K. K. v. Premera Blue Cross

NOT FOR PUBLICATION FILED

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FEB 6 2025

FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT MOLLY C. DWYER, CLERK

U.S. COURT OF APPEALS

K. K.; I. B., No. 23-35480 Plaintiffs-Appellants, D.C. No. 2:21-cv-01611-JCC v.

PREMERA BLUE CROSS; COLUMBIA MEMORANDUM*

BANKING SYSTEM, INC. BENEFITS

PLAN,

Defendants-Appellees.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington John C. Coughenour, Senior District Judge, Presiding Argued and Submitted October 25, 2024 San Francisco, California

Before: S.R. THOMAS, OWENS, and COLLINS, Circuit Judges.

Plaintiffs-Appellants K.K. and I.B. (K.K.’s daughter) (collectively,

“Plaintiffs”) brought suit against Defendants-Appellees Premera Blue Cross

(“Premera”) and the Columbia Banking System, Inc. (“Columbia”) Benefits Plan

(“the Plan”) seeking recovery of benefits. Premera, the administrator of the Plan,

which is regulated by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974

(“ERISA”), had denied I.B. benefits for her stay at the Eva Carlston Academy

* This disposition…