Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-04696/USCOURTS-cand-3_07-cv-04696-1/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 791
Nature of Suit: Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
Cause of Action: 29:1001 E.R.I.S.A.: Employee Retirement

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MARK EPPLER, an individual,

Plaintiff,

 v.

HARTFORD LIFE AND ACCIDENT

INSURANCE COMPANY, LONG

TERM DISABILITY AND LIFE PLAN

FOR EMPLOYEES OF MINNESOTA

METHANE LLC,

Defendants. /

No. C 07-04696 WHA

NOTICE RE HEARING ON

FEBRUARY 7, 2008

At the hearing on February 7, 2008, both parties should be prepared to address the

following questions:

1) Were claims manuals considered during the process of denying

benefits to claimants? Please address the applicability of Brooks v.

Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., 2007 WL 3299287 (D.Md. 

2007), and any other decisions bearing on whether the claims

manual is a “relevant” document within meaning of 29 C.F.R.

2560.503-1(m)(8).

2) Should there be a tolling of the appeal period until all relevant

documents timely requested by claimant has been provided by

claims procedures?

Case 3:07-cv-04696-WHA Document 25 Filed 01/31/08 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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3) Is there any sworn testimony in the record that demonstrates

that the November 30 letter was in fact mailed?

4) Is a notice of “intent to appeal” without a subsequent “appeal”

sufficient to at least require a second new review and decision on a

de novo basis?

Please have case law directly on point for all four questions. Parties should not perceive this

notice as a request for further submissions.

Dated: January 31, 2008. WILLIAM ALSUP

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:07-cv-04696-WHA Document 25 Filed 01/31/08 Page 2 of 2