Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_07-cv-05437/USCOURTS-cand-4_07-cv-05437-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 110
Nature of Suit: Insurance
Cause of Action: 28:1332 Diversity-Insurance Contract

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PAMELA THOMPSON, et al.,

Plaintiffs, No. C 07-5437 PJH

v. ORDER RE MOTION TO DISMISS

CONSECO SENIOR HEALTH 

INSURANCE COMPANY,

Defendant.

_______________________________/

Defendant’s motion to dismiss came on for hearing before this court on December

19, 2007. Plaintiff Pamela Thompson, individually and as personal representative of the

Estate of Charles Thompson, appeared by her counsel Michael Guta, and defendant

Conseco Senior Health Insurance Company appeared by its counsel Marc Wodin. Having

read the parties’ papers and carefully considered their arguments and the relevant legal

authority, and good cause appearing, the court hereby GRANTS the motion in part and

DENIES it in part as follows for the reasons stated at the hearing. 

1. The motion to dismiss Pamela Thompson in her individual capacity as to the

first and second causes of action is GRANTED, as a non-party to an insurance contract

does not have standing to pursue a claim for wrongful withholding of insurance benefits. 

See Seretti v. Superior Nat’l Ins. Co., 71 Cal. App. 4th 920, 930 (1999). 

2. The motion to strike the claim for punitive damages in the first cause of action

is GRANTED, as punitive damages are not available for breach of contract. Dryden v. TriValley Growers, 65 Cal. App. 3d 990, 999 (1977).

Case 4:07-cv-05437-PJH Document 16 Filed 12/20/07 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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3. The motion to strike the claim for emotional distress damages in the second

cause of action is GRANTED, as emotional distress damages do not survive a decedent’s

death. Cal. Civ. P. Code § 377.34. 

4. The motion to dismiss Pamela Thompson in her individual capacity as to the

third cause of action is DENIED, as the claim appears not to be one on the insurance

contract, though this is far from clear from the pleading of the claim.

5. The motion to strike the claim for emotional distress damages in the third

cause of action is DENIED. Assuming plaintiff is able to state a claim of elder abuse, she

may be able to pursue emotional distress damages for that claim.

6. The third cause of action is DISMISSED for failure to state a claim. The third

cause of action alleges “violation of Welfare and Instutions Code § 15600, et seq.” This is

not sufficient under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a) to put Conseco on notice as to

what type of elder abuse claim is being asserted, and what facts support the claim. See

Erickson v. Pardus, 127 S.Ct. 2197, 2200 (2007); Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 127 S.Ct.

1955, 1964-65 (2007). It is true, as plaintiff’s counsel stated at the hearing, that Conseco

did not move to dismiss on this ground. However, the court does not understand the claim,

and sees no benefit to be gained from proceeding on a claim that is incomprehensible as

pled. 

7. The dismissal is of the third cause of action is WITH LEAVE TO AMEND to

allege facts supporting the elements of whatever claim of elder abuse plaintiff intends to

assert. Any amended complaint shall be filed no later than January 21, 2008.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 20, 2007 ______________________________

PHYLLIS J. HAMILTON

United States District Judge

Case 4:07-cv-05437-PJH Document 16 Filed 12/20/07 Page 2 of 2