District Court, C.D. California July 2, 2007, 2:03-cv-01115-ER-VBKx (Hawkins-Dean v. Metropolitan Life Insurance)

MEMORANDUM DECISION

EDWARD RAFEEDIE, Senior District Judge.

This matter came before the Court on remand from the Ninth Circuit to apply the standards articulated in

Abatie v. Alta Health & Life Ins. Co.,

458 F.3d 955 (9th Cir.2006) (en banc). Having considered the papers filed in connection with this matter, the Court has reached the following conclusions:

I.