James v. Life Insurance Company Of North America et al

Filing 103

ORDER OVERRULING 100 Objections. (Signed by Judge Gray H. Miller) Parties notified.(rkonieczny, 4)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
HOUSTON DIVISION
SANDRA W. JAMES,
Plaintiff,
v.
LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
OF NORTH AMERICA, et al.,
Defendants.

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CIVIL ACTION H-12-2095

ORDER OVERRULING PLAINTIFF’S OBJECTIONS
TO THE MAGISTRATE JUDGE’S DISCOVERY RULINGS

Pending before the court is plaintiff Sandra James’s (the “plaintiff”) second notice of appeal
from the magistrate judge’s rulings. Dkt. 100. A party may file objections with the district court
after receiving an unfavorable discovery ruling from a magistrate judge, but the court may sustain
the objection only to the extent that the magistrate judge’s ruling is “clearly erroneous or is contrary
to law.” FED. R. CIV. P. 72(a). This is an ERISA benefits denial case, in which the court ultimately
applies a limited review of the claim administrator’s decision. Crosby v. La. Health Serv. & Indem.
Co., 647 F.3d 258, 264 (5th Cir. 2011) (cautioning district courts in ERISA cases to “be mindful of
the limitations placed on the frequency and extent of discovery under the federal rules”). After
reviewing the magistrate judge’s rulings, the court finds that she acted within her discretion to
provide limited conflict discovery, and the challenged orders are not “clearly erroneous” or “contrary
to law.” The plaintiff’s objections (Dkt. 100) are OVERRULED.
Signed at Houston, Texas on January 23, 2014.

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Gray H. Miller
United States District Judge