Opinion
19-cv-524 (JLS) (JJM)
03-01-2021
MSP RECOVERY CLAIMS, SERIES LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, SERIES 16-08-483, a designated series of MSP Recovery Claims, Series LLC, Plaintiffs, v. MERCHANTS MUTUAL INSURANCE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation, MERCHANTS NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY, a New Hampshire corporation, MERCHANTS PREFERRED INSURANCE COMPANY, a Delaware corporation Defendants.
DECISION AND ORDER
Plaintiffs commenced this putative class action against Defendants in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on September 4, 2018. Dkt. 1. In response to Defendants' motion to dismiss, Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint. See Dkts. 12, 19. The amended complaint alleges claims related to Defendant no-fault insurers' alleged failure to "provide primary payment, or reimburse secondary payments made by Plaintiffs' assignors and Class Members [Medicare Advantage Organizations], on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Part C of the Medicare Act . . . for medical expenses resulting from injuries sustained in automobile accidents[,]" and is the operative pleading here. Dkt. 19 ¶ 2.
The parties later stipulated that the Western District of New York was the proper venue for this action, and the Southern District transferred the action to this Court on February 25, 2019. See Dkts. 23, 24, 25.
Defendants moved to dismiss the amended complaint May 31, 2019. Dkt. 37. Plaintiffs opposed the motion on July 11, 2019. Dkt. 47. And Defendants replied in further support of their motion to dismiss on July 22, 2019. Dkt. 48.
On January 29, 2020, the Court referred this case to United States Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy for all proceedings under 28 U.S.C. §§ 636(b)(1)(A), (B), and (C). Dkt. 50. Both parties filed supplemental authority regarding the motion to dismiss in February 2020. Dkts. 52, 55. Judge McCarthy heard oral argument on March 5, 2020. Dkt. 56. In response to Judge McCarthy's request, Plaintiffs filed three declarations to "make an evidentiary showing of their standing to pursue this action [and] demonstrate[e] . . . that they were assigned the representative claims," and to "authenticat[e] the relevant assignments and related agreements." See Dkts. 57, 58. Plaintiffs filed additional supplemental authority regarding their opposition to Defendants' motion in September 2020. Dkt. 59.
On November 20, 2020, Judge McCarthy issued a Report and Recommendation ("R&R"), recommending that this Court grant Defendants' motion, without prejudice to Plaintiffs filing a second amended complaint. Dkt. 60, at 2. Judge McCarthy recommended dismissal under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) because Plaintiffs lack standing—in particular, because Plaintiffs "failed to satisfy their burden to demonstrate the exemplar claims [alleged in the amended complaint] were included in the assigned claims. See id. at 2, 18. Because Judge McCarthy concluded that Plaintiffs' lack of standing deprived the Court of jurisdiction, he did not consider Defendants' arguments under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6). See id. at 25.
Plaintiffs objected to the R&R on December 4, 2020. Dkt. 61. They argue that they pled sufficient facts and offered enough evidence to demonstrate their standing, and assert that they need not plead the dates on which medical services were paid to establish standing. See id. at 2-5. And, if the Court agrees with Judge McCarthy's recommendation regarding standing, Plaintiffs request leave to amend. See id. at 5-6. Defendants responded on December 18, 2020, arguing that Plaintiffs did not request—and should not receive—leave to amend. See Dkt. 62, at 3-5. Plaintiffs replied in further support of their objections on December 28, 2020. Dkt. 64.
A district court may accept, reject, or modify the findings or recommendations of a magistrate judge. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3). It must conduct a de novo review of those portions of a magistrate judge's recommendation to which a party objects. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1); Fed. R. Civ. P. 72(b)(3). But neither 28 U.S.C. § 636 nor Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 72 requires a district court to review the recommendation of a magistrate judge to which no objections are raised. See Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 149-50 (1985).
The Court studied the R&R, the briefing on objections, and the relevant record. Based on that review, the Court accepts and adopts Judge McCarthy's recommendation to grant Defendants' motion to dismiss, on 12(b)(1) grounds, without prejudice to Plaintiffs filing a second amended complaint. The Court identified the specific deficiency with the amended complaint, and Plaintiffs assert that they are able to cure the deficiency. See Dkt. 61, 5-6. Leave to amend therefore is not futile, and Defendants did not argue that they would suffer prejudice from a second amendment. See Dkt. 62, at 3-5.
Defendants argue only that leave to amend is not proper because Plaintiffs did not request it in the opposition they submitted to Judge McCarthy. See Dkt. 62, at 3. Regardless, the R&R raised amendment, so the issue—and Plaintiffs' argument for amendment—is properly before the Court. --------
CONCLUSION
For these reasons and those in the R&R, the Court grants Defendants' motion to dismiss (Dkt. 37) and dismisses the amended complaint, without prejudice. Plaintiffs may file a second amended complaint by March 22, 2021. The Court refers this case back to Judge McCarthy for further proceedings, consistent with the referral order at Dkt. 50. SO ORDERED. Dated: March 1, 2021
Buffalo, New York
/s/_________
JOHN L. SINATRA, JR.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE