Prime Healthcare La Palma, LLC v. Healthcare Partners, LLC et al

Filing 13

MINUTES OF [IN CHAMBERS] by Judge Andrew J. Guilford: Order to Show Cause Concerning Subject Matter Jurisdiction. (mt)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
CIVIL MINUTES - GENERAL
Case No.

SACV 16-1190 AG (GJSx)
SACV 16-1186 AG (SKx)
SACV 16-1224 AG (DFMx)

Title

PRIME HEALTHCARE LA PALMA v. HEALTHCARE PARTNERS, LLC
PRIME HEALTHCARE LA PALMA v. TALBERT MEDICAL GROUP
PRIME HEALTHCARE HUNTINGTON BEACH v. TALBERT
MEDICAL GROUP

Present: The
Honorable

July 11, 2016

ANDREW J. GUILFORD

Lisa Bredahl
Deputy Clerk
Attorneys Present for Plaintiffs:
Proceedings:

Date

Not Present
Court Reporter / Recorder

Tape No.

Attorneys Present for Defendants:

[IN CHAMBERS] ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE
CONCERNING SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION

Plaintiffs Prime Healthcare La Palma and Prime Healthcare Huntington Beach brought three
lawsuits in state court against various health care insurers, alleging that the insurers
reimbursed Plaintiffs at artificially deflated value. In all three complaints, Plaintiffs bring the
same five state law causes of action.
Defendants removed the complaints seeking to invoke this Court’s federal question
jurisdiction. Defendants argue that the Employee Retirement and Income Security Act of
1974 (“ERISA”) completely preempts three of Plaintiff’s state law causes of action, as
Plaintiff is seeking to enforce terms of ERISA health benefit plans for certain patients. Yet
for two of the complaints, “Defendant cannot identify with certainty which of the health
benefit plans . . . that Plaintiff seeks to enforce in the Third, Fourth and Fifth Causes of
Action are governed under ERISA.” For the other complaint, Defendant states that “at least
some of Plaintiff’s claims for payment are for . . . members with health benefit plans.”
CIVIL MINUTES - GENERAL
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
CIVIL MINUTES - GENERAL
Case No.

SACV 16-1190 AG (GJSx)
SACV 16-1186 AG (SKx)
SACV 16-1224 AG (DFMx)

Date

July 11, 2016

Title

PRIME HEALTHCARE LA PALMA v. HEALTHCARE PARTNERS, LLC
PRIME HEALTHCARE LA PALMA v. TALBERT MEDICAL GROUP
PRIME HEALTHCARE HUNTINGTON BEACH v. TALBERT
MEDICAL GROUP

The Court is concerned that it lacks jurisdiction over these state law causes of action. And
the Court must jealously guard its jurisdiction. Olmos v. Residential Credit Sols., Inc., 92 F. Supp.
3d 954, 955 (C.D. Cal. 2015). Accordingly, Defendants are ORDERED TO SHOW CAUSE
as to why these cases should not be remanded for lack of jurisdiction. Defendants are
directed to file a brief not exceeding 12 pages discussing why this Court has jurisdiction over
these cases by July 22, 2016. Plaintiff may respond in a brief also not exceeding 12 pages by
July 29, 2016.
:
Initials of Preparer

CIVIL MINUTES - GENERAL
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