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  • WENCK, THOMAS vs. SOUTHERN CRANE AND TRACTOR SUPPLY, INC.Auto Negligence document preview
  • WENCK, THOMAS vs. SOUTHERN CRANE AND TRACTOR SUPPLY, INC.Auto Negligence document preview
  • WENCK, THOMAS vs. SOUTHERN CRANE AND TRACTOR SUPPLY, INC.Auto Negligence document preview
  • WENCK, THOMAS vs. SOUTHERN CRANE AND TRACTOR SUPPLY, INC.Auto Negligence document preview
  • WENCK, THOMAS vs. SOUTHERN CRANE AND TRACTOR SUPPLY, INC.Auto Negligence document preview
  • WENCK, THOMAS vs. SOUTHERN CRANE AND TRACTOR SUPPLY, INC.Auto Negligence document preview
  • WENCK, THOMAS vs. SOUTHERN CRANE AND TRACTOR SUPPLY, INC.Auto Negligence document preview
  • WENCK, THOMAS vs. SOUTHERN CRANE AND TRACTOR SUPPLY, INC.Auto Negligence document preview
						
                                

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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE TWENTIETH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR CHARLOTTE COUNTY, FLORIDA CIVIL ACTION THOMAS WENCK, Plaintiff, Case No. 2022- -000629 SOUTHERN CRANE AND TRACTOR SUPPLY, INC., Defendant. / DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND/OR IN LIMINE REGARDING PLAINTIFF'S PAST MEDICAL EXPENSES Defendant, SOUTHERN CRANE AND TRACTOR SUPPLY, INC., by and through the undersigned counsel and pursuant to Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.510, respectfully moves in limine to preclude Plaintiff, who became Medicare eligible shortly after the subject incident, from mentioning or introducing into evidence an amount of past medical expenses greater than the amount he would have been responsible for had his bills been submitted to Medicare, and/or for a summary judgment order limiting Plaintiff’s damages accordingly, and states as follows: INTRODUCTION & SUMMARY This is case involves a motor vehicle accident which occurred on November 5 2021. Plaintiff seeks compensatory damages for past medical expenses arising from the aforementioned accident. Plaintiff is Medicare eligible, but h health care providers did not submit h bills to Medicare as required by federal law and did not comply with the Federal Medicare Program, 42 CF.R. § 405. et seq., to opt out of such legal requirement. Had h bills been submitted to Medicare, as required by law, the amount originally charged would have been reduced to the prevailing Medicare reimbursement rate. That rate would be the highest amount Plaintiff could owe - and by definition, recover - for h past medical expenses. Based on noncompliance with federal law, Plaintiff’s medical providers are prohibited from collecting the full amounts shown on Plaintiff’s medical bills, and thus any amounts in excess of the Medicare reimbursement rate are not damages Plaintiff actually suffered because they are not bill he has actually legally incurred. It would follow that Plaintiff should be prohibited from introducing the full amount of medical bills from these providers, and instead, Plaintiff must only be allowed to introduce medical bills at the operative Medicare reimbursement rate. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND This is a personal injury action arising out of an auto accident on January 6, 2021. (See generally, Pl. Compl.) Plaintiff seeks economic damages, including past medical expenses from treatment with h medical providers. Upon information and belief, Plaintiff signed Letters of Protection with at the very least the following providers: Physicians Group, LLC, University Orthopedic Care, Physician Partners of America CRNA, MRI Associates of Venice, Sun City Ambulatory Surgery Center, Lakewood Ranch Surgical Suites, LLC, Office Anesthesia Staffing, Quiescence Anesthesia, and Associates MD Medical Group. Plaintiff is a Medicare recipient. (See Ex. A, Wenck dep. 49:2-3 Plaintiff did not submit his medical bills to Medicare. Defendant, therefore, moves in limine to preclude Plaintiff from arguing or offering into evidence any amount of h past medical expenses above the Medicare allowed amounts. MEMORANDUM OF LAW EVIDENCE OF PAST MEDICAL EXPENSES IN EXCESS OF THE MEDICARE REINBURSEMENT RATES SHOULD BE EXCLUDED. To prevail cause of action for negligence, a plaintiff must ve (1) a duty, (2) a breach (3) proximate causation and (4) actual loss or damage. Clay Elec. Coop., Inc. v Johnson, 873 So. 2d 1182, 1185 (Fla. 2003). As to the fourth element, a plaintiff can recover compensatory or actual damages for loss (those signed to make the plaintiff whole) but cannot ecover compensatory damage in xcess amount that represents at actual lo sustained. MCI WorldCom Network Servs., v. Mastec, 995 So. 2d 22 223 (Fla 2008). Damages for past medical expenses are economic and compensatory in nature Coop. Leasing. Inc. v. Johnson, 872 So 2d 956 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004); Garcia v Arraga, 872 So. 2d 266 272 (Fla 4th DCA 2004). It is plaintiff's burden present evi proving a definite amount of economic damages, including those for pas medical treatment. The Fourth District has explained: It has long been accepted in lorida that a party claiming economic sses must produce evidence justifying defini amount. Economic damages may not founded on jury speculation or guesswork and must rest on some sonable factual basis. Plaintiff has the burden of presenting ence tifying a specific and definite amount of economic damages. Where is no ence to justify any amount on a claim for economic damages, defendant is entitled judgmen the claim Uni Auto. Ins. Co. v. Colon 990 So 2d 1246 1248 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008) (internal citations omitted). See also Fla. Ventilated Awning Co Dickson, 67 So. 2d 215 (Fla. 1953) (insufficient predicate on which a definite sum could awarded); Rirnmeir v Dickson 107 So. 2d 372 (Fla. 1958) (same). FEDERAL MEDICARE PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS Medicare was enac as Title XVIII of the Social Security and titled, eal Insurance for Aged and Disabled." U.S.C. § 1395 The Social Security Act and Section l 848(g)( 4 )(A) states in pertinent part: For services furnished on or after September 1, 1990, within year after date of providing a service for which payment is made under this part on a reasonab charge or fee schedule basis a physician supplier or other person (or an employer or facility in the cases described in section 1842(b)(6)A) sha comp ete and submit a claim for such service on a standard claim form specified by the Secretary to carrier on behalf of a beneficiary; and may not impose a v charge re ing to completi submitting such a form 42 U.S 1395w 4(g)(4)(A)(i ii) (emphasis added). Under Act a health care provider mus ubmit the bill to Medicare within one year of the service provided. "If the physician fails submit a claim to the Medicare carrier on behalf of the beneficiary when is required to be submitted Secretary may impose sanctions Stewart Sullivan, 816 Supp 281, 284 (D.N.J. 1992). See 42 U.S.C. 1395w 4(g)(4)(B)(i The Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services (CMS) adminis ers Medicare program See generally Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services, ww.CMS.gov The CMS guidelines state as follows with regard medical charges to beneficiaries for services covered by Medicare I]f the provider bills Medicare, provider must accept the Medicar approved amount as payment in and may charge beneficiaries only deductibles and coinsurance Nevertheless, 1395a allows Medicare beneficiaries to enter into private contracts with their health care providers under certain limited circumstances, which allows the health care providers not to bill Medicare. See also 42 C.F.R. § 405-425. This is to ensure that beneficiaries have the free choice of care. Specifically, Section 1395a(b)(l) states in pertinent part: Subject to the provisions of this subsection, nothing in this title shall prohibit a physician or practitioner from entering into a private contract with a Medicare beneficiary for any item or service For which no claim for payment is to be submitted under this title, and For which the physician or practitioner receives- No reimbursement under this title directly or on a capitated basis, and Receives no amount for such item or service from an organization which receives reimbursement for such item or service under this title directly or on a capitated basis. 42 U.S.C. §1395a(b). urth private contracts authorized nly if the physician signs an affidavit which states that h or she: Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Manual, Chapter 2 MSP Provisions https://www.ems.gov/Regulations- Guidance/Guidance Manuals downloads/msp105c02.pdf. Will not bmi claim under thi title for y item or service pro ded to any dicare beneficiary (and will not rece any dica imbur nt for any such of serv e) durin 2-year period beginning on the date affidavit is signed 1395a(b)(3)(B)(ii). This eans tha a doctor who int a private contract with a single patient is barred from submitting claim Medicare half of any pat for a two year iod. The e pri contracts are permitted : A physician or practiti er may enter into one or more private contracts with Medicare ficiaries for purpose f furnishing it or serv that would otherwise be co d b Medicare, ded conditions tills subpar are A physician or practitioner who enters into at least one private contract with a Medicare beneficiary under the conditions of this subpart, and who submits one or more affidavits in accordance with this subpart, opts out of Medicare for the opt-out period described in § 405.400 unless the opt-out is terminated early according to§ 405.445. Both the private contracts described in paragraph (a) of this section and the physician's or practitioner's opt-out described in paragraph (b) of this section are null and void if the physician or practitioner fails to properly opt-out in accordance with the conditions of this subpart. Both the private contracts described in paragraph (a) of this section and the physician's or practitioner's opt-out described in paragraph (b) of this section are null and void for the remainder of the opt-out period if the physician or practitioner fails to remain in compliance with the conditions of this subpart during the opt-out period. Services furnished under private contracts meeting the requirements of this subpart a.re not covered services under Medicare, and no Medicare payment will be made for such services either directly or indirectly, except as permitted in accordance with§ 405.435(c). 42 C.F.R. § 405.405. The following conditions must be met for a health care der properly opt- out of Medicare: Each private contract between a physician or a practitioner and a Medicare beneficiary that is entered into prior to the submission of the affidavit described in paragraph (b) of this section must meet the specifications of§ 405.415. The physician or practitioner must submit an affidavit that meets the specifications of§ 405. 420 to each Medicare Administrative Contractor with which he or she would file claims absent the opt-out. A nonparticipating physician or a practitioner may opt-out of Medicare at any time in accordance with the following: (1)(c)(1) The initial 2-year opt-out period begins the date the affidavit meeting the requirements of § 405.420 is signed, provided the affidavit is filed within 10 days after he or she signs his or her first private contract with a Medicare beneficiary. (2)(c)(2) If the physician or practitioner does not timely file the opt-out affidavit(s) as specified in the previous paragraph, the initial 2-year opt-out period begins when the last such affidavit is filed. Any private contract entered into before the last required affidavit is filed becomes effective upon the filing of the last required affidavit, and the furnishing of any items or services to a Medicare beneficiary under such contract before the last required affidavit is filed is subject to standard Medicare rules. A participating physician may properly opt-out of Medicare at the beginning of any calendar quarter, provided that the affidavit described in § 405.420 is submitted to the participating physician's Medicare Administrative Contractors at least 30 days before the beginning of the selected calendar quarter. A private contract entered into before the beginning of the selected calendar quarter becomes effective at the beginning of the selected calendar quarter, and the furnishing of any items or services to a Medicare beneficiary under such contract before the beginning of the selected calendar quarter is subject to standard Medicare rules. 42 C.F.R. 405.410. The many requirements for private contrac and the opt-out Affida it are specified in 405.415 and 405.420 respectively. 42 C.F §§ 405.415 405.420. Critically private contracts are null and void absent strict compliance with these numerous requirements. 42 C.F.R. § 405.405(c) (d) 42 C.F.R. § 405.430. such circumstances the health care provider has not effectively opted-out of Medicare program as it concerns a particular patient. Id. The DC Circuit Court of Appeals held that this provision and the restriction it imposes on doctors applies only to contracts made for services which Medicare would not pay. The Court also notes than only 300 doctors nationwide have ered into these types of private contracts and thus been sub ct to the two-year restriction United Seniors Ass 'n v. Shala 182 .3d Cir. 1999). There is no evidence that any of Plaintiffs health care providers properly opted- out of their requirement to submit Plaintiffs bills to Medicare. PLAINTIFF'S HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS DID NOT SUBMIT PLAINTIFF'S BILLS TO MEDICARE, DID OT EFFECTIVELY OPTOUT MEDICARE, AND ARE, THEREFORE, NOT ENTITLED TO COLLECT ANY AMOUNTS IN MEDICAL EXPENSES OVER MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT RATE. Plaintiff was and is Medicare eligible. Plaintiff did provide h Medicare card lth care der related bject accident. No Medicare claims made on Plaintiff’s b half. The Plaintiff did enter into letters of protection with ders mentioned These letters of protection/assignment of benefits seek make Plaintiff liabl for charges in great excess over what Medicare have reimbursed for Plaintiffs medical services had her bills been properly bmitted Medicare However, letters of tection do not comply with the requirements for such private contracts er C.F.R. § 405.415. Indeed, none of the letters of protection for examp (a) indicate ether the practitioner is cluded from Medicare; (b) state that e beneficiary understands that Medicare limi do not apply; (c) state t th beneficiary agrees not submit a claim to Medicare; (d) state that e beneficiar understands that Medicare yments will mad for services provides; state that beneficiary knowns that s had th right to obtain Medicare covered mention an effective or xcepte expiration date of the current 2 year opt-out period (f) Medigap plans or (g) are even s gned by th physician or practitioner. C.F.R. 405.415(b) (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (m). Therefore, letters of protection are null and void. 42 C.F.R. § 405.430 (reflecting that private contracts between practitioners and the Medicare beneficiary patient "are deemed null and void" if they fail to comply with the requirements under§§ 405.415 and 405.420). Furthermore, no opt-out Affidavits accompanied these Letters of Protection. Again, the practitioner can only enter into a private contract with a Medicare eligible patient if the practitioner properly opts-out of Medicare. 42 C.F.R. § 405.410. There are ten requirements for a proper opt-out affidavit, the most obvious of which is that it be in writing and signed by the practitioner. 42 C.F.R. § 405-410. Therefore, Plaintiff’s health care providers (1) did not legally opt-out of Medicare, (2) were required to submit Plaintiff's bills to Medicare as an eligible patient; and (3) were not entitled to collect anything greater than the Medicare rates for the services provided to the Plaintiff in full satisfaction of the original charges. See Thyssenkrupp Elevator Corp. v. Lasky, 868 So. 2d 547, 549 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003) ("[P]ayment by Medicare requires the provider to whom payment is made to accept such amount in full satisfaction of the total charge even though the amount charged exceeds the amount paid by Medicare.") Neither the medical providers, nor Plaintiff and h attorneys, should be permitted to benefit from circumventing the plain requirements of federal statutory and regulatory law. PLAINTIFF CAN ONLY PRESENT TO THE JURY THE AMOUNT THAT MEDICARE WOULD HAVE CHARGED HAD HIS BILLS BEEN SUBMITTED TO MEDICARE AS REQUIRED BY LAW. Original charges by health care providers are irrelevant and inadmissible when the provider accepts payment from Medicare in full satisfaction of the charge. See Thyssenkrupp Elevator Corp. v. Lasky, 868 So. 2d 547 (Fla 4th DCA 2003); Cooperative Leasing, Inc. v. Johnson, 872 So. 2d 956 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004) (holding it was error to allow plaintiff to admit into evidence bills for medical expenses for which she never incurred liability and in allowing her to recover damages in excess of payments made by Medicare); Miami-Dade Cty v. Laureiro, 894 So. 2d 268 (Fla 3d DCA 2005); Boyd v. National Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 890 So. 2d 1240 (Fla 4th DCA 2005) (trial court properly limited evidence regarding medical bills paid by Medicare to the amounts actually paid to the medical providers pursuant to the Medicare fee schedule). The undiscounted excess medical charges cannot be admitted in to evidence because it would result in a windfall to Plaintiff by permitting recovery for pa medical expenses for which he was never and will never be liable for. Thyssenkrupp 868 So. 2d at 550 (charges in excess to the amount discharged by Medicare is irrelevant and inadmissible on the issue of damages suffered by a plaintiff because the plaintiff is never liable for the difference). A Cooperative Leasing, Inc. succinctly stated: The issue in this case is the appropriate measure of compensatory damages for past medical expenses. "The objective of compensatory damages is to make the injured party whole to the extent that it is possible to measure his injury in terms of money." Mercury Motors Express. Inc. v. Smith, 393 So. 2d 545, 547 (Fla. 1981). "The primary basis for an award of damages is compensation." Fisher v. City of Miami 172 So. 2d 455, 457 (Fla. 1965). In this case, Johnson sought to collect the "additional value of medical services reasonably made necessary" by the appellants. We conclude, however, that Johnson was not entitled to recover for medical expenses beyond those paid by Medicare because she never had any liability for those expenses and would have been made whole by an award limited to the amount that Medicare paid to her medical providers. Leasing, Inc. 872 So. 2d at 957-58. Accordingly, maximum amount Plaintiff d ever be responsible for if medical providers submitted medical bills to Medicare as required by law should have Medicare rates. Any amounts ded for above Medicare rates cannot legally constitute past medical expenses of Plaintiff and he must not be allowed to mention or introduce evi ence as to thos higher amounts. PLAINTIFF HAD THE ABILITY TO SUBMIT H MEDICAL EXPENSES TO MEDICARE TO MITIGATE H DAMAGES ilure to bmit Plaintiff's medical expenses Medicare not fall solely on h medical providers. Plaintiff knew he Medicare eligible at the time he eated for e subjec accident that providers never asked for Medicare card, and still chose not to submit h ills to Medicare. A Medicare beneficiary can submit his/her bills to Medicare if his/her physicians do not. Plaintiff admitted that he did not submit his claims for past medical expenses to Medicare. This represents a failure to mitigate damages as a matter of law - an affirmative defense raised by Defendant. term "mitigation damages has no single meaning and is used y the courts to describe ral diff problems in law of damages rn as used herein encompasses those fac s which show that th conceded or assumed cause of action does not entitle the plaintiff to as large an amoun damage as would otherwise be recoverable. Specifically, type of problem tigated herein involves doctrin of avoidable consequences or orts to minimize damag where the plaintiff easonab uld have avoided a part or al of the conseq ences defenda 's wrongful act. Parker v Montgomery 529 2d 1147 (F a. 988). Had Plaintiff properly submitted his medical bills to Medicare, he would only be able to submit the lesser amount actually paid by Medicare, to the jury. Matrisciani v. Garrison Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., 298 So. 3d 53, 59 (Fla. 4th DCA 2020). Original charges by health care providers, therefore, are irrelevant and inadmissible when the provider accepts https://www_medicare_gov/claims- -appeals/file-a-claim/file-a-claim_html; See https://www cms gov/Medicare/CMS-Forms/CMS-Forms/ Downloads/CMS1490S ENGLISH Instructions PartB pdf. payment from Medicare in full satisfaction of the charge. See Thyssenkrup , 868 So. 2d at 551. “[I]t is error to permit a plaintiff to introduce into evidence (and to request from the jury) the gross amount of medical bills rather than the lesser amount actually paid as a governmental or charitable benefit in full settlement of those bills.” Matrisciani, 298 So. 3d at 59; (citing Thyssenkrupp Boyd, and Coop. Leasing, Inc.); see also Gulfstream Park Racing Ass’n v. Volin, 326 So. 3d 1124 (Fla. 4th DCA 2021) (holding the circuit court erred in allowing Plaintiff to introduce evidence of the amount billed by medical providers (“phantom damages”) instead of the discounted amount Medicare paid for past medical expenses). "Accordingly if of the damages incurred could have reasonably bee avoided by plaintiff [this] doctrine vents those damag from being added amoun f damages recoverable." Id. See also S Components Corp. Fla. 967, 982 (Fla 2009). TENTH, THIRTEENTH, FIFTEENTH AND NINETEE JUDICIAL CIRCUITS HAVE ALREADY RULED ON THIS ISSUE The Florida appellate courts have not written on the precise issue raised in this Motion. However, the Honorable Thomas H. Barkdull, III of the 15th Judicial Circuit ruled on this issue in Richardson v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Case No. 2014- 015197 (Fla. 15th Jud. Cir.). Wal-Mart filed a motion in limine that was based on a nearly identical situation as in this case. The plaintiff, Jannie Richardson, sued for personal injuries when a box of merchandise allegedly fell on her at Wal-Mart. She sought past medical expenses in the amount of $362,153.42. She had been a Medicare recipient since before the accident. She treated with various providers, none of which properly opted-out of Medicare, and none of which submitted her bills to Medicare even though she was Medicare eligible. The Court found that, based on the providers’ noncompliance with federal law on opting-out of Medicare, Plaintiff was prohibited from introducing the full amount of her medical bills at trial. (See Exhibit B, Order dated December 13, 2017.) Plaintiff was only "allowed to attempt to introduce medical bills at the Medicare reimbursement rate then existing at the time those services were provided.'' The decision was based on Plaintiffs physicians' failure to comply with applicable Medicare laws under 42 U.S.C. § 1395 and regulations 42 C.F.R. § 405, et seq., the same federal laws and regulations violated by the health care providers in the present case. The Court also detailed why public policy considerations supported its decision: Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older certain younger people with disabilities, and people with End- Stage Renal Disease. Medicare is funded by various sources including payroll taxes, income tax paid Social Security fits funds authorized by Congress and premiums from people enrolle in Medicare Part B among sources. The United tat government has genuine interest in protecting community of elderly Americans and isabled patients from being overcharged for medical ervices for ch they are otherwise covered. The particular danger that is sought be avoided are situations where patients/plaintiffs, are Medicare beneficia and have filed suit against an alleged tortfeasor eceive m dical treatment from providers who would otherwise accept Medicare reimbursement rates but ecline bmit th bills for eatme through Medicare in these tigation cases so that they may charge and claim full value for eir treatment. All frequently, these plaintiffs, who, by virtue of eing Medicare recipients are recognized as being at-risk popula ion due ith seniority or sability are with exorbitant medical bills when they are unsuccessful in litigation. Based on this long standing established public policy, this Court finds that in addition to the federal regulations which govern how participating physicians and practitioners are permitted to charge and contracted with beneficiaries, there is a legitimate government interest in protecting the elderly community and other beneficiaries from being charged in excess of Medicare reimbursement rates and in properly and thoroughly advising plaintiff-patients of the perils of permitting their providers to bill outside of the Medicare reimbursement schedules. These public policy concerns support this Court's ruling. The facts in the present matter are nearly identical to those in the Richardson case. As such, Plaintiff should not be able to mention or introduce into evidence past medical expenses over the amount he would be responsible for had h medical providers submitted h bills to Medicare as required by law. Similar Motions were filed in the 13th, 10th and 9th circuits and the corresponding orders granting said motions are attached hereto as Exhibit “C”. WHEREFORE, Defendant, SOUTHERN CRANE AND TRACTOR SUPPLY, INC., respectfully requests this Court enter partial summary judgment limiting any amount of damages for past medical expenses to the Medicare allowable amounts and/or an Order in Limine precluding Plaintiff from entering any such evidence at the trial of this matter. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I HEREBY CERTIFY that on this 31st day of July 2023, I electronically filed the foregoing with the Clerk of Court using the E-Filing Portal System which will send a notice of electronic filing to the following: Nicholas J. Castellano, II, Esquire Drake Buckman, Esquire Buckman & Buckman, P.A. 2023 Constitution Boulevard Sarasota, FL 34231 Telephone (941) 923-7700 Facsimile (941) 923-7736 nick@buckmanandbuckman.com PL1@buckmanandbuckman.com Attorney for Plaintiff By: /s/ Robert V. White Monica Schmucker, Esquire Florida Bar No. 120579 monica.schmucker@henlaw.com susan.nahra@henlaw.com Steven C. Gendreau, Esquire Florida Bar No. 1028115 steven.gendreau@henlaw.com susan.peters@henlaw.com Robert V. White, Esquire Florida Bar No. 88882 Robert.white@henlaw.com Tania.obregon@henlaw.com EXHIBIT A EXHIBIT B ·the .a is is _e si Pl al or ld private contract ly pa l Palm e r Pla wi ts of Pla 7. lP Su ect written Pl lP Pl y seeking fu nt di and mply is e of tr al at the le at wh who are ch or is a public policy a cla om el to st in t, a or it at -out ra ct to 42 is a th char is r to st "r er a an St an ins po pl nc l no in it at is amo io li sh ca be " r nt e in st ey not e li sh ut a en th ly - • - • - ·- . ·: ·- - ·· '' • -- -- --- - - - - - Copies fumished: EXHIBIT C opt out th 10 B. opt out l7 E-F LC DF E NO.: ER CA 'S be 's TE by e Fed et ., opt out de be s at ' bi s w by ed ed ed und O' , D.C. MC W. , Ci Judge ,E :V ,F e: being otherwise st is ly: E- H. P. 42 #: