Serrata v. UNUM Life Insurance Company of America et al

Filing 36

ORDER by Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr. GRANTING 34 Stipulation Regarding the Standard of Review. (ndr, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 8/28/2024)

1 Michael B. Horrow (SBN 162917)
Email: [e-mail]
2 Scott E. Calvert (SBN 210787)
Email: [e-mail]
3 DONAHUE & HORROW, LLP
1960 E. Grand Avenue, Suite 1215
4 El Segundo, California 90245
5 Attorneys for Plaintiff Edward R. Serrata
6 Daniel W. Maguire (SBN 120002)
E-mail: [e-mail]
7 Keiko J. Kojima (SBN 206595)
E-mail: [e-mail]
8 BURKE, WILLIAMS & SORENSEN, LLP
444 South Flower Street, Suite 2400
9 Los Angeles, California 90071-2953
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
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Attorneys for Unum Life Insurance Company of
11 America
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

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NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION

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16 Edward R. Serrata ,
Plaintiff,

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Case No. 4:24-cv-02421-HSG
STIPULATION AND ORDER
REGARDING THE STANDARD
OF REVIEW

v.

19 Unum Life Insurance Company of America;
The Sherman Williams Company Group
20 Long-Term Disability Plan; Does 1-10,
Defendants.

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Plaintiff Edward R. Serrata (“Plaintiff” or “Serrata”) and Defendant Unum Life Insurance

24 Company of America (“Defendant” or “Unum Life”), through their respective counsel of record,
25 hereby stipulate as follows:
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WHEREAS, this action is governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of

27 1974 (“ERISA”) (29 U.S.C. Section 1001 et seq.);
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B URKE , W I LLI AMS &
S ORENS EN , LLP
ATTO RNEY S

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4867-4499-9897 v1

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Case No. 4:24-cv-02421-HSG
STIPULATION AND ORDER RE STANDARD
OF REVIEW

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WHEREAS, one of the issues to be litigated in an ERISA action is whether the standard of

2 review at trial is that of abuse of discretion or de novo;
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WHEREAS, on August 15, 2024, the Court issued an order instructing the parties to

4 e-file a joint letter brief by August 27, 2024 if there is no agreement regarding the standard of
5 review (Docket No. 32);
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WHEREAS, the parties have further met-and-conferred on the standard of review;

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WHEREAS, Defendant will stipulate to de novo review in this case;

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IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED by and between Plaintiff and Defendant

9 hereto that:
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1.

The standard of review applicable to Plaintiff’s claim is de novo for purposes of the

11 trial or other dispositive proceedings involving this case;
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2.

Defendant’s stipulation to de novo standard of review in this case is for purposes of

13 the trial of this case only and without reference to the appropriate standard of review in any other
14 case. Defendant’s stipulation on the standard of review should not be construed as a concession
15 that a de novo standard of review is applicable in any other pending cases against Defendant.
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IT IS SO STIPULATED.

17 Dated: August 23, 2024

DONAHUE & HORROW, LLP

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By: /s/ Scott E. Calvert
Michael B. Horrow
Scott E. Calvert
Attorneys for Plaintiff
Edward R. Serrata

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23 Dated: August 26, 2024

BURKE, WILLIAMS & SORENSEN, LLP

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By: /s/ Keiko J. Kojima
Daniel W. Maguire
Keiko J. Kojima
Attorneys for Unum Life Insurance Company
of America

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STIPULATION AND ORDER RE STANDARD
OF REVIEW

FILER’ S ATTESTATION

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The filing attorney attests that she has obtained concurrence regarding the filing of this

3 document and its content from the signatories to this document.
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5 Dated: August 26, 2024

BURKE, WILLIAMS & SORENSEN, LLP

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By: /s/ Keiko J. Kojima
Daniel W. Maguire
Keiko J. Kojima
Attorneys for Unum Life Insurance Company
of America

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STIPULATION AND ORDER RE STANDARD
OF REVIEW

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ORDER

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Pursuant to the Parties’ stipulation, the standard of review applicable to the Plaintiff’s

4 claim is de novo for purposes of the trial or other dispositive proceedings involving this case.
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
________________________________
Honorable Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr.
U.S. District Judge

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STIPULATION AND ORDER RE STANDARD
OF REVIEW