Mendoza

The Commissioner of Corporations of the State of California (“the Commissioner”) appeals a decision by the district court granting declaratory and injunctive relief to Delta Dental Plan of California, Inc. (“Delta”) and Rockwell International Corporation (“Rockwell”). The district court held that the Commissioner’s Cease and Desist Order is preempted by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), 29 U.S.C. § 1001 , et. seq., as it relates to Delta’s ERISA-governed plans. Because we conclude that, pursuant to Younger v. Harris, 401 U.S. 37 , 91 S.Ct. 746 , 27 L.Ed.2d 669 (1971), the district court should have abstained from hearing the merits of this action, we reverse and remand to the district court for dismissal.

I.

The Knox-Keene Health Care Service Plan Act of 1975, Cal. Health & Safety Code §§ 1340-1399.5 (“Knox-Keene Act”) regulates health care service plans in the State of California. It was enacted to insure that residents of California receive quality, low-cost health care from financially stable health care plans, and that they receive the information necessary to make informed decisions regarding their health plan needs. Cal. Health & Safety Code §…