Kendall
Kendall v. Standard Insurance
Opinion
Opinion
Shubb, J.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
Defendant Standard Insurance Company moves for summary adjudication, arguing that plaintiffs state law claims are preempted by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. §§ 1001-1461 . Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(b).
Background
Plaintiff Judith Leigh Kendall was a secretary with the Joint Powers Insurance Authority (“JPIA”), an entity associated with the Association of California Water Agencies (“ACWA”). ACWA is a private, non-profit mutual benefit corporation devoted to California water issues. ACWA is comprised of over 435 public water agencies, including municipal water districts, county water districts, irrigation districts, and other special agencies with water-related functions. ACWA also includes' affiliate members, associate members, and individual members, many of which are private entities such as law firms. JPIA is a related organization that provides various insurance services solely to the public agencies within ACWA.
In 1986, Standard issued a long-term disability policy (the “Plan Policy” or “ACWA Plan”) to ACWA. See Burch Deck, Ex. 1. ACWA obtained the policy to insure certain employees and employees of its members as part…