Caldwell

INTRODUCTION

18 19 In this certified class action to recover health benefits under an ERISA plan, plaintiffs 20 move for final approval of class settlement and for attorney’s fees and costs. Defendant 21 insurers oppose the latter, but not the former. To the extent stated herein, plaintiffs’ motions 22 are GRANTED. 23

STATEMENT

24 25 The facts of this action, briefly summarized below, are explained in greater detail in prior 26 orders. See Caldwell v. UnitedHealthcare Ins. Co., No. C 19-2861 WHA, 2020 WL 7714394, 27 at *1–2 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 29, 2020). Plaintiff Mary Caldwell brought this action on behalf of 1 Company and United HealthCare Services Inc. (together, “United”). Plaintiff alleges that 2 United violated ERISA by improperly denying on a categorical basis all health insurance 3 claims for liposuction to treat lipedema as unproven and not medically necessary. A prior 4 order certified the following class: “All persons covered under ERISA health plans, self- 5 funded or fully insured, that are administered by United and whose claims for specialized 6 liposuction for treatment of their lipedema were denied as unproven…