Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_09-cv-02548/USCOURTS-caed-2_09-cv-02548-4/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 29:1132 E.R.I.S.A.-Employee Benefits

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Stipulation and Order Granting Leave to File Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint/Case No. 09CV02548

JOHN M. RIESTENBERG (SBN 82668)

LAW OFFICES OF JOHN M. RIESTENBERG 

455 Capitol Mall, Suite 410

Sacramento, CA 95814

Telephone: (916) 443-6300

Facsimile: (916) 329-3435

Attorney for Plaintiff DEBRA ESLINGER

Linda M. Lawson (SBN 77130)

Carmen J. Cole (SBN 218489)

MESERVE, MUMPER & HUGHES LLP

300 South Grand Avenue, 24 Floor

th

Los Angeles, CA 90071-3185

Telephone: (213) 620-0300

Facsimile: (213) 625-1930

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 

DEBRA ESLINGER

Plaintiff,

v.

THE DONAHUE BATES BLAKEMORE &

MACKEY LONG-TERM DISABILITY

INSURANCE PLAN; HIGHMARK LIFE

INSURANCE COMPANY; FORT

DEARBORN LIFE INSURANCE

COMPANY; DOES 1 through 20, Inclusive, 

Defendants.

 

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NO. 09CV02548 LKK JFM 

STIPULATION AND ORDER

GRANTING LEAVE TO FILE

PLAINTIFF’S FIRST AMENDED

COMPLAINT

In this lawsuit, Plaintiff has sued the “Donahue Bates Blakemore & Mackey LongTerm Disability Insurance Plan,” and the insurers who provided Donahue Bates with a

group disability insurance policy, covering Plaintiff, Debra Eslinger. Defendants Fort

Dearborn Life Insurance Company and Highmark Life Insurance Company answered

Plaintiff’s Complaint for themselves only, not for the “Donahue Bates Blakemore &

Mackey Long-Term Disability Insurance Plan.” 

Plaintiff has amended her Complaint to add former her employer, Donahue, Bates,

Blakemore & Mackey, as a Defendant and to specifically set forth the allegations

Case 2:09-cv-02548-LKK -JFM Document 28 Filed 02/22/10 Page 1 of 2
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Stipulation and Order Granting Leave to File Plaintiff’s First Amended Complaint/Case No. 09CV02548

supporting her claims that she has been arbitrarily denied disability insurance benefits

due her under the Group Policy issued by Highmark and subsequently taken over by Fort

Dearborn. 

All parties who have appeared in this lawsuit (Plaintiff, Fort Dearborn and

Highmark) stipulate that Plaintiff may file her proposed First Amended Complaint, a copy

of which is attached hereto. Defendants Fort Dearborn and Highmark further stipulate

that they will accept service of the First Amended Complaint by means of email or

facsimile sent to their Counsel, as the equivalent of personal service. 

STIPULATED AND AGREED TO BY: 

Dated: February 22, 2010 LAW OFFICES OF JOHN RIESTENBERG

/S/ JOHN RIESTENBERG

 

JOHN M. RIESTENBERG

Attorney for Plaintiff DEBRA ESLINGER

Dated: February 11, 2010 MESERVE, MUMPER & HUGHES

LINDA M. LAWSON

CARMEN COLE

 /s/Carmen Cole 

CARMEN COLE

Attorneys for Defendants FORT DEARBORN

LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY and HIGHMARK

LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

Based upon the above Stipulation, the Court finds that the filing of the First

Amended Complaint without the necessity of a motion is in the interest of justice. 

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that: 

1. Plaintiff shall file her First Amended Complaint within 10 days of the

issuance of this Order. 

Dated: February 22, 2010.

Case 2:09-cv-02548-LKK -JFM Document 28 Filed 02/22/10 Page 2 of 2