Sanchez

I. BACKGROUND

24 Plaintiff was a commercial underwriter for Nationwide Mutual 25 Insurance Company (“Nationwide”). Compl. ¶ 3, ECF No. 1. During

1 This motion was determined to be suitable for decision without oral argument. E.D. Cal. L.R. 230(g). The hearing was scheduled for May 19, 2020. Plaintiff’s employment, he participated in a Nationwide-sponsored employee welfare benefits plan. Compl. ¶¶ 9, 10, 13. Under the plan, Plaintiff received short-term and long-term disability benefits. Compl. ¶¶ 10, 14. On July 6, 2017, Plaintiff fell in the shower, hitting his head and tail bone, and sustaining several injuries. Compl. ¶ 17. As a result, Plaintiff alleges he was no longer able “to attend to any normal activities[,] including work.” Id. Plaintiff subsequently applied for short-term disability benefits. Compl. ¶ 18. Defendants paid Plaintiff’s initial claim. Compl. ¶ 19. However, when Plaintiff’s doctor failed to send updated medical records, Defendants terminated his short- term benefits on October 31, 2017. Id. Defendants reaffirmed the termination of Plaintiff’s short-term benefits on February 7,…