dismissal. (See Compl. 8 Accordingly, the Court dismisses Herzfeld’s second cause of action against 9 Aetna. As the Court finds amendment would not be futile, dismissal is with leave to 10 amend. 11 3. 12 Herzfeld asserts his third cause of action for denial of a full and fair review 13 under 29 U.S.C. § 1133. (Compl. ¶¶ 110–15.) Meritain and Aetna move to dismiss 14 this cause of action on the basis that Herzfeld does not allege either of them is the 15 Plan, which is the only proper defendant. (M&A Mot. 15.) Denial of Full and Fair Review, 29 U.S.C. § 1133 16 “ERISA § 503 [29 U.S.C. § 1133], which specifies minimum requirements for a 17 plan’s claim procedure, requires plans to ‘afford a reasonable opportunity to any 18 participant whose claim for benefits has been denied for a full and fair review by the 19 appropriate named fiduciary of the decision denying the claim.’” Aetna Health Inc., 20 542 U.S. at 220 (quoting 29 U.S.C. § 1133(2)). By its plain language, § 1133 and the 21 relevant regulations impose duties only upon benefit plans. See Lee v. ING Groep, 22 N.V., 829 F.3d 1158, 1161 (9th Cir. 2016) (citing with approval Wilczynski v. 23 Lumbermens Mut. Cas. Co., 93 F.3d 397, 406 (7th Cir. 1996) (“Section 1133, on its 24 face, establishes requirements for plans.”); see also Aetna Health Inc., 542 U.S. at 220 25 (noting that the relevant regulations implementing § 1133 “apply equally to health 26 benefit plans and other plans”). 27 Herzfeld does not oppose dismissal of his third cause of action against Meritain 28 and Aetna, and thus is deemed to have abandoned it. (See generally Opp’n M&A); 10 1 Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP, 802 F. Supp. 2d at 1132. Further, Herzfeld does not 2 allege that either Meritain or Aetna is the Plan. (See Compl. ¶¶ 11–12 (alleging 3 Meritain is the Claims Fiduciary and Third Party Administrator and Aetna supplies 4 the health care network under the Plan).) Accordingly, the third cause of action is not 5 properly asserted against Meritain or Aetna and is therefore DISMISSED as to them, 6 without leave to amend. 7 B. Plan Motion [39] 8 The Plan moves separately, requesting dismissal of Herzfeld’s second and third 9 causes of action, which each seek relief under § 1132(a)(3). (See Plan Mot.; Compl. 10 ¶¶ 109, 115.) The Plan argues these claims are barred as duplicative of the first cause 11 of action under § 1132(a)(1)(B), which provides adequate remedies. (Plan Mot. 2.) 12 Herzfeld contends that the causes of action are not duplicative but rather properly 13 assert alternative theories of liability seeking distinct remedies. (Opp’n Plan Mot. 14 (“Opp’n Plan”) 2, 10–14, ECF No. 52.) 15 First, the Plan acknowledges, and Herzfeld confirms, that Herzfeld does not 16 assert his second cause of action against the Plan. (Opp’n Plan 10; Plan Mot. 3 n.3.) 17 In footnotes on Reply, the Plan argues it may move to dismiss a claim brought against 18 other defendants but provides no authority in support. (Plan Reply 2 n.2, 5 n.4, ECF 19 No. 60.) What is more, no defendant against which the second cause of action is 20 asserted joins the Plan’s motion to dismiss. 21 Second, ERISA allows plaintiffs to seek relief under both § 1132(a)(1)(B) and 22 § 1132(a)(3). Moyle v. Liberty Mut. Ret. Ben. Plan, 823 F.3d 948, 960–61 (9th Cir. 23 2016) (discussing CIGNA Corp. v. Amara, 563 U.S. 421 (2011).) Although plaintiffs 24 are prohibited from seeking “duplicate recoveries when a more specific section of the 25 statute . . . provides a remedy similar to what the plaintiff seeks under the equitable 26 catchall provision, § 1132(a)(3),” plaintiffs are permitted to present both 27 § 1132(a)(1)(B) and § 1132(a)(3) as alternative theories of liability so long as there is 28 no double recovery. Id. at 961 (emphasis in original) (quoting Silva v. Metro. Life Ins. 11 1 Co., 762 F.3d 711, 726 (8th Cir. 2014)). Courts have recognized the “difficulty of 2 determining at the pleading stage of the case whether claims under [§ 1132(a)(1)(B)] 3 and [§ 1132(a)(3)] are, in fact, duplicative.” See, e.g., Kazda, 2019 WL 6716306, at 4 *6 (quoting Wit v. United Behavioral Health, No. CV 14-02346-JCS, 2014 WL 5 6626894, at *10 (N.D. Cal. Nov. 20, 2014)). 6 The Court finds Plaintiff has adequately pleaded alternative claims with distinct 7 remedies. Herzfeld’s first cause of action under § 1132(a)(1)(B) alleges Defendants 8 wrongfully denied him a benefit under the Plan and seeks as a remedy the benefit 9 denied and reimbursement. (Compl. ¶ 101.) Herzfeld alleges in the second cause of 10 action that Defendants breached their fiduciary duties when they did not comply with 11 the required claims process, for instance by failing to use a different fiduciary for 12 appeals or failing to use an impartial external reviewer. 13 102–09.) Thus, while the first cause of action seeks coverage under the Plan, the 14 second cause of action seeks to enjoin the violations alleged in the claims handling 15 process. Further, Herzfeld’s third cause of action alleges denial of a full and fair 16 review, and seeks to remedy Defendants’ refusal to provide reasons or protocols relied 17 upon in the benefit denial as well as the failure to inform Herzfeld of his rights in the 18 process. (Compl. ¶¶ 112, 115.) (See Compl. ¶¶61–89, 19 Although the Plan’s position is “not without some support, the claims seek 20 distinct remedies, and it is premature for [the Plan]—or the Court—to limit the 21 remedies [Herzfeld] may seek.” Wiittrock v. Danaher Corp., No. CV 17-6219 DSF 22 (SSx), 2018 WL 6177251, at *3 (C.D. Cal. Apr. 23, 2018) (citing Astiana v. Hain 23 Celestial Grp., Inc., 783 F.3d 753, 762 (9th Cir. 2015)). Accordingly, the Plan’s 24 Motion is DENIED. 25 V. CONCLUSION 26 For the reasons discussed above, the Court GRANTS in part and DENIES in 27 part the Meritain & Aetna Motion (ECF No. 40) and DENIES the Plan Motion (ECF 28 No. 39). To the extent the Court grants leave to amend as discussed above, Herzfeld 12 1 may file an amended complaint addressing the deficiencies herein within twenty-one 2 days of the date of this order. 3 4 IT IS SO ORDERED. 5 6 April 14, 2020 7 8 9 ____________________________________ OTIS D. WRIGHT, II UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 13
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