Naranjo v. Wellpath, LLC et al

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO
Magistrate Judge Maritza Dominguez Braswell
Civil Action No. 23–cv–01211–DDD–MDB
THE ESTATE OF CRISTO JESUS CANETT, by and through its personal representative
Elizabeth Naranjo,
Plaintiff,
v.
WELLPATH, LLC, as a nominal defendant;
WELLPATH LIQUIDATING TRUST, as a nominal defendant;
ANTHONY LUPO, individually;
MICHELLE SILVA, individually;
Defendants.
ORDER
This matter is before the Court on Wellpath, LLC’s Opposition to Its Continued
Participation in Discovery and Objection to Court’s October 11, 2024 Order. ([“Motion”], Doc.
No. 209.) Plaintiff has filed a response in opposition to the Motion (Doc. No. 211) to which
Wellpath1 has replied (Doc. No. 212). The Court held a Motion Hearing on November 10, 2025.
(See Doc. No. 214.) During that hearing it became clear that the Motion raises just two issues for
resolution. The first is Wellpath’s contention that Plaintiff must seek discovery from it via third-
party subpoena under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 45, rather than utilizing the discovery
tools available to and for parties under Rules 30, 33, 34, or 36. (Doc. No. 209 at 2–5.) The
1 The Court notes that its use of “Wellpath” is shorthand for Wellpath, LLC and is not a
reference to the Liquidating Trust, which is a separate entity.
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second is Wellpath’s request for reconsideration of the Court’s prior discovery order concerning
the mortality reviews and PSQIA privilege. (Doc. No. 125.)2 After reviewing this request, the
briefing, and relevant law, the Court DENIES the Motion.
BACKGROUND
This case has a tortured procedural history that the Court declines to detail here.
However, the Court notes that pre-bankruptcy, Wellpath took—at various junctures in the
litigation—unjustifiable and at times inexplicable discovery positions. Its tactics resulted in
drawn out disputes and an undue drain on judicial resources.
On November 11, 2024, during the pendency of this action, Wellpath commenced
bankruptcy proceedings in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of
Texas. (Doc. No. 151.) The bankruptcy proceedings triggered an automatic stay of this case
pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362. (Doc. No. 152.) At that time, it became apparent that many of
Wellpath’s tactics had been aimed at staving off discovery just long enough to reach the
automatic stay. Still, there was nothing this Court or the parties could do, other than wait.
On June 4, 2025, the bankruptcy court entered an order lifting the stay here and in other
cases against Wellpath. ([“Lift Stay Order”], Doc. No. 211-1.) The Lift Stay Order provides that
“holders of personal injury tort and wrongful death claims may also seek determinations of the
Debtors’ liability by the appropriate civil court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(5) with the
Liquidating Trust as a nominal party[.]” (Id. at 2.) On August 19, 2025, Plaintiff filed her first
Amended Complaint, naming Wellpath and the Wellpath Liquidating Trust as nominal
2 Wellpath’s request was made as an “objection” to the Court’s prior discovery order. (See Doc.
209.) However, because the Motion was referred to the undersigned, the Court construes it as a
motion for reconsideration of its prior Order, issued at Doc. No. 125.
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defendants. (Doc. No. 199.) Plaintiff’s amendment was not opposed by any party. (See Doc. No.
198.) Soon thereafter, Wellpath took the position that as a nominal defendant it should not be
burdened with party discovery, and that any participation in this case should be “like that of a
third party, subject to subpoena…” (Doc. No. 203 at 7–8). Wellpath also sought relief from this
Court’s prior Order (Doc. No. 125) concerning the mortality reviews. Plaintiff opposed, and the
Court ordered briefing. (Doc. No. 206.)
Now the Court must determine whether and to what extent Wellpath will participate in
discovery, and whether the Court’s prior order (Doc. No. 125) remains in effect.
ANALYSIS
I. 	Party or Third-Party Discovery?
Wellpath argues that any discovery against it should under Rule 45 and akin to third party
discovery. It anchors its position in Article IX.A of the bankruptcy plan which “discharged all
pre-petition claims and liabilities and enjoined the commencement of [,] further prosecution of,
or collection efforts against Wellpath.” (Doc. No. 209 at 2 (citing In re Wellpath Holdings, Inc.,
No. 24-90533 (ARP) (S.D. Tex. May 9, 2025), Dkt. No. 2596 at 128–29).) It also cites two
recent orders by Judge Varholak and Judge Starnella requiring plaintiffs in other Wellpath cases
to obtain discovery through Rule 45 subpoenas. (See 1:23-cv-01607-CNS-STV (hereinafter
“Angelo”) (ECF 204); 1:24-cv-00997-SKC-KAS (hereinafter “Romero”) (ECF 116).)
As a threshold matter, the Court notes that while Angelo and Romero are helpful, the
Court is not bound by them. United States v. Rhodes, 834 F. App’x 457, 462 (10th Cir.
2020) (unpublished) (“[D]istrict courts in this circuit are bound by our decisions and those of the
United States Supreme Court—they are not bound by decisions of other district courts[.]”).
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However, even if the Court were bound by those orders, the circumstances here are
distinguishable and their applicability is limited. First, the Angelo transcript reveals that at the
time of the hearing, Judge Varholak was unsure whether Wellpath was even a nominal party in
the case. (See 1:23-cv-01607-CNS-STV (ECF 205 at 4:20–25) (Judge Varholak saying “the issue
of whether Wellpath is a nominal party” was not one he “[could] settle” because it was
something the presiding judge had to determine).) Thus, Judge Varholak was arguably precluded
from permitting party discovery at that time. (See id. at 7:21–23 (“I think the case law indicates
that Plaintiff would need to amend to name [Wellpath] as a nominal Defendant.”).) By contrast
here, there is no question Wellpath is a nominal defendant.3 (See Doc. No. 199.)
Second, the Romero transcript reveals that Judge Starnella (who read In re Paul, 534 F.3d
1303 (10th Cir. 2008), to “suggest” a plaintiff should use third party discovery tools for nominal
defendants, (id. at 9:15–10:3)), based her decision—at least in part—on the notion that any
efficiencies to be gained from party discovery (as opposed to third-party discovery) were limited
at best. (Id. at 10:4–11:17.) But that is not the case here. Wellpath’s conduct before this Court
has been dilatory and at times bordering on obstructionist.4 The party discovery rules—which
offer the Court several tools by which to curb discovery abuses, and hold parties to a different
standard than third parties—would meaningfully aid this Court in holding Wellpath to its
3 In its Reply, Wellpath appeared to have advanced a new argument, challenging its nominal
defendant designation. (See Doc. No. 212 (saying the bankruptcy “order is clear that Plaintiff’s
claims may proceed against the Liquidating Trust as a nominal party to determine liability, not
continue to litigate against Wellpath as if the bankruptcy never occurred”).) However, during the
Hearing, Wellpath disavowed any challenge to its status as a nominal defendant and conceded
that the issue is settled—Wellpath is indeed a nominal defendant. (See Doc. No. 214.)
4 The Court is referring to conduct pre-bankruptcy, at a time when Wellpath had different
counsel.
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discovery obligations. They would also limit the extent to which Wellpath could rely on burden
and other barriers to avoid discovery. In other words, here—unlike in the case before Judge
Starnella—there are efficiencies to be gained through party discovery.
Moreover, the Court is not persuaded that In re Paul stands for the proposition that
nominal defendants should only be subjected to third party discovery. 534 F.3d 1303. The In re
Paul court said, “[t]he Debtor ... is not relieved of the responsibility she has, as do all citizens, to
testify at trial and/or participate in discovery as a witness.” Id. (quoting In re Doar, 234 B.R.
203, 206 (Bankr. N.D. Ga. 1999) (internal quotation marks omitted)). Wellpath seizes on the
word “witness” to argue that a nominal defendant should only participate in discovery as a third
party. In other words, the use of the word “witness” limits a debtor’s participation in discovery.
But In re Paul is not about limitations, it’s about the debtor’s continued responsibility to
participate in discovery.
In In re Paul, the court held that continued litigation against a bankruptcy debtor as a
nominal defendant did not violate the bankruptcy court’s 11 U.S.C. § 524(a)(2) discharge
injunction. See In re Paul, 534 F.3d at 1307. In so finding, the court rejected the sanction levied
by the bankruptcy court upon a creditor for pursing discovery in a state action against the debtor
as a nominal defendant. As the court explained, “requiring a debtor to bear such collateral
burdens of litigation as those relating to discovery (as opposed to the actual defense of the action
and potential liability for the judgment), does not run afoul of § 524(a)(2).” Id. In other words, In
re Paul approves discovery against a debtor, and does nothing to prescribe the mechanisms by
which a nominal defendant will participate in discovery. In fact, the In re Paul court appeared to
defer to the state court’s framing and approach to discovery. See In re Paul, 534 F.3d at 1306
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(approvingly acknowledging the state court’s approach to discovery).5 In sum, In re Paul does
not stand for the proposition that nominal defendants must proceed under Rule 45.
Wellpath also overreads Article IX.A of the bankruptcy plan. It is true that the plan
“discharged all pre-petition claims and liabilities and enjoined the commencement of[,] further
prosecution of, or collection efforts against Wellpath,” In re Wellpath Holdings, Inc., No. 24-
90533 (ARP) (S.D. Tex. May 9, 2025), Dkt. No. 2596 at 128–29, but participation in discovery
does not saddle Wellpath with pre-petition claims or liabilities, nor is it a “prosecution” or
“collection effort” against Wellpath. Instead, the discovery from Wellpath will allow Plaintiff to
continue prosecuting claims against other defendants.
Finally, the Court observes a most obvious but compelling point: the term “nominal
defendant” necessarily reflects Wellpath’s status as a party. It may not be a party for purposes of
liability, but it is a party for other purposes that do not run afoul of the law or the plan, such as
discovery.
II. 	Motion for Reconsideration
While the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure do not directly provide for a motion to
reconsider an interlocutory ruling, district courts have broad discretion to reconsider their
interlocutory rulings before the entry of judgment. See Rimbert v. Eli Lilly & Co., 647 F.3d 1247,
1251 (10th Cir. 2011) (“[D]istrict courts generally remain free to reconsider their earlier
interlocutory orders.”). “Notwithstanding the district court’s broad discretion to alter its
interlocutory orders, the motion to reconsider ‘is not at the disposal of parties who want to rehash
5 In any event, the use of the word “witness” cannot reasonably be understood as a procedural
directive.
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old arguments.’” Nat’l Bus. Brokers, Ltd. v. Jim Williamson Prods., Inc., 115 F.Supp.2d 1250,
1256 (D. Colo. 2000) (quoting Young v. Murphy, 161 F.R.D. 61, 62 (N.D. Ill. 1995)). “Rather, as
a practical matter, to succeed on a motion to reconsider, a party must set forth facts or law of a
strongly convincing nature to induce the court to reverse its prior decision.” Id.
As the Court noted during the last hearing (Doc. No. 214), the mortality review dispute
was raised several times in this and other cases, and the Court carefully dissected the law, the
facts, and the arguments made by all parties, to reach its decision. The Court even held an
evidentiary hearing to hear directly from the people most familiar with the processes and issues
surrounding the PSQIA protections. Wellpath has offered no valid basis or persuasive argument
for reconsideration, and the Court sees no reason to reverse course on a thoroughly researched
and carefully considered decision it reached over a year ago.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, Wellpath, LLC’s Opposition to Its Continued Participation in
Discovery and Objection to Court’s October 11, 2024 Order (Doc. No. 209) is DENIED.
Dated this 19th day of November, 2025.
BY THE COURT:
___________________________
Maritza Dominguez Braswell
United States Magistrate Judge
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