Sutton

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 Keith Sutton, No. 2:20-cv-00698-KJM-CKD Plaintiff, ORDER v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, et al., 1S Defendants. 16 Plaintiff Keith Sutton moves for an award of attorneys’ fees and costs against defendant Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in this ERISA action. As explained below, the motion is 19 granted. 20 I. BACKGROUND Mr. Sutton participated in a long-term disability plan administered by Metlife. Compl. §§ 8-11, ECF No. 1. He alleges he became “disabled” under the terms of that plan in 2018 as a 23 result of severe back pain. See id. J] 12-13. Metlife began paying benefits. See id. ¥§ □□□□□□ After about one year, however, Metlife consulted with a physician and stopped paying benefits. 25 See id. § 18. Mr. Sutton appealed Metlife’s decision unsuccessfully. See id. 9] 19-23. He then engaged counsel and filed this action in April 2020, asserting a…