Regional Medical Center of San Jose v. WH Administrators, Inc et al

Filing 89

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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1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 SAN JOSE DIVISION 7 8 REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER OF SAN JOSE, Plaintiff, 9 10 United States District Court Northern District of California 11 12 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. 13 14 Plaintiff Regional Medical Center of San Jose (“RMC”) filed this action seeking 15 reimbursement for medical services from Defendants The Phia Group, LLC (“Phia”), WH 16 Administrators, Inc. (“WH”), Benefit Administrative Systems, LLC (“BAS”), and RHC 17 Management Co., LLC (“RHC LLC”) and RHC Management Health & Welfare Trust (the “Plan”) 18 (together, “RHC”). On December 20, 2017, the Court dismissed RMC’s first two causes of action 19 under ERISA § 502(a)(1)(B) without leave to amend. Dkt. No. 69. It also declined to exercise 20 supplemental jurisdiction over RMC’s remaining state law claims. Id. Each Defendant now 21 separately moves for attorneys’ fees and costs. Dkt. Nos. 71, 72, 73, 74. Shortly after Defendant 22 filed their motions, Plaintiff appealed the Court’s decision to the Court of Appeals for the Ninth 23 Circuit. Dkt. No. 77. 24 “There is a ‘well established’ principle that ‘[d]istrict courts have inherent power to control 25 their dockets.’” United States v. W.R. Grace, 526 F.3d 499, 509 (9th Cir. 2008) (quoting Atchison, 26 Topeka & Santa Fe Ry. Co. v. Hercules Inc., 146 F.3d 1071, 1074 (9th Cir. 1998)). Here, in light 27 of the appeal and the issues raised by the parties in their fees motions, the Court finds it most 28 Case No.: 5:17-cv-03357-EJD ORDER DENYING MOTIONS FOR ATTORNEYS’ FEES WITHOUT PREJUDICE 1 1 appropriate to delay its consideration of these requests until after the Court of Appeals has ruled 2 on Plaintiff’s appeal. Accordingly, each Defendant’s motion is DENIED WITHOUT 3 PREJUDICE. If the Court of Appeals affirms the Court’s decision, Defendants may refile their 4 motions within 60 days of the Court of Appeals’ mandate. 5 6 7 8 IT IS SO ORDERED. Dated: May 4, 2018 ______________________________________ EDWARD J. DAVILA United States District Judge 9 10 United States District Court Northern District of California 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Case No.: 5:17-cv-03357-EJD ORDER DENYING MOTIONS FOR ATTORNEYS’ FEES WITHOUT PREJUDICE 2

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