Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_19-cv-03556/USCOURTS-cand-4_19-cv-03556-1/pdf.json

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

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_ STIPULATION AND ORDER CONSOLIDATING CASES 

4:19-cv-02237 HSG 4:19-cv-03556 HSG

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WENTZELEE BOTHA, SBN #207029 

wbotha@brownandwinters.com 

RYAN D. DROBEK, SBN #319396 

rdrobek@brownandwinters.com

Brown & Winters 

120 Birmingham Drive 

Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007-1737 

Tel: 760-633-4485/Fax: 760-633-4427 

Attorneys for Defendant and Counterclaimant, 

THE CITY OF WALNUT CREEK

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

AMERICAN BANKERS INSURANCE CO. 

OF FLORIDA,

Plaintiff,

vs.

THE CITY OF WALNUT CREEK, 

 Defendant. 

AND COUNTER ACTION.

CITY OF WALNUT CREEK, 

 Plaintiff, 

vs.

ADMIRAL INSURANCE COMPANY, a 

corporation, et al., 

 Defendants. 

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Case No.: 4:19-cv-02237 - HSG 

 Complaint Filed: April 24, 2019 

STIPULATION AND ORDER 

CONSOLIDATING CASES FOR ALL

PURPOSES

 Case No. 4:19-cv-03556 – HSG

 Complaint Removed: June 19, 2019 

Case 4:19-cv-03556-HSG Document 30 Filed 08/07/19 Page 1 of 5
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The City of Walnut Creek (City), as well as American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida

(American Bankers), Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania, Admiral Insurance Company,

Atlanta International Insurance Company (formerly known as Drake Insurance Company of New 

York), The Travelers Indemnity Company (as successor to Insurance Company of the Pacific Coast), 

The Phoenix Insurance Company, and The Charter Oak Fire Insurance Company (collectively,

Insurers) hereby submit the following Stipulation to Consolidate Related Cases:

WHEREAS, American Bankers filed a Complaint for Declaratory Relief against the City in the 

United States District Court, Northern District of California (District Court), on April 24, 2019, Case 

No. 4:19-cv-02237 HSG (American Bankers’ Action); 

WHEREAS, the City filed a Complaint for Declaratory Relief, Breach of Contract, and Breach 

of the Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing against Insurers, including American Bankers, 

in the Superior Court of California, County of Contra Costa (Superior Court) on May 3, 2019, Case No. 

C19-00883, and subsequently removed by The Travelers Indemnity Company, The Charter Oak Fire 

Insurance Company, The Phoenix Insurance Company on June 19, 2019, from the Superior Court to the 

District Court, as Case No. 4:19-cv-03556 HSG (City’s Action); 

WHEREAS, the American Bankers Action and the City’s Action involve similar complaints,

relief sought (declaratory relief regarding the duties under the policies), common questions of law,

same nucleus of facts, same parties (City and American Bankers), same insurance policies (American 

Bankers Policy no. CU 22- 900012, Policy no. GLA 22-679140), and same counsel; 

WHEREAS, consolidation would advance the interests of judicial economy, and decrease the

burden on parties, witnesses, and reduce risk of inconsistent adjudications, potential for prejudice; 

WHEREAS, counsel for the parties have conferred, and the parties are in agreement that these

actions should be consolidated for all purposes; and

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STIPULATION AND ORDER CONSOLIDATING CASES 

4:19-cv-02237 HSG 4:19-cv-03556 HSG

Case 4:19-cv-03556-HSG Document 30 Filed 08/07/19 Page 2 of 5
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WHEREAS, the parties admit to the existence of complete diversity between themselves so as 

to appear properly before this Court, and that to the parties’ knowledge the Court has jurisdiction to 

hear these cases and consolidate these actions. 

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED by the City and the 

Insurers, through their respective counsel of record, that the American Bankers’ Action be 

consolidated with the City’s Action and remain assigned to the Honorable Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr. 

for all purposes. 

Respectfully submitted,

BROWN & WINTERS

Dated: August 6, 2019 /s/ Wentzelee Botha

Wentzelee Botha

Ryan D. Drobek

Attorneys for Defendant and Counterclaimant, 

THE CITY OF WALNUT CREEK 

WARGO FRENCH, LLP

Dated: August 6, 2019 /s/ Raymond J. Tittmann 

Raymond J. Tittmann 

Edward J. Valdespino 

Attorneys for Plaintiff

AMERICAN BANKERS INSURANCE 

COMPANY OF FLORIDA 

CLYDE & CO US LLP

Dated: August 6, 2019 /s/ Jason J. Chorley

Bruce D. Celebrezze

Jason J. Chorley

Attorneys for Defendants 

THE TRAVELERS INDEMNITY COMPANY, 

THE PHOENIX INSURANCE COMPANY, and 

THE CHARTER OAK FIRE INSURANCE 

COMPANY (all erroneously sued as Travelers 

Indemnity Company and Travelers Casualty and 

Surety Company) 

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Case 4:19-cv-03556-HSG Document 30 Filed 08/07/19 Page 3 of 5
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_ STIPULATION AND ORDER CONSOLIDATING CASES 

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WALSH MCKEAN FURCOLO LLP

Dated: August 6, 2019 /s/ James T. Derfler

James T. Derfler

Attorneys for Defendant 

ADMIRAL INSURANCE COMPANY 

NIXON PEABODY LLP

Dated: August 6, 2019 /s/ Dawn N. Valentine

Matthew A. Richards

Dawn N. Valentine 

Attorneys for Defendant 

THE INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE 

STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA 

NICOLAIDES FINK THORPE MICHAELIDES 

SULLIVAN LLP

Dated: August 6, 2019 /s/ Ethan H. Seibert 

Sara M. Thorpe 

Ethan H. Seibert 

Attorneys for Defendant 

ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE 

COMPANY F/K/A DRAKE INSURANCE 

COMPANY OF NEW YORK 

SIGNATURE CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to Local Rule 5-1(i)(3), I hereby certify that the content of this document is 

acceptable to all counsel, and that I have obtained each attorney’s authorization to affix his/her

electronic signature to this document. 

Dated: August 6, 2019 /s/ Wentzelee Botha

Wentzelee Botha

BROWN & WINTERS

Attorneys for Defendant CITY OF WALNUT 

CREEK 

Case 4:19-cv-03556-HSG Document 30 Filed 08/07/19 Page 4 of 5
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_ STIPULATION AND ORDER CONSOLIDATING CASES 

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[PROPOSED] ORDER

GOOD CAUSE appearing therefore, the case captioned City of Walnut Creek v. 

Admiral Insurance Company, Case No. 4:19-cv-03556-HSG is hereby consolidated 

into the present action. The earlier-filed civil action, Case No. 4:19-cv-02237-HSG, 

shall serve as the lead case. The clerk is directed to administratively close the laterfiled civil action, Case No. 4:19-cv-03556-HSG. All future filings should be done in 

the lead case only and should be captioned "In Re American Bankers Insurance 

Company of Florida." 

The parties are directed to re-file in the lead case the pending motion to dismiss and 

corresponding briefing from the later-filed civil action. See Case No. 4:19-cv-03556-

HSG, Dkt. Nos. 18, 26, 27. The parties should again notice the motion's hearing on 

November 21, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: 8/7/2019 __________________________________ 

District Judge Haywood S. Gilliam, Jr.

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Case 4:19-cv-03556-HSG Document 30 Filed 08/07/19 Page 5 of 5