Opinion ID: 78513
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Second Davila Inquiry

Text: The second inquiry is whether Rutt's and Egan's claims are predicated on a legal duty that is independent of ERISA. Our analysis above answers this question. Rutt and Egan argue that their claims are based on a separate legal duty arising from their Provider Agreements. This is true to the extent their claims implicate only the amount they were owed under their Provider Agreements. But, as noted, their claims stray from the boundaries of their Provider Agreements into ERISA territory by asserting improper denials of medically necessary claims and violations of ERISA procedural requirements. Consequently, portions of their claims arise solely under ERISA or ERISA plans and not from any independent legal duty. As for the remaining claims, where removal jurisdiction exists over a completely preempted claim, the district court has jurisdiction over any claims joined with the preempted claim. Butero, 174 F.3d at 1215 (citing 28 U.S.C. § 1441(c)). Therefore, the district court may exercise jurisdiction over Rutt's and Egan's non-preempted state law claims, including those claims for payment in connection with non-ERISA patients.