Fields v. Ashford et al

Filing 34

ORDER GRANTING 31 Defendant UnitedHealthCare Insurance Company's Motion to Amend to Add an Affirmative Defense. Signed by District Judge Matthew F. Leitman. (AChu)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
ANGELA J. FIELDS,
Plaintiff,

Case No. 17-cv-11812
Hon. Matthew F. Leitman

v.
PIERRE OCTAVIUS ASHFORD, et. al.,
Defendants.
_________________________________/
ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT UNITEDHEALTHCARE INSURANCE
COMPANY’S MOTION TO AMEND TO ADD AN AFFIRMATIVE
DEFENSE (ECF #31).
This action arises of an auto accident between Plaintiff Angela Fields and
Defendant Pierre Octavius Ashford. In her Complaint, Fields asserts claims against
a number of defendants, including Defendant UnitedHealthcare Insurance
Company. (See ECF #1.) On July 10, 2017, UnitedHealthcare filed an Answer in
which it pleaded several affirmative defenses. (See ECF #9.) On January 18, 2018,
UnitedHealthcare filed a motion seeking to amend its answer to add an affirmative
defense due to the applicability of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act to
the UnitedHealthcare policy at issue in the litigation. (See ECF #31.) Plaintiff filed
no response to the motion.

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The Court has reviewed the motion and deems UnitedHealthcare’s request to
amend its answer appropriate. Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT
UnitedHealthcare’s motion to amend its answer to add an affirmative defense is
GRANTED.

s/Matthew F. Leitman
MATTHEW F. LEITMAN
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Dated: February 21, 2018
I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing document was served upon the
parties and/or counsel of record on February 21, 2018, by electronic means and/or
ordinary mail.
s/Amanda Chubb for Holly Monda
Case Manager
[phone]

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