Whether a federal court may choose the option that expands liability under state law, absent clear, authoritative guidance from the state's courts

QUESTIONS PRESENTED 1. Whether a federal court seeking to identify the content of state law pursuant to Erie Railroad Co. v. Tompkins, 304 U.S. 64 (1938), may choose the option that expands liability under state law, absent clear, authoritative guidance from the state’s courts. 2. Whether an administrator of a plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) waives application of the plan’s antiassignment provision — with the consequence of enabling a medical provider to bring a lawsuit under ERISA — through the routine processing of a claim for benefits pursued by the provider for an ERISA participant. ii PARTIES TO PROCEEDING AND RELATED CASES Petitioner is Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Company, doing business as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. It was the Defendant-Appellant below. Respondent is Encompass Office Solutions, Incorporated. It was the Plaintiff-Appellee below. Northern District of Texas, No. 3:11-cv-01471-M, Encompass Office Solutions, Inc. v. Louisiana Health Serv. & Indemnity Co., Final Judgment entered June 6, 2017. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, No 17-10736, Encompass Office Solutions, Inc. v. Louisiana Health Serv. & Indem. Co., Opinion & Judgment entered March 19, 2019; Denial of Petition for Rehearing & Rehearing En Banc entered April 16, 2019; Mandate issued April 24, 2019. U.S. Supreme Court, No. 18A1359, Louisiana Health Serv. & Indem. Co. v. Encompass Office Solutions, Inc., Application for Extension of Time granted June 26, 2019.