Document 414 : Docket No. 99-14 : Hearing Decision : Bureau of Insurance

STATE OF MAINE
DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL REGULATION
BUREAU OF INSURANCE

IN RE:	)
APPLICATION OF ASSOCIATED	)
HOSPITAL SERVICE OF MAINE	)
d/b/a BLUE CROSS AND BLUE	)
SHIELD OF MAINE TO CONVERT	)
TO A STOCK INSURER AND	)
VOLUNTARILY LIQUIDATE	)
AND Dissolve	)
	)
and	)
	)	ORDER ON MAINE HEALTH ALLIANCE’S
	)	REQUEST FOR AN ENLARGEMENT OF
IN RE:	)	TIME TO RESPOND TO DISCOVERY
APPLICATION OF ANTHEM	)
HEALTH PLAN OF MAINE, INC.	)
TO ACQUIRE THE ASSETS OF	)
ASSOCIATED HOSPITAL	)
SERVICE OF MAINE d/b/a	)
BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD	)
OF MAINE AND RELATED	)
TRANSACTIONS	)
	)
Docket No. INS-99-14	)
(CONSOLIDATED)	)

On February 17, 2000 a Request for Enlargement of Time to Respond to Discover was filed on behalf of the Maine Health Alliance (hereinafter, "the Alliance"). The request indicated that the Alliance received discovery requests from Anthem Insurance Companies on February 7, 2000. A prior Order of the Superintendent established February 18, 2000 as the deadline for the filing of responses to discovery requests. The Alliance asks that it be given until March 9, 2000 to respond to the requests given the incorrect understanding of counsel for the Alliance that the Applicants had consented to a delay in response and given the late service of the requests.

The request of the Alliance is DENIED. Consent by other parties to a proceeding does not automatically result in an enlargement of the deadline. Rather, an appropriate and timely request for an enlargement must be filed with and acted upon by the Superintendent. Nonetheless, the requests were served upon the Alliance after the deadline. Therefore, the Alliance shall have until 3:00 p.m. on February 22, 2000 to respond to the discovery requests of the Applicants. Inasmuch as the deadline for objecting to the requests expired on February 14, 2000 and the request was not made prior to that date, any request for an enlargement of the deadline for objections is denied.

PER ORDER OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF INSURANCE

DATED:

ALESSANDRO A. IUPPA

Superintendent of Insurance