Case ID: f-appx_654/html/0124-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "RENDELL, Circuit Judge:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

John SACCHI, Appellant v. Kathryn J. LUCIANI, individually and as JSUMC Human Resources Site Manager; Meridian Health Systems, Inc.; Meridian Hospitals Corp.; Meridian Health; Jersey Shore University Medical Center, (“JSUMC”); *Ceridian Benefit Services, Inc.; Welfare Benefit Plan of Meridian Health; Meridian Health Team Member Benefit Plan *(Dismissed Pursuant to Clerk Order dated 08/13/15)
    No. 15-1453
    United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    Submitted under Third Circuit LAR 34.1(a) on November 10, 2015
    (Opinion filed: June 13, 2016)
    Thomas C. Jardim, Esq., Stephen J. Simoni, Esq., Jardim Meisner & Susser, Florham Park, NJ, for Plaintiff-Appellant.
    William M. Honan, Esq., Fox Rothschild, Atlantic City, NJ, for Defendants-Appellees Kathryn J. Luciani, individually and as JSUMC Human Resources Site Manager, Meridian Health Systems Inc, Meridian Hospitals Corp., Meridian Health, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, (‘JSUMC1), Welfare Benefit Plan of Meridian Health.
    Sarah Beth Johnson, Esq., Fox Rothschild, Atlantic City, NJ, for Defendants-Appellees.
    Before: CHAGARES, SHWARTZ AND RENDELL, Circuit Judges
   OPINION

RENDELL, Circuit Judge:

In this appeal Appellant seeks a declaration that the District Court incorrectly ruled that, he is not a “beneficiary of’ or “participant in” the employee benefit plan sponsored by his spouse’s employer, and, thus, lacks standing to sue under ERISA. We are not persuaded.

We need not recount the facts, which are well known to the parties. Sacchi makes a valiant attempt to draw on case-law to support his view that, because he was eligible to join the plan and but for Appellees’ wrongful conduct, he would have been designated a beneficiary under it, he has standing. He urges that he “may be eligible” or “may be entitled” to a benefit, or is a “putative” beneficiary within the purview of ERISA. However, the cases on which he relies do not support that proposition. Indeed, he cites and relies on the case of Coleman v. Champion International Corp., 992 F.2d 530 (5th Cir. 1993) but it actually supports the opposite view, as Ap-pellees note.

As the District Court correctly noted, “it is beyond dispute that 29 U.S.C. § 1132 (a) entitles only a ‘participant or beneficiary* to institute a civil action for benefits against a plan administrator.” App. 012. We agree with the District Court that Sacchi is neither. Moreover, Sacchi’s claim that he would have become a beneficiary under the plan but for the allegedly wrongful actions of the Defendants is belied by the fact that Simoni did not in fact elect coverage for him when given the opportunity. We will therefore affirm the order of the District Court granting the motions to dismiss. 
      
      This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7 does not constitute binding precedent.