Eric P. v. Directors Guild of America

1 2 3 4 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 5 NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 6 7 ERIC P., Case No. 19-cv-00361-WHO

8 Plaintiff,

ORDER REGARDING CROSS-

9 v. MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY

JUDGMENT

10 DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA, et al.,

Defendants. 11

12 Before me are the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment regarding the denial of 13 plaintiff Eric P.’s claim for medical treatment under the Employee Retirement Income Security 14 Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) by defendants Directors Guild of America, Directors Guild of America- 15 Producer Health Plan, and Blue Cross of California (the “Plan”). Eric argues that the Plan abused 16 its discretion in denying his claim for benefits on behalf of his daughter. I am sympathetic to his 17 decision to have his daughter treated in what he thought was the most effective way, and if my 18 review was de novo and not abuse of discretion, I might well have concluded that the Plan should 19 have made a different decision. However, his legal arguments rely largely upon an interpretation 20 of the facts that is not…