John Attenello MD APC v. United Healthcare Insurance Company

I. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

On February 10, 2025, Dr. John Attenello MD APC (“Plaintiff”) filed four actions against UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company (“Defendant”) in the Small Claims Court of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. In each case, Plaintiff alleges Defendant underpaid him for medical services he provided to patients that Defendant insured. And in each case, Plaintiff asserts solely state law causes of action. Nonetheless, on March 13, 2025, Defendant removed each of these actions to this Court based on federal question jurisdiction and the federal officer removal statute. Presently before the Court are Plaintiff's Motions to Remand and Defendant’s Motions to Dismiss. Both Motions were filed in each of the four cases. For the following reasons, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff's Motions to Remand and DENIES Defendant’s Motions to Dismiss as moot. Il. JUDICIAL STANDARD “Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction” and presumptively lack jurisdiction over an action. Kokkonen v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., 511 U.S. 375, 377 (1994). Under 28 U.S.C. § 1331, federal courts have federal question jurisdiction over actions…