Volynskaya v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company et al

Filing 19

ORDER Granting 17 Stipulation re Mediation Deadline. Signed by Judge Jeffrey S. White on November 12, 2009. (jswlc1, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 11/12/2009)

Case3:09-cv-02436-JSW Document17

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Robert K. Renner (155283), [e-mail] Scott E. Calvert (210787), [e-mail] 2 BARGER & WOLEN LLP 19800 MacArthur Boulevard, 8th Floor 3 Irvine, California 92612 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone]
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Attorneys for Defendants Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and 6 Epicentric, Inc. Health and Welfare Plan
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Charles J. Fleishman (46405), [e-mail] Paul A. Fleishman (251657), [e-mail] 8 THE FLEISHMAN LAW FIRM 19839 Nordhoff Street 9 Northridge, California 91324 Telephone: [phone] Facsimile: [phone]
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BARGER & WOLEN LLP
19800 MACARTHUR BLVD. EIGHTH FLOOR IRVINE, CA 92612 [phone]

Attorneys for Plaintiff Illiena Volynskaya UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA ILLIENA VOLYNSKAYA, ) ) Plaintiff, ) ) vs. ) ) METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE ) COMPANY, a corporation; ) EPICENTRIC, INC. HEALTH AND ) WELFARE PLAN, an ERISA plan; ) DOES 1 through 10 inclusive, ) ) Defendants. ) ) CASE NO.: 3:09-cv-02436-JSW JOINT STIPULATION TO CONTINUE THE MEDIATION COMPLETION DATE BY ELEVEN DAYS; [PROPOSED] ORDER THEREON Current Deadline: November 23, 2009 Requested Deadline: December 4, 2009 Complaint Filed: June 2, 2009

3:09-cv-2436-JSW

JOINT STIPULATION TO CONTINUE MEDIATION COMPLETION DATE BY ELEVEN DAYS; [PROPOSED] ORDER THEREON

Case3:09-cv-02436-JSW Document17

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BARGER & WOLEN LLP
19800 MACARTHUR BLVD. EIGHTH FLOOR IRVINE, CA 92612 [phone]

TO THE HONORABLE JEFFREY S. WHITE AND HIS COURT CLERK: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that Defendants Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and Epicentric, Inc. Health and Welfare Plan (collectively, "Defendants") and Plaintiff Illiena Volynskaya ("Volynskaya") (collectively, "Parties"), by and through their respective counsel of record, hereby request a brief continuance of the upcoming Mediation Completion Deadline, currently scheduled for November 23, 2009, to December 4, 2009. While the parties were previously scheduled to proceed with court-appointed mediator Kim Zeldin on November 10, 2009, they had to briefly postpone the mediation for the reasons listed below. Mediation is now scheduled to be conducted on December 3, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. GOOD CAUSE exists to grant this request because the parties are not yet in the position to properly evaluate the case for a mediation. One reason is that Volynskaya only recently received responses to the written discovery she propounded and is in the process of evaluating whether the documents and information Defendants agreed to provide are sufficient, or whether a motion to compel might be necessary. Further, MetLife has yet to make a final determination on Volynskaya's claim for ongoing benefits (and even then, if the claim is denied, Volynskaya will need time to review that decision). Accordingly, it will be difficult for the parties to engage in meaningful settlement discussions until these tasks are completed.

JOINT STIPULATION TO CONTINUE MEDIATION COMPLETION DATE BY ELEVEN DAYS; [PROPOSED] ORDER THEREON

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3:09-cv-2436-JSW

Case3:09-cv-02436-JSW Document17

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BARGER & WOLEN LLP
19800 MACARTHUR BLVD. EIGHTH FLOOR IRVINE, CA 92612 [phone]

DATED: November 11, 2009

BARGER & WOLEN LLP By: /s/ Robert K. Renner ROBERT K. RENNER SCOTT E. CALVERT Attorneys for Defendants Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and Epicentric, Inc. Health and Welfare Plan

DATED: November 11, 2009

LAW OFFICES OF CHARLES FLEISHMAN By: /s/ Paul Fleishman CHARLES J. FLEISHMAN PAUL FLEISHMAN Attorneys for Plaintiff Illiana Volynskaya

JOINT STIPULATION TO CONTINUE MEDIATION COMPLETION DATE BY ELEVEN DAYS; [PROPOSED] ORDER THEREON

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3:09-cv-2436-JSW

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BARGER & WOLEN LLP
19800 MACARTHUR BLVD. EIGHTH FLOOR IRVINE, CA 92612 [phone]

ORDER After considering the Joint Stipulation of the parties, by and through their respective counsel, to continue the November 23, 2009 Mediation Completion Deadline, good cause appearing, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the parties shall have up to and until December 4, 2009 to participate in Mediation for this case. IT IS SO ORDERED.
November 12, 2009 DATED: ____________

_________________________________________ THE HONORABLE JEFFREY S. WHITE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

JOINT STIPULATION TO CONTINUE MEDIATION COMPLETION DATE BY ELEVEN DAYS; [PROPOSED] ORDER THEREON

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3:09-cv-2436-JSW