California Court of Appeal

In breach of contract dispute over a benefit plan participant's recovery of a medical malpractice settlement, summary judgment for defendant is vacated and the complaint is dismissed where: 1) plaintiff trustees had a federal ERISA claim for reimbursement over which the federal courts exercise exclusive subject matter jurisdiction; and 2) state courts not only lack concurrent jurisdiction over ERISA claims for reimbursement, but their jurisdiction over state law claims is displaced by ERISA.

Appellate Information

• Decided 08/13/2007
• Published 08/13/2007

Judges

• SIMONS, J.

Court

• California Court of Appeal

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Stanton, Kay & Watson and Anne M. Bevington, San Francisco, for Plaintiffs and Appellants.


• For Appellees:
  
• Halkides, Morgan & Kelley and John P. Kelley, Redding, for Defendant and Respondent.