Dedicato Treatment Center, Inc. v. IEC Group, Inc.
Opinion
Trial Court Opinion
I. INTRODUCTION
Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (the “Community’”) is a sovereign nation under United States law. See dkt. 24 (“FAC”) 9] 4-5. It maintains a self-funded health insurance plan, the Salt Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Self-Funded Health Plan (the “Plan’’), for the benefit of its members and employees. Id. 6. IEC Group, Inc., dba AmeriBen (“AmeriBen’) is the Plan’s third-party administrator (TPA). Id. 4 7. On June 13, 2022, plaintiff Dedicato Treatment Center, Inc. (“Dedicato”) filed suit against AmeriBen, alleging that AmeriBen failed to pay for services that Dedicato had provided to a member of the Plan. Dkt. 1. On October 11, 2022, AmeriBen filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. Dkt. 17. On November 22, 2022, the Court granted AmeriBen’s motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(7) because the Community was an indispensable party that could not be joined. Dkt. 22. On December 13, 2022, Dedicato filed a first amended complaint naming the Community as the sole defendant. Dkt. 24. Based largely on the same facts as the