Bristol Sl Holdings, Inc. v. Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company

FOR PUBLICATION

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE NINTH CIRCUIT

BRISTOL SL HOLDINGS, INC., a No. 23-55019 California corporation, in its capacity as the owner of the claims for Sure D.C. No. Haven, Inc., a California corporation, 8:19-cv-00709-

PSG-ADS

Plaintiff-Appellant, v.

OPINION

CIGNA HEALTH AND LIFE

INSURANCE COMPANY, a Connecticut corporation; CIGNA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, INC., a Connecticut corporation,

Defendants-Appellees.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Central District of California Philip S. Gutierrez, Chief District Judge, Presiding

Argued and Submitted December 7, 2023 San Francisco, California

Filed May 31, 2024

Before: Sidney R. Thomas, Daniel A. Bress, and Anthony D. Johnstone, Circuit Judges. BRISTOL SL HOLDINGS V. CIGNA HEALTH & LIFE

Opinion by Judge Bress

SUMMARY *

Employee Retirement Income Security Act / Preemption

Affirming the district court’s summary judgment in favor of the defendants in an action brought by a drug treatment center’s successor-in-interest, the panel held that the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 preempted claims that a health plan…