Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00323/USCOURTS-caed-1_07-cv-00323-12/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 791
Nature of Suit: Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
Cause of Action: 28:1001 E.R.I.S.A.

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CAMPAGNE, CAMPAGNE & LERNER 

A PROF. CORP. 

AIRPORT OFFICE CENTER

1685 NORTH HELM AVENUE

FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 93727 

TELEPHONE (559) 255-1637 

FAX (559) 252-9617

ARBIRATION STIPULATION 

Thomas E. Campagne, #065375 

Mary F. Lerner, #235825 

Campagne, Campagne & Lerner 

A Professional Corporation 

Fresno Airport Office Center 

1685 North Helm Avenue 

Fresno, California 93727 

Telephone: (559) 255-1637 

Facsimile: (559) 252-9617 

Attorneys for Plaintiffs 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

MARIA QUARESMA, an individual and 

Successor in Interest of LEONEL 

DAROSA, a deceased individual, 

MARSHALL S. FLAM, M.D., an 

individual, 

 Plaintiffs, 

vs. 

BC LIFE & HEALTH INSURANCE 

COMPANY, a corporation, and DOES 1 

through 10, inclusive, 

 Defendants. 

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Case No. 1:07-CV-00323-OWW-NEW 

ARBIRATION STIPULATION 

WHEREAS, the above-captioned matter involving Plaintiff’s Decedent 

Patient Leonel DaRosa, Maria Quaresma, successor in interest, and Dr. Marshall Flam has 

been stayed pursuant to the parties’ Stipulation pending the results of an Independent 

Medical Review by the California Insurance Commissioner as detailed in the Stipulation 

and Court Order approved and executed by the Honorable Judge Wanger on 

March 12, 2008; 

WHEREAS, Dr. Flam and his Medical Group Hematology-Oncology 

Medical Group of Fresno have also become involved in three other disputes with Blue 

Cross/BC Life & Heath (hereinafter “Blue Cross/BC Life”) involving similar cancer 

treatments for three patients; namely, Shyrl Nunley, Viki Royce, and Sandra Wiest. 

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CAMPAGNE, CAMPAGNE & LERNER 

A PROF. CORP. 

AIRPORT OFFICE CENTER

1685 NORTH HELM AVENUE

FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 93727 

TELEPHONE (559) 255-1637 

FAX (559) 252-9617

 WHEREAS, similar to the instant litigation (involving Patient DaRosa), the 

three above-described other disputes (involving patients Shyrl Nunley, Viki Royce, and 

Sandra Wiest) similarly involve the underlying issue of whether the chemical treatments 

provided were “medically necessary”; 

WHEREAS, Blue Cross’s/BC Life’s “not medically necessary” opinion and 

subsequent denial of benefits (in the instant DaRosa matter, as well as in the above-listed 

three other patient disputes) all involve the opinion of the same Blue Cross/BC Life expert 

witness; 

 WHEREAS, the parties to this litigation have been attempting to resolve all 

of these matters, and the parties feel that the cases involving patients Shyrl Nunley, Viki 

Royce and Sandra Wiest, are substantially similar to the instant matter involving patient 

DaRosa; and 

 WHEREAS, the parties and issues in the instant federal court litigation are 

substantially similar to the pending arbitration of any and all disputes, now pending before 

JAMS (Case No.: 1130004135), involving patient Viki Royce, Dr. Peter Wittlinger of the 

Hematology-Oncology Medical Group of Fresno and Blue Cross/BC Life; 

WHEREAS, the parties to the instant federal court litigation agree that any 

and all disputes involving this federal suit (Patient DaRosa) and the remaining two 

patients (Shyrl Nunley and Sandra Wiest) should likewise be resolved at binding 

arbitration before JAMS, together with the patient Viki Royce matter; 

 WHEREAS, binding arbitration before JAMS of any and all disputes 

between, on the one hand, patients DaRosa, Shyrl Nunley, Viki Royce and Sandra Wiest; 

and Hematology-Oncology Medical Group of Fresno/Dr. Flam/Dr. Peter Wittlinger, and 

on the other hand, Blue Cross/BC Life, in the opinion of all counsel for said entities, can 

easily be submitted to final and binding arbitration before one JAMS Arbitrator at a 

consolidated arbitration hearing (in the event the Insurance Commissioner’s Independent 

Medical Review does not earlier resolve all the matters beforehand); 

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CAMPAGNE & CAMPAGNE

A PROF. CORP. 

AIRPORT OFFICE CENTER

1685 NORTH HELM AVENUE

FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 93727 

TELEPHONE (559) 255-1637 

FAX (559) 252-9617 

ARBIRATION STIPULATION 

 WHEREAS, the parties feel that the Federal Arbitration Act (9 USC § 1, et 

seq.) allows the parties to refer the instant litigation (together with the aforementioned 

other disputes involving patients Shyrl Nunley, Viki Royce and Sandra Wiest) to binding 

arbitration before one JAMS qualified Arbitrator; 

 NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereby stipulate as follows and hereby 

agree that (pursuant to the Court’s inherent authority and the Federal Arbitration Act) the 

Court should issue the following Order confirming the following stipulations: 

 1. The aforementioned Recitals are adopted and approved. 

 2. The parties agree to engage in final and binding arbitration before 

one JAMS Arbitrator for any and all disputes involved or related to or arising from the 

above-captioned litigation, and also in the aforementioned Dr. Flam/Dr. Wittlinger/ 

Hematology-Oncology Medical Group of Fresno/Patients Shyrl Nunley, Viki Royce and 

Sandra Wiest versus Defendants Blue Cross/BC Life disputes (as described in the above 

Recitals). The consolidated Arbitration hearing shall be conducted by the Arbitrator 

within the City of Fresno at a place to be determined by the Arbitrator upon consultation 

with the parties. The “JAMS Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures” shall govern 

the pre-arbitration proceedings and the Arbitration hearing itself. However, it is agreed 

that the Deposition(s) of Blue Cross’ expert witness, Dr. Flam and Dr. Wittlinger may be 

taken if a party so desires. The Arbitration hearing shall occur within 180 days of the 

Court’s approval of this Stipulation unless the parties stipulate to a later date only with 

court approval (oww). 

 3. The Arbitrator shall, after the Arbitration Hearing, issue a final and 

binding written Decision, within sixty (60) days of the Arbitration Hearing concluding 

upon the submission of all post-hearing briefs (if any); unless the parties stipulate to allow 

the Arbitrator more time. Upon the issuance of said final Arbitration Decision, the parties 

participating in the Arbitration Hearing shall file the written Decision with this Court. 

Thereafter, enforcement, modification and/or correction of the Arbitrator’s Decision shall 

be pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act. The Arbitrator’s Decision shall be in 

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CAMPAGNE & CAMPAGNE

A PROF. CORP. 

AIRPORT OFFICE CENTER

1685 NORTH HELM AVENUE

FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 93727 

TELEPHONE (559) 255-1637 

FAX (559) 252-9617 

ARBIRATION STIPULATION 

accordance with all applicable California and Federal Law involving any and all causes of 

action and issues submitted by the above-described Arbitrating Parties (i.e., Arbitrating 

Parties are on the one hand Claimants/Patients DaRosa, Nunley, Royce and Wiest and/or 

Hematology-Oncology Medical Group/Dr. Wittlinger and Dr. Flam thereof; and on the 

other hand, Defendants/Blue Cross/BC Life). 

 4. Therefore, any and all disputes between the Arbitrating Parties shall 

now be referred to binding arbitration as provided above. 

 5. The instant above-captioned Federal Court Litigation is placed on 

“stay” until the Arbitrator reaches a final arbitration decision, and that written arbitration 

decision is filed with the United State District Court, Eastern District of California, and 

said Court thereafter rules upon any post-arbitration decision enforcement motion as 

provided in the provisions of the Federal Arbitration Act. 

 6. The parties further stipulate that this Court should issue the below 

Order, thereby confirming and approving this Stipulation; and thereby staying this 

litigation, while this District Court retains jurisdiction to consider post-arbitration motions 

pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act. 

IT IS SO STIPULATED:

Dated: April __, 2008 Dated: April __, 2008 

Campagne, Campagne & Lerner Legal Department, Blue Cross of California 

By: 

Attorneys For Plaintiffs Decedent 

DaRosa’s, Executrix Maria Quaresma 

and Marshall Flam, M.D. 

 and

Attorneys For Claimants/Patients 

Nunley, Royce and Wiest and/or their 

estates; and Claimants Dr. Marshall 

Flam, Dr. Peter Wittlinger, doing 

business together as HematologyOncology Medical Group of Fresno 

By: 

Ronald R. Odom 

Attorneys For Defendant Blue 

Cross/BC Life & Health Regarding 

Defense Of This Suit (Patient DaRosa) 

and

Regarding Defense Of Claims Of 

Patients Nunley, Royce, Wiest / Flam / 

Wittlinger / Hematology-Oncology 

Medical Group 

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CAMPAGNE & CAMPAGNE

A PROF. CORP. 

AIRPORT OFFICE CENTER

1685 NORTH HELM AVENUE

FRESNO, CALIFORNIA 93727 

TELEPHONE (559) 255-1637 

FAX (559) 252-9617 

ARBIRATION STIPULATION 

 

ORDER

 GOOD CAUSE SO APPEARING, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the 

above stipulations are approved and such is so ordered. Therefore, this litigation is stayed 

pending the filing of the arbitrator’s written decision. 

Dated: April 4, 2008 /s/ OLIVER W. WANGER 

 

 Honorable Oliver W. Wanger 

 Judge of the United States District Court 

 Eastern District of California 

wg:F:\DATA\docs\Flam, Dr. Marshall\Leonel DaRosa\Federal Documents\Final Arbitration Stipulation.doc 

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