In a recent case, despite the application of an arbitrary and capricious standard of review, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that when MetLife terminated Wanda Glenn’s benefits, its actions were not ”the result of a deliberative process or that it was based on substantial evidence.” Glenn v. MetLife, 2006 U.S.App.LEXIS 22432 (Sept […]
The issue in the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling High v. E-Systems Inc Long Term Disability Income and Death Benefit Plan, 2006 U.S.App.LEXIS 19613, (Aug. 3), was whether MetLife had the authority to offset Veterans Administration disability benefits that the plaintiff had been receiving even before he was hired by E-Systems in 1982 […]
A decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reveals how a court misunderstood key definitions in a disability case.
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling in Moon v. Unum Provident Corp., 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 22321 (June 29) (published), has tremendous instructive value with respect to awards of attorneys’ fees following a Court of Appeals reversal of benefit denial.
Today’s column discusses Burroughs v. Bellsouth Telecommunications Inc., 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 52815. (June 14). Burroughs is a tour de force expose of how the ERISA law has been interpreted by the courts in a manner that thoroughly betrays Congress’ intent to protect promised benefits. U.S. District Judge William Acker Jr., a frequent critic of […]