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1 TIMOTHY J. LONG (STATE BAR NO. 137591)
tjlong@orrick.com EMOORSLO
2 ORRICK, HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE LLP
400 Capitol Mall, Suite 3000 2018 APR-3 PH 1--59
3 Sacramento, CA 95814-4497
Telephone: +1 916 447 9200 ^^'cfriiVOKSACBAMEHiU
4 Facsimile: +1 916 329 4900
5 STEPHANIE GAIL LEE (STATE BAR NO. 285379)
stephanie.lee@orrick.com
6 ORRICK, HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE LLP
777 South Figueroa Street, Suite 3200
7 Los Angeles, CA 90017-5855
Telephone: +1-213-629-2020
8 Facsimile: +1-213-612-2499
9 Attomeys for Defendant
HEALTH NET OF CALIFORNIA, INC.
10
11 SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
12 COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO
13
ANDREA SPEARS, an individual, on behalf Consolidated Case No. 34-2017-00210560-
14 of herself and on behalf of all persons CU-OE-GDS
similarly situated.
15 DECLARATION OF STEPHANIE GAIL
Plaintiff L E E IN SUPPORT OF DEFENDANT'S
16 OPPOSITIONS TO PLAINTIFF'S
MOTIONS TO COMPEL FURTHER
17 HEALTH NET OF CALIFORNIA, INC., a RESPONSES TO HER SPECIAL
Califomia Corporation; and Does 1 through INTERROGATORIES AND REQUESTS
18 50, inclusive. FOR PRODUCTION, SET ONE
19 Defendants. Date: April 16,2018
Time: 9:00 a.m.
20 Judge: Hon. Christopher E. Krueger
Dept.: 54
21
TOMAS R. ARANA, on behalf of himself all Complaint Filed: April 5, 2017
CO 22 others similarly situated, FAC Filed: June 29, 2017
Consolidated Complaint Filed: Dec. 21, 2017
23 Plaintiff
<
z 24
Complaint Filed: August 1, 2017
o 25 HEALTH NET, INC., a Delaware
corporation; and DOES 1-50, inclusive.
26
cc 27
Defendant.
o 28
DECLARATION OF STEPHANIE GAIL LEE IN SUPPORT OF DEFENDANT'S OPPOSITIONS TO PLAINTIFF'S MOTIONS TO COMPEL
FURTHER RESPONSES TO HER SPECIAL INTERROGATORIES AND REQUESTS FOR PRODUCTION, SET ONE
1 I, Stephanie Gail Lee, hereby declare as follows:
2 1. I am an attomey duly admitted to practice before the courts of the State of Califomia
3 and am an associate in the law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, attomeys of record for
4 Defendant Health Net of Califomia, Inc. ("Health Nef'). I make this declaration on personal
5 knowledge and, if swom as a witness, could competently testify to the following facts except where
6 otherwise indicated;
7 2. On April 5, 2017, Plaintiff Andrea Spears filed her putative wage-and-hour class
8 action Complaint against Health Net, purporting to represent all current and former non-exempt
9 Health Net employees in Califomia from April 5, 2013 to the present. On or about June 29, 2017,
10 Plaintiff Spears filed her First Amended Complaint adding Private Attomeys General Act
11 allegations.
12 3. On August 1, 2017, Plaintiff Tomas Arana filed his putative wage-and-hour class
13 action Complaint against Health Net, purporting to represent current and former non-exempt
14 employees of Health Net and a subclass of exempt employees.
15 4. On October 11, 2017, upon stipulation of the parties, the Court consolidated the
16 Spears and Arana matters under one case number. On December 27, 2017, Plaintiffs filed a
17 Consolidated Complaint alleging: (a) failure to provide meal periods, (b) failure to provide rest
18 periods, (c) failure to pay hourly and overtime wages, (d) failure to correctly pay overtime based
19 on Health Net's alleged failure to properly calculate the regular rate, (e) unlawfial rounding
20 practices, (f) failure to provide accurate wage statements, (g) failure to timely pay all final wages,
21 (h) unfair competition, and (i) related PAGA claims.
22 5. Health Net filed its Answer to the Consolidated Complaint on January 22,2018, and
23 filied a Motion for Surhmary Adjudication as to Plaintiffs' regular rate and rounding claims on
24 February 5, 2018. Health Net's Motion for Summary Adjudication is set for hearing on April 26,
25 2018.
26 6. Both Plaintiffs have propounded written discovery on Health Net seeking, among
27 other things, the contact information of putative class members. Plaintiff Spears served her first
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DECLARATION OF STEPHANIE GAIL LEE IN SUPPORT OF DEFENDANT'S OPPOSITIONS TO PLAINTIFF'S MOTIONS TO COMPEL
FURTHER RESPONSES TO HER SPECIAL INTERROGATORIES AND REQUESTS FOR PRODUCTION, SET ONE
1 set of document requests, special interrogatories, employment law form interrogatories, and
2 admission requests on July 25, 2017.
3 7. Plaintiff Arana served his first and second sets of special interrogatories, and first
4 sets of document requests, employment law form interrogatories, and admission requests on
5 September 19, 2017.
6 8. On September 12,2017, Health Net timely served responses its responses to Plaintiff
7 Spears' first sets of special interrogatories and document requests, and produced responsive
8 documents two days later.
9 9. On October 17, 2017,1 sent an e-mail to Victoria Rivapalacio, counsel for Plaintiff
10 Spears, and Shaun Setareh, counsel for Plaintiff Arana, requesting that all parties' counsel
11 collectively discuss written discovery and specifically. Plaintiff Spears' proposed Belaire-West
12 notice (the "Notice") in light of the Court's consolidation order. During our ensuing October 24-
13 25, 2017 meet and confer over the telephone and e-mail, Ms. Rivapalacio, Mr. Setareh and I agreed
14 to raise the issue of phasing discovery at the December 8, 2017 initial case management conference
15 ("CMC") and Health Net agreed that it would provide class certification-related discovery in the
16 interim. The parties did not discuss the specifics of any particular discovery request, and Health
17 Net granted Plaintiff Spears an extension to file any motion to compel on any outstanding discovery
18 until after the CMC so that Plaintiff Spears would not be prejudiced. Attached hereto as Exhibit A
19 is a tme and correct copy of my October 24-25,2017 e-mail correspondence with Ms. Rivapalacio
20 and Mr. Setareh.
21 10. On November 9, 2017, I provided Ms. Rivapalacio and Mr. Setareh with Health
22 Net's suggested revisions to Plaintiff Spears' draft Notice via e-mail. In my e-mail, I invited Ms.
23 Rivapalacio and Mr. Setareh to continue to meet and confer over the contents of the Notice.
24 Attached hereto as Exhibit B is a true and correct copy of my November 9, 2017 e-mail to Ms.
25 Rivapalacio and Mr. Setareh.
26 11. Notwithstanding my meet and confer efforts to resolve the issue conceming the
27 contents of the Notice, including to whom it should be issued, Ms. Rivapalacio stated in e-mail, "If
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DECLARATION OF STEPHANIE GAIL LEE IN SUPPORT OF DEFENDANT'S OPPOSITIONS TO PLAINTIFF'S MOTIONS TO COMPEL
FURTHER RESPONSES TO HER SPECIAL INTERROGATORIES AND REQUESTS FOR PRODUCTION, SET ONE
1 it tums out the class is broader than the category as we have identified it, we will revisit the mailing
2 at that time. The motion is attached." Plaintiff Spears filed her Motion for Opt-Out Privacy Notice
3 to Be Sent to Putative Class Members ("BW Motion") on November 16, 2017. Attached hereto as
4 Exhibit C is a true and correct copy of my November 9-16, 2017 e-mail exchainge with Ms.
5 Rivapalacio without the attachment.
6 12. On November 24, 2017, I e-mailed a stipulation and proposed protective order to
7 Ms. Rivapalacio and Mr. Setareh in anticipation that it would govem the parties' exchange of
8 confidential documents and information. Attached hereto as Exhibit D is a tme and correct copy
9 of my November 24, 2017 e-mail to Ms. Rivapalacio and Mr. Setareh without the attachment.
10 13. On December 1, 2017, Plaintiff Spears filed her first motion to compel further
11 responses to requests for production, set one, £ind on December 6, filed another motion to compel
12 further responses to her first set of special interrogatories.
13 14. OnDecember6and7,2017, Health Net served its supplemental discovery responses
14 and documents to Plaintiff Spears, arid agreed to produce additional documents once an appropriate
15 protective order was in place. Attached hereto as Exhibit E is a tme and correct copy of Health
16 Net's December 6,2017 supplemental responses to Plaintiff Spears' first set of document requests.
17 15. I attended the December 8, 2017 initial CMC before Judge Perkins. During this
18 CMC, Judge Perkins set Febmary 15,2018 as the hearing date for Health Net's Motion to Sequence
19 Discovery. Attached hereto as Exhibit F is a tme and correct copy of the Court's minute order
20 regarding the December 8, 2017 CMC.
21 16. On the aftemoon of December 8,2017,1, e-mailed Ms. Rivapalacio and Mr. Setareh
22 requesting that Plaintiff Spears continue the hearing dates on her pending discovery motions until
23 after Judge Perkins mled on the Motion to Sequence. Many of the issues raised by Plaintiff Spears'
24 discovery motions overlapped with Health Net's then-forthcoming Motion to Sequence. Ms.
25 Rivapalacio did not respond to my request. Attached hereto as Exhibit G is a tme and correct copy
26 of my December 8, 2017 e-mail correspondence to Ms. Rivapalacio and Mr. Setareh.
27
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DECLARATION OF STEPHANIE GAIL LEE IN SUPPORT OF DEFENDANT'S OPPOSITIONS TO PLAINTIFF'S MOTIONS TO COMPEL
FURTHER RESPONSES TO HER SPECIAL INTERROGATORIES AND REQUESTS FOR PRODUCTION, SET ONE
1 17. On December 15, 2017, I received an e-mail from Ms. Rivapalacio attaching her
2 and Plaintiff Arana's counsel's signature on the proposed protective order. Attached hereto as
3 Exhibit H is a true and correct copy of the December 15, 2017 e-mail I received from Ms.
4 Rivapalacio without the attachments.
5 18. On December 19, 2017, my office served Health Net's supplemental document
6 production pursuant to the parties' stipulated protective order.
7 19. The Court mled on Plairitiff Spears' BW Motion on December 15, 2017, continuing
8 the hearing to January 4,2018, and ordering the parties to further meet and confer and "remind[ing]
9 all counsel but especially [Plaintiff Spears'] that given the number of motions such as this which
10 must be addressed on a daily basis, there are simply not enough judicial resources available to
11 resolve each and every discovery dispute that could have and should have been resolved
12 informally." Attached hereto as Exhibit I is a tme and correct copy of the Court's December 15,
13 2017 Order on Plaintiff Spears' BW Motion.
14 20. After the Court's adrnonitions, Plaintiff Spears withdrew her discovery motions at
15 counsel for Health Net's request because the issues raised significantly overlapped with Health
16 Net's Motion to Sequence Discovery. Further, Health Net continued both Plaintiffs' respective
17 deadlines to bring motions to compel further responses to their written discovery until March 1,
18 2018 - two weeks after Health Net anticipated receiving a mling on its Motion to Sequence
19 Discovery. Attached hereto as Exhibits J and K are tme and correct copies of my December 18,
20 2017 and January 8, 2018 e-mails to Ms. Rivapalacio and Stacey Shim, Mr. Setareh's colleague,
21 respectively. On January 23, 2018, Health Net filed its Motion to Sequence Discovery.
22 21. Despite the Motion to Sequence and Health Net's extending her deadline to file
23 discovery motions. Plaintiff Spears refiled her two motions to compel, setting the hearing for
24 Febmary 13, 2018 - before Judge Perkins would hear Health Net's Motion to Sequence.
25 22. After Plaintiff Spears's filing, I requested that Ms. Rivapalacio withdraw Plaintiff
26 Spears' motions, and likewise informed her that if she did not do so, Health Net would have no
27 choice but to seek sanctions. I also reconfirmed that Health Net had given Plaintiff Spears a two-
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DECLARATION OF STEPHANIE GAIL LEE IN SUPPORT OF DEFENDANT'S OPPOSITIONS TO PLAINTIFF'S MOTIONS TO COMPEL
FURTHER RESPONSES TO HER SPECIAL INTERROGATORIES AND REQUESTS FOR PRODUCTION, SET ONE
1 week extension of time to file any motion to compel after Judge Perkins ruled on the Motion to
2 Sequence. Ms. Rivapalacio initially refused Health Net's request to withdraw her motions, but then
3 withdrew them on the day Health Net's Oppositions were due (but did not notify me until after
4 business hours - after Health Net had already filed its Oppositions). Attached hereto as Exhibit L
5 is a tme and correct copy of the e-mails exchanged between myself and Ms. Rivapalacio.
6 23. On March 9, 2018, Judge F'erkins denied Health Net's Motion to Sequence
7 Discovery without prejudice "to seek similar specific relief by appropriate discovery motion
8 directed to the law and motion depzutment...." Attached hereto as Exhibit M is a tme and cortect
9 copy of Judge Perkins' March 9, 2018 Order.
10 24. After Judge Perkins' Order was issued and before Health Net filed its Motion to
11 Sequence Discovery in this Department, I met and conferred with Plaintiffs' counsel and
12 specifically invited Ms. Rivapalacio to present Plaintiff Spears' proposals to resolve or narrow the
13 issues in dispute. Those efforts were unsuccessful. Attached hereto as Exhibit N is a tme and
14 correct copy of my March 9, 2018 e-mail exchange with Ms. Rivapalacio. Plaintiff Tomas Arana
15 did not oppose Health Net's Motion to Sequence Discovery when it was pending before Judge
16 Perkins.
17 25. On March 9, 2018 (the day after Judge Perkins' tentative mling), having confirmed
18 that the parties' positions remained the same and heeding Judge Perkins' ruling that the issues in
19 the Motion to Sequence Discovery needed to be addressed in a formal discovery motion before the
20 law and motion department,, Health Net prepared a separate statement and refiled its Motion to
21 Sequence Discovery before this department. That motion is set for hearing on April 9, 2018.
22 26. On March 20,2018, PlaintiffSpears again refilled her two discovery motions without
23 any additional meet and confer.
24 27. OnMarch21,2018,1 offered Plaintiff Arana an extension of time-until April 23,
25 2018 - within which to bring any necessary motions to compel following the Court's mling on
26 Health Net's pending Motion to Sequence Discovery. Attached hereto as Exhibit O is a tme and
27 correct copy of my e-mail cortespondence to William Pao, Mr. Setareh's colleague.
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DECLARATION OF STEPHANIE GAIL LEE IN SUPPORT OF DEFENDANT'S OPPOSITIONS TO PLAINTIFF'S MOTIONS TO COMPEL
FURTHER RESPONSES TO HER SPECIAL INTERROGATORIES AND REQUESTS FOR PRODUCTION, SET ONE
1 28. On March 21,2018,1 asked Ms. Rivapalacio to withdraw Plaintiff Spears' discovery
2 motions by noon on March 23,2018, and granted Plaintiff Spears an extension until April 23,2018,
3 to file any discovery motions that Plaintiff Spears believes necessary following this Court's mling
4 on the pending Motion to Sequence Discovery. I also informed Ms. Rivapalacio that Health Net
5 would seek sanctions for any expenses it incurred after noon on March 23, 2018, in opposing these
6 motions. Ms. Rivapalacio did not withdraw Plaintiff Spears'motions. Attached hereto as Exhibit
7 P is a tme and cortect copy of my March 21-22,2018 e-mail correspondence with Ms. Rivapalacio.
8 29. I f for some reason, the Court has not mled on the Motion to Sequence Discovery
9 by April 23,2018, Health Net will, as it has repeatedly done, grant Plaintiffs an additional extension
10 of time to bring any discovery motions so that they are not prejudiced by waiting for resolution of
11 Health Net's pending Motion to Sequence Discovery.
12 30. Attached hereto as Exhibit Q is a tme and correct copy of the Declaration of Chrissy
13 Schneider In Support of Defendant's Motion to Sequence Discovery.
14 31. Attached hereto as Exhibit R is a true and correct copy of the Declaration of Diane
15 Rodes In Support of Defendant's Opposition to Plaintiffs previously filed Motions to Compel.
16 32. Attached hereto as Exhibit S is a tme and correct copy of the Declaration of Kelly
17 Sarabia In Support of Defendant's Motion for Summary Adjudication.
18 33. In response to Plaintiffs discovery in this case. Health Net provided detailed,
19 expansive responses and documents, including:
20 • Plaintiffs' personnel files;
21 • Plaintiffs'payroll data;
22 • Plaintiffs' timesheet data;
23 • Plaintiffs' wage statements;
24 • Meal period policies for all putative class members;
25 • Employee policies, manuals and guides for all putative class members;
26 • Hourly compensation policies for all putative class members;
. 27 • Bonus compensation policies for all putative class members;
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DECLARATION OF STEPHANIE GAIL LEE IN SUPPORT OF DEFENDANT'S OPPOSITIONS TO PLAINTIFF'S MOTIONS TO COMPEL
FURTHER RESPONSES TO HER SPECIAL INTERROGATORIES AND REQUESTS FOR PRODUCTION, SET ONE
1 • Policies relating to health and welfare benefits for all putative class members;
2 • Meal premium policies for all putative class members; and
3 • Overtime compensation policies for all putative class members.
4 In total, Health Net has produced more than 2,600 pages of discovery and 21,880 lines of
5 data in Microsoft Excel sheets related to Plaintiffs' personal claims, class certification and the
6 merits of Plaintiffs' regular rate and rounding claims.
7 34. On December 20, 2017,1 spoke over the telephone with Ms. Rivapalacio to discuss,
8 among other things. Plaintiff Spears'Special Interrogatory No. 14. I communicated Health Net's
9 position that Plaintiff Spears' request for "all forms of compensation" the non-exempt putative
10 class rnembers were "eligible to receive[]" was vague and ambiguous. In response, Ms.
11 Rivapalacio communicated that Plaintiff Spears actually seeks their pay codes and a description of
12 such pay codes (her Special Interrogatory Nos. 11-12). My December 20, 2017, e-mail
13 correspondence to Ms. Rivapalacio memorializing our conversation was previously attached as
14 Exhibit 6 to the Declaration of Victoria Rivapalacio.
15 I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Califomia that the foregoing
16 is true and correct. Executed this 3rd day of April, 2018.
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STEPHANIE GAIL LEE
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DECLARATION OF STEPHANIE GAIL LEE IN SUPPORT OF DEFENDANT'S OPPOSITIONS TO PLAINTIFF'S MOTIONS TO COMPEL
FURTHER RESPONSES TO HER SPECIAL INTERROGATORIES AND REQUESTS FOR PRODUCTION, SET ONE
Exhibit A
Thank you for your message. Yes, Defendant will serve supplemental responses to Plaintiff Spears' discovery it deems
appropriate at tliis juncture of the litigation. As to the issue of the discovery relevant to class certification versus merits,
we agreed to raise the issue with the Court at the initial case management conference on December 8, 2017.
Confirmed that Defendant agrees to continue Plaintiff Spears' motion to compel deadline to December 15,2017.
Because, Shaun, you were not on this telephone call, still outstanding is the issue of coordinating discovery. This is
important, particularly with respect to the Belaire-West notice procedure. On that note, I will circulate a draft
protective order and edits to Plaintiff Spears' draft Belaire-West notice. However, we should discuss how we're going to
coordinate.
Regards,
Stephanie
Stephanie Gail Lee
Managing Associate
Orrick
Los Anoeles ®
T+1-213-612-2374
5tephanie,lee@orrick xom
ornck
From: Victoria Rivapalacio [mailto:victoria(g>bamlawca.coml
Sent: Tuesday, October 24, 2017 4:45 PM '
To: Lee, Stephanie Gail : Shaun Setareh
Cc: Long, TimothyJ. ; Norm Blumenthal : Kyle Nordrehaug
.: AJ B : Piya Mukherjee :thomas(S)setarehlaw.com:
scott@setarehlaw.com: farrah@5etarehlaw.com: stacev@setarehlaw.com
Subject: RE: Spears v. Health Net of California, Inc..
Stephanie,
I write to confirm that we met and conferred this afternoon regarding Defendant's responses to Plaintiffs discovery
requests.
Defendant offered to continue Plaintiff's motion to compel deadline from December 1, 2017 to December 15,2017, a
week after the Case Management Conference. Defendant is in the process of drafting supplemental responses, but will
not provide a timeline as to when those will be provided.
Defendant will circulate a draft of a protective order and will return the opt-out notice reflecting any revisions it might
have. Plaintiff agrees to pay for the costs of the mailing.
Thank you,
Victoria
Exhibit B
Lee, Stephanie Gail
From: Lee, Stephanie Gail
Sent: Thursday, November 9, 2017 1:01 PM
To: 'Victoria Rivapalacio'; Shaun Setareh
Cc: Long, Timothy J.; Norm Blumenthal; Kyle Nordrehaug; AJ B; Piya Mukherjee;
thomas@setarehlaw.com; scott@setarehlaw.com; farrah@setarehlaw.com;
stacey@setarehlaw.com
Subject: RE: Spears v. Health Net of California, Inc,
Attachments: 767592667(2}_Spears_Arana - Consolidated Belaire-West Notice with OHS Edits.DOCX
Victoria, '
While I understand that the Court did not order that a consolidated complaint be filed, I suggested as such for a few
reasons. I explained those reasons over the telephone to you and Shaun separately, and I am summarizing them here:
• A consolidated complaint will make for ease of litigation going forward. It is difficult to understand how the
parties will smoothly litigate this case as one matter when there are two separate complaints.
• Plaintiff Spears' FAC is vague and ambiguous with regard to her regular rate claim. You have told us that this
claim is really based on whether the "cash back" component ofthe cafeteria health plans should have been
included in the regular rate. However, the FAC seems to focus on bonuses, which you told me you didn't even
know if your client received. Filing an amended complaint would provide an opportunity to clarify Plaintiff
Spears' allegations, and delete one that should never have been asserted in the first place.
• Plaintiff Arana's proposed FAC was rejected by the Court. Is he planning on amending his
Complaint? Moreover, Plaintiff Arana purports to represent employees Defendant does not and has not ever
employed.
All of these Issues militate towards you and Shaun coordinating and filing a consolidated complaint. Should you choose
not to, we will raise the issue with the Court during the case management conference. In any event, the draft Belaire-
West notice you sent has a number of deficiencies. For example, it does not Include the entire putative class when
considering Plaintiff Arana's allegations. Moreover, the issues summarized above will impact the language of the notice
- all the more reason to resolve them. Attached are our initial edits for your consideration. We look fonward to
continuing the meet and confer process.
It is obviously your choice if you wish to file a motion. We suggest, however, that if we cannot resolve our differences
through the meet and confer process - which we do not consider to be exhausted - that we tee up the issue for
resolution by Judge Perkins at the case management conference.
Thank you,
Stephanie
Stephanie Gall Lee
Managing Associate
Orrick
Los Anoeles ®
T+1-213-612-2374
stepbanieiee@orrlck.com
NOTICE TO CURRENT AND FORMER EMPLOYEES OF HEALTH NET OF
CALIFORNIA, INC. REGARDING DISCLOSURE OF PRIVATE PKUSONAl.
CONTA<: r INFORMATION
To: ICURRENf ANOFORMER NON-EXE EM FLO V EES EMPLOYE H E A L f H NET OF!
CALIFpRNIA,JNC,iiiET>yEE
A lawsiiit»(e«
" * . .~
I Commented [1]: This doa noi mdude Uw cnlJr* pulatnv ctAS.
We needtofigureUiij ovL
i:MB:^S^iMM^i>I0iih£.?ShlLB?i of Californiix, inc\ oiiil i Iwwwi w Utielih . . -I Commented [2]l Hie name or die case, ei ccniolidalcd, is
I Spean v. Heallti Nel oTCeliromiB. Inc
/04o/Colif,jrnia,Ci BSC N»o. 34-20l7-00210560-CU^Or.-Gb"?^iiiu».' Iiwii iil<(l oTi3 afais"pending in the
^uperior Court of California, County ofSacramento, OIIB of tho plointifliiTlii; Plaiiiiifrs in ii formeri'v twn omnlovcu •
f^l^.'llltll Nci nrCiililrmiii. Inu. ("110111111 Net'' or Diifeiulnni-'l onJlhu otliiii is n current omnlovuo of Health Not. ITio
iiiiinilTii umplovjiiii wliu purjwri lo rL-prcscm various oiliur m Iwliiilf of current and former hoiy^jtemptjertiployees-. - •( Commented [3]; semesCamnwu i
s HWhiviid hvofl Icalili Net of Calit'orniit. Inc. r'llcaltli Nci" »r •'Dci'cndnni"! cmnlovcd in Cnlifornia ("Class
I Icmbers") cnipUtytfd hy Hutillh Nut of Ciilift'iniu. Ino. (••OtfiiiKliini''). _Thts is not a lawsuit againsl you, and you are
I oi being sued. .The formar employooj ("PlaintifTs^ make claims against Defendant far, among other things, failing
av-amlnroDcrlv compensate Class Members for all overtime worked, failing to provide
Inquired meal and rest periods, and failing to issue accurate itemized wage statements. .The lawsuit seeks unpaid
wages, penalties and interest.
ijffendiiiiliThe Court does not endorse anv of the statements contained h»w»in ihis miiilini;. The Court has
' not rendered any opinion as to the merits of Ihis cast.
The Plainiiffs contend that this lawsuit can be brought as a class action on behalf of themselves and the current
i nd former npn;exeinpl|emp]oyees who were employed by Defendant; .The Court has not yet determined whether (tr. • j cowmgntad t4]; smmaconuntni i :.7j
r 01 the lawsuit should be allowed to be maintained as a class action. If vou receive this notice, and il'ihc Coun hitcr
qclv'iiiiiiic.'i lh.li iliis Invvsuii shall be mitintaiiicd as a class aclion. vou mav be a member ofthe proposed class.
Thy 1iiH vci-s for Ihe Plalntiffs^-nMof - would like to have your Imnie address, personal telephone
ijumber and personal email address fvour "Privnte I'crsimai C'ontiif t liil'nrniation") so they may contact you fo
obtain your input as to whether the Plaintiffs' allegations are accurate.
This notice is being -sent lu vouTha l^prlia.-i havo usrt'wl thnt o I t l l t r he sent to vnu lo iii-ovidc vou with the
niiorlunitv lo «lryiwriiu'ti time Hn«I^T-j»tty'i=4tl4-it>tit<4mrii«H)-t<)-PI«inliffs' Httorw«ys-e-sfmmd.'i of privaty.
I rHEHMI'OniCi ilf you uhiifct tu lh» diw'lo.iure of viiiii' funliifti liiiio iind/or iiavrnll inl'oniiatlondo NO'f
am vonr Private Personal Coiitiu-t lnl'i>r tiiiii iiruviilcd to Ihe PlaintifPs' attomeys, you most sign and return
the enclosed (postage pre-paid) postcard to Health Net of California Class Action, c/o KCC Class Action
Services, P.O. Box , Petaluma, Califomia • on or before |One (1) Month from Mailing].
I Vou have the right to contact the PlaintifTs' attorneys or Health Net's utiorncvs directly:
I'l.'iiiiliflV .Aiiomcs's l lcalih Ncl's .Aiuimcvs:
BLUMENTHAL. NORDREHAUG & BHOWMIK ORRICK. IlilRRINCVrON & SU rci.ll'I'l: LLP
Nicholas De Blouw Tiinoihv .1. l..oi)a
deblouwf?Bbamlawli.com liloiiEi'rTioiTick.com
2255 Callc Clara •1(10 CMpitol Mnll. .Snilu .^00
La Jolla, CA 92037 .Siicianioiuo. CA 'jiy 1^.^407
Telephone. (858)952-0354 Iclcphonc: + I 9 l 6 447q20n
Facsimile: (858) 551-1232 l-ncsimilc: • +1 QU).".^J4qOO
or."r A w !•
I J I f H
C ' l e r t e i r t C i t t t i ^ ' . f c W
1 7J111U11 I n . I L lT\Z Tl
nliiiun,i/I'iotaiohlawH;
Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2017 4:39 PM
To: Lee, Stephanie Gail; Shaun Setareh
Cc: Long, Tinnothy J.; Nbrnn Blumenthal; Kyle Nordrehaug; AJ B; Piya Mukherjee;
thomas@setarehlaw.com; scott@setarehlaw.conn; farrah@setarehlaw.com;
stacey@setarehlaw.com
Subject: RE: Spears v. Health Net of Caiifornia, Inc.
Attachments: p-Motion-02.pdf
Stephanie,
Plaintiff's regular rate claim includes, but is not limited to, the payments of cash made in lieu of health benefits. Subject
to Defendant complying with discovery, we will identify other applicable payments. Defendant's current monopoly on
the discovery relevant to this case Is not a reason to limit the scope of Plaintiff's claims, pled In good faith, on the
evidence available. That a plaintiff cannot prove her claims prior to conducting discovery is inherent in litigation and
anticipated; It is the reason the discovery process exists. See Williams v. Superior Court, 3 Cal. 5"' 531, 551 (2017)
("California law has long made clear that to require a party to supply proof of any claims or defenses as a condition of
discovery in support of those claims or defenses is to place the cart before the horse."). Plaintiff, therefore, has no
intention of striking any terms from her FAC.
There Is no bargain and, therefore, no reason to delay for your bifurcation debate because, as stated in our meet and
confer discussions on October 24, 2017, Plaintiff Spears propounded discovery that is appropriate prior to certification,
regardless of whether any order is issued bifurcating discovery. Plus, there is no longer any argument as to bifurcating or
delaying discovery for PAGA after Williams. If Defendant would like to moot Plaintiff's motion to compel by
supplementing its responses, Defendant is welcome to do so.
Regarding the Belaire notice, the clear intent is to distribute the notice to the recipients identified by the notice and the
complaint, per Williams. If it turns out the class is broader than the category as we have identified it, we will revisit the
mailing at that time. The motion is attached.
Thank you,
Victoria
From: Lee, Stephanie Gail [mailto:stephanie.lee@orrick.com1
Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2017 3:16 PM
To: Victoria Rivapalacio : Shaun Setareh
Cc: Long, Timothy J. : Norm Blumenthal : Kyle Nordrehaug
; AJ B bamlawca.com>: Piya Mukherjee : thomasg)setarehlaw.com:
$cott(g)setarehlaw.com; farrahfflsetarehlaw.com; stacev(S)setarehlaw.com
Subject: RE: Spears v. Health Net of California, Inc.
Victoria,
I think I see where we have been talking over each other. To confirm. Plaintiff Spears' regular rate claim is based on the
monies she received in the form of cash In lieu of medical benefits. As of right now. Plaintiff Spears does not have any
other basis for her regular rate claim and ail other stated bases should be stricken from her FAC.
Regarding Defendant's discovery responses, we are following through on our part of the agreement that you and I, and
Shaun and I struck during our meet and confer discussions on October 24, 2017. During those calls and as memorialized
in email correspondence, the parties agreed that they would submit the issue of bifurcating discovery between
certification and merits to the Court, for resolution at the upcoming CMC. Pursuant to our agreement. Defendant
agreed to supplement its responses to those requests and interrogatories it deems appropriate at this juncture ofthe
litigation. Defendant also agreed to extend Plaintiff Spears' motion to compel deadline to Decernber 15,2017. As
mentioned. Defendant intends to abide by its end ofthe bargain (and anticipates serving its supplemental responses
prior to the conference) and trusts that Plaintiff Spears will do so, as well.
Regarding the Belaire-West notice, I am unclear of your position. Are you saying that you will bring a motion to compel
the distribution of a Belaire-West notice that will not be issued to all putative class members?
Thank you,
Stephanie
Stephanie Gail Lee
Managing Associate
Ornck •
Los Anoeles g]
T+1-213-612-2374
siephanie.lee@orrick.com
ornck
From: Victoria Rivapalacio lnnailto:victoria@bamlawca.com1
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2017 3:36 PM
To: Lee, Stephanie Gall : Shaun Setareh
Cc: Long, TimothyJ. : Norm Blumenthal : Kyle Nordrehaug
^kvle(a)bamlawca.com>: AJ B : Piya Mukherjee : thomascg)setarehlaw.com:
scott^setarehlaw.com: farrahgisetarehlaw.com; stacev@setarehlaw.com
Subject: RE: Spears V. Health Net of California, Inc.
Stephanie,
As 1 explained in our previous conversations, my client received bonuses in the form of cash paid in lieu of medical
benefits. To determine any other non-discretionary bonuses that similarly should have been included in the regular rate
calculation, I need you to supplement the inadequate responses Defendant provided to our discovery requests, as well
as provide a responsive document production, including an electronic spreadsheet of Plaintiffs compensation. As
Defendant has yet to provide compliant responses, I am forced to file a motion to compel this information.
As to the Belaire notice, the notice we will move for says exactly who should be the recipient of the notice.
If there are any further issues you would like to discuss, please feel free to give me a call. "
Thank you,
Victoria
From: Lee, Stephanie Gail fmailto:stephanle,lee@orrick.coml
Sent: Friday, November 10, 2017 3:20 PM
To: Victoria Rivapalacio ; Shaun Setareh
Cc: Long, Timothy J. : Norm Blumenthal : Kyle Nordrehaug
: AJ B : Piya Mukherjee : thomas@setarehlaw.com:
scott@setarehlaw.cQm: farrah@setarehlaw.com: stacev@5etarehiaw.com
Subject: RE: Spears V. Health Net of California, Inc.
Victoria,
It is unfortunate that you feel this way. We are just trying to get this right. There are serious issues we need to discuss
regarding the Belaire-West notice, including, importantly, to whom it will be issued. To that end, we need to coordinate
with Plairitiff Arana's counsel.
If you still see the need to file your nriotion now, that is your prerogative. But again, we can tee this issue up to discuss
with the Court at the case management conference. In any event, I find it difficult to imagine that your motion will be
heard before then.
We remain willing to meet and confer and, to that end, suggest that you, me and Shaun finally get on a call together.
As an aside, you did teli me that you did not know whether your client received bonuses. You stated that that was what
discovery was for.
Thank you,
Stephanie
Stephanie Gall Lee
Managing Associate
Orrick
Los Anoeles ®
T+1-213-612-2374
stephanle.lee@orrick.com
ornck
From: Victoria Rivapalacio fmaiito:victoria@bamlawc3.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 9, 2017 1:36 PM
To: Lee, Stephanie Gail ; Shaun Setareh
Cc: Long, Timothy J. : Norm Blumenthal : Kyle Nordrehaug
: AJ B : Piya Mukherjee : thomas@setarehlaw.com:
scott@setarehlaw.com: farrah@5etarehlaw.com; stacev@setarehlaw.com
Subject: RE: Spears v. Health Net of California, Inc.
Stephanie,
I write to follow up to the voicemail I just left.
The proposals you have outlined below regarding consolidating the complaints and continuing a meet and confer
process serve only to delay this straightforward and routine mailing. We have already exhausted the meet and confer
process.
You can deal with plaintiff Arana directly as to your concerns about that complaint. Ifyou have an issue with our
complaint, you can file an appropriate motion because the issues you raise are baseless and a transparent attempt to
delay. I never told you our client did not receive bonuses. Ifyou would like to discuss Plaintiffs compensation further,
please send me the payroll in excel without further delay. The cash back payments you refer to are another form of a
bonus that should have been included.
We also object to your delay tactic of making clearly inappropriate revisions to the Belaire notice that foreclose our
request for payroll and time information and include your contact information without a disclaimer to these employees
as to your conflict of interest because you are working against their pecuniary interests in this matter.
If there is anything further to discuss,' you can call me today or tomorrow, but if not, we will conclude you are not
interested in any actual discussion and the motion will be filed on Monday because there is no basis for this to be
delayed up to the CMC.
Thanks,
Victoria
From: Lee, Stephanie Gail [mailto:stephanie.lee@orrick.com1
Sent: Thursday, November 09,2017 1:01 PM
To: Victoria Rivapalacio : Shaun Setareh <5haun@setarehlaw.com>
Cc: Long, Timothy J. : Norm Blumenthal : Kyle Nordrehaug
; AJ B ; Piya Mukherjee : thomas@setarehlaw.com;
scott@5etarehlaw.com: farrah@setarehlaw.com; 5tacev@5etarehlaw.com
Subject: RE: Spears v. Health Net of California, Inc.
Victoria,
While I understand thatthe Court did not order that a consolidated complaint be filed, I suggested as such for a few
reasons. I explained those reasons over the telephone to you and Shaun separately, and I am summarizing them here:
• A consolidated complaint will make for ease of litigation going forward, It is difficult to understand how the
parties will smoothly litigate this case as one matter when there are two separate complaints.
• Plaintiff Spears' FAC is vague and ambiguous with regard to her regular rate claim. You have told us that this
claim is really based on whether the "cash back" component of the cafeteria health plans should have been
included in the regular rate. However, the FAC seems to focus on bonuses, which you told me you didn't even
know if your client received. Filing an amended complaint would provide an opportunity to clarify Plaintiff
Spears' allegations, and delete one that should never have been asserted in the first place. .
• Plaintiff Arana's proposed FAC was rejected by the Court. Is he planning on amending his
Complaint? Moreover, Plaintiff Arana purports to represent employees Defendant does not and has not ever
employed.
All of these issues militate towards you and Shaun coordinating and filing a consolidated ctimplaint. Should you choose
not to, we will raise the issue with the Court during the case management conference. In any event, the draft Belaire-
West notice you sent has a number of deficiencies. For example, it does not include the entire putative class when
considering Plaintiff Arana's allegations. Moreover, the issues summarized above will impact the language ofthe notice
- all the more reason to resolve them. Attached are our initial edits for your consideration. We look forward to
continuing the meet and confer process.
It Is obviously your choice if you wish to file a motion. We suggest, however, that if we cannot resolve our differences
through the meet and confer process - which we do not consider to be exhausted - that we tee up the issue for
resolution by Judge Perkins at the case management conference.
Thank you,
Stephanie
Stephanie Gall Lee
Mariaging Associate
Orrick
Los Anoeles 0
T+1-213.€12-2374
stephanle.lee@orrick.com
ornck
Exhibit D
Lee. Stephanie Gaill
From: ' Lee, Stephanie Gail
Sent: Friday, November 24, 2017 7:32 AM
To: 'Victoria Rivapalacio'; Shaun Setareh; 'H. Scott Leviant'; 'Stacey Shim"
Cc: Long, Timothy J.
Subject Spears and Arana - Stip and Proposed Protective Order
Attachments: 767407060(2)_Spears and Arana - Stip and Proposed Protective Order.DOCX
Counsel,
Please see the attached draft protective order for your review and, if approved, signature.
Thank you,
Stephanie '
Stephanie Gail Lee
Managing Associate .
Orrick
Los Angeles © .
1+1-213-612-2374
stephanje.lee@orrlck.conn .
ornck
Exhibit E
I TIMOTHY J. LONG (STATE BAR NO. 137591)
tilongl^orrick.com
2 ORRICK, HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE LLP
400 Capitol Mall
3 Suite 3000
Sacramenlo.CA 95814^497
4 Telephone: +1 916 447 9200
Facsimile: +1 916 3294900
5
STEPHANIE GAIL LEE (STATE BAR NO. 285379)
6 ste|^anie.lee@orrick.com
ORRICK, HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE LLP
7 777 South Figueroa Strcel, Suite 3200
Los Angeles, Califomia 90017
8 Telephone: (213)629-2020
Facsimile: (213)612-2499
9
Attomeys for Defendant
10 HEALTH NET OF CALIFORNIA, INC.
11
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
12
COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO
13
14
ANDREA SPEARS, an individual, on behalf Consolidated Case No. 34-2017-00210560-
15 of herself and on behalf ofall persons similarly CU-OE-GDS
situated.
16 Plaintiff, ASSIGNED FOR ALL PURPOSES TO
JUDGE ALAN G. PERKINS, DEPT 35
17
DEFENDANT HEALTH NET OF
18 HEALTH NET OF CALIFORNIA, INC., a CALIFORNIA, INC.'S
Califomia Corporation; and Does 1 through 50, SUPPLEMENTAL RESPONSES TO
19 inclusive. PLAINTIFF'S REQUESTS FOR
PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS, SET
20 Defendants. ONE
21 Complaini Filed: April 5,2017
FAC Filed: June 29,2017
22
TOMAS R. ARANA, on behalf of himself, all
23 others similarly situated, Complaini Filed: August 1,2017
24 Plaintiff,
25
HEALTI I NET, INC., a Delaware corporation;
26 and DOES 1-50, inclusive,
27 Defendant.
28
DEFENDANT'S SUPPLCMCtifAL RESPONSES TO I'LAINTIFF'S RrQUESTS HOR PRQDUCTtON OK DOCUMENTS. SETONE
1 PROPOUNDING PARTY: Plaintiff, ANDREA SPEARS
2 RESPONDING PARTY: Defendant, HEALTH NETOF CALIFORNIA
3 SET: ONE(l)
4 Pursuani lo Califomia Code of Civil Procedure sections 2031.210 el seq.. Defendant Health
5 Net of California, Inc. ("Defendant") hereby supplements its responses to Plaintiff Andrea Spears'
6 ("Plaintiff') Requests for Production of Documents, Set One.
7 GENERAL OBJECTIONS AND RESPONSES
8 This Response is made solely for purposes of this action. Each response and/or production
9 is subject to all objections as to competence, relevance, materiality, propriety and admissibility,
10 and any and all other objections and grounds which would require the exclusion ofany stateinents
11 contained herein, if such slatements were made by a witness present and testifying at court, all of
12 which objections and grounds are reserved and may be interposed at the time of trial.
13 The following Response is based upon information presently available to Defendant.
14 Defendant is not making any incidental or implied admissions regarding the contents of these
15 documents. The fact that Defendant has responded or objected to any request or part thereof should
16 not be taken as an admission that Defendant accepts or admits the existence ofany fact set forth or
17 assumed by PlaintifTs request, or thiat such response or objection constitutes admissible evidence.
18 The fact that Defendant has answered part or all of any requesl is not intended and shall not be
19 construed to be a waiver by Defendant of all or any part of any objections to any requesl.
20 Nothing contained herein or produced in response to the request herein consists of or should
21 be construed as an admission about the existence or nonexistence of any document.
22 To the extent that the requesl calls for information which was prepared in anticipation of
23 litigation for trial or for information or material covered by the work-product ddcu-ine, or which
24 constitutes information which is privileged or related to confldential trade secrets or the privilege
25 of privacy (including the freedom of association and financial privacy). Defendant objects to
26 responding to such request and thus will not supply nor render any documents protected from
27 discovery by virtue of the work-product doctrine, the attomey-client privilege, or the trade secrets
28 or privacy privilege. Inadvertent production of any such document shall not constitute a waiver of
-2- .
DCrENDANT'S SUPPLEMI^jTAL RESPONSES TO PLAlNTll-l"S REQUESTS FOK PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS. Sl-T ONH
1 any privilege or any other ground for objecting to discovery with respect to such document or any
2 other document, or with respect to the subject matter thereof, or the information contained therein,
3 nor shall inadvertent production waive Defendant'srightto object to the use ofany such document
4 or the information contained therein during any subsequent proceeding.
5 Defendant objects to the purported definitions and instmctions set forth in the document
6. requests on the grounds they arc vague, ambiguous, overbroad, burdensome and oppressive and
7 Defendant undertakes no obligations except as those that may be provided by the Califomia Code
8 of Civii Procedure.
9 Defendant objecis to the requests on the grounds that it did not and docs not employ
10 PlainlifTs or any individuals that PlaintifTs seek to represent in this lawsuit.
11 To the extent any requesl calls for the production of electronically stored information
12 (including, for example, electronic mail messages), Defendant objects to the discovery of such
13 information on the grounds that it is from a source that is not reasonably accessible because of
14 undue burden and expense and Defendant will nol search the source in the absence of an agreement
I
15 with Plaintiff. Su