Ada Shenon v. New York Life Insurance Company

I. INTRODUCTION

This case arises out of a decision by defendant insurer New York Life Insurance Co. (“NYL”) to deny a long-term disability coverage claim by plaintiff insured Ada Shenon. Shenon filed this action in Los Angeles County Superior Court on December 11, 2017. See ECF No. 1-1 (“Compl.”). NYL removed the action to this Court on January 10, 2018. ECF No. 1. The complaint alleges two California law claims for relief: (1) a claim alleging that NYL breached its contract to provide Shenon with insurance coverage, and (2) a claim alleging that NYL committed that breach in bad faith and in violation of the covenant for good faith and fair dealing that accompanies the insurance contract (the “bad faith claim’). In addition to her contract remedies, Shenon also seeks punitive damages in connection with the bad faith claim. NYL filed the instant motion for partial summary judgment, and a separate statement of undisputed facts, on December 2, 2019. See ECF No. 50. NYL filed a corrected motion and separate statement of undisputed facts on December 9, 2019. See ECF No. 52-1 (“MSJ”’), ECF No. 52- (“SUF”). The motion only seeks partial summary judgment on…