Regional Medical Center of San Jose v. WH Administrators, Inc et al
Filing
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ORDER DENYING 71 72 73 74 MOTIONS FOR ATTORNEYS' FEES WITHOUT PREJUDICE. Signed by Judge Edward J. Davila on 5/4/2018. (ejdlc2S, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 5/4/2018)
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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SAN JOSE DIVISION
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REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER OF SAN
JOSE,
Plaintiff,
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United States District Court
Northern District of California
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v.
WH ADMINISTRATORS, INC., et al.,
Case No. 5:17-cv-03357-EJD
ORDER DENYING MOTIONS FOR
ATTORNEYS’ FEES WITHOUT
PREJUDICE
Re: Dkt. Nos. 71, 72, 73, 74
Defendants.
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Plaintiff Regional Medical Center of San Jose (“RMC”) filed this action seeking
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reimbursement for medical services from Defendants The Phia Group, LLC (“Phia”), WH
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Administrators, Inc. (“WH”), Benefit Administrative Systems, LLC (“BAS”), and RHC
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Management Co., LLC (“RHC LLC”) and RHC Management Health & Welfare Trust (the “Plan”)
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(together, “RHC”). On December 20, 2017, the Court dismissed RMC’s first two causes of action
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under ERISA § 502(a)(1)(B) without leave to amend. Dkt. No. 69. It also declined to exercise
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supplemental jurisdiction over RMC’s remaining state law claims. Id. Each Defendant now
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separately moves for attorneys’ fees and costs. Dkt. Nos. 71, 72, 73, 74. Shortly after Defendant
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filed their motions, Plaintiff appealed the Court’s decision to the Court of Appeals for the Ninth
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Circuit. Dkt. No. 77.
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“There is a ‘well established’ principle that ‘[d]istrict courts have inherent power to control
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their dockets.’” United States v. W.R. Grace, 526 F.3d 499, 509 (9th Cir. 2008) (quoting Atchison,
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Topeka & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. Hercules Inc., 146 F.3d 1071, 1074 (9th Cir. 1998)). Here, in light
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of the appeal and the issues raised by the parties in their fees motions, the Court finds it most
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Case No.: 5:17-cv-03357-EJD
ORDER DENYING MOTIONS FOR ATTORNEYS’ FEES WITHOUT PREJUDICE
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appropriate to delay its consideration of these requests until after the Court of Appeals has ruled
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on Plaintiff’s appeal. Accordingly, each Defendant’s motion is DENIED WITHOUT
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PREJUDICE. If the Court of Appeals affirms the Court’s decision, Defendants may refile their
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motions within 60 days of the Court of Appeals’ mandate.
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IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: May 4, 2018
______________________________________
EDWARD J. DAVILA
United States District Judge
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United States District Court
Northern District of California
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Case No.: 5:17-cv-03357-EJD
ORDER DENYING MOTIONS FOR ATTORNEYS’ FEES WITHOUT PREJUDICE
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