# U ni te d S ta te s Co ur t of A pp ea ls
For the Eig hth Circu it

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No. 1 2- 31 59

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Lis a Gerh ard t

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Pla in ti

ff - App el la nt

v.

Lib ert y Life As su ran ce Co m

pa ny of Bo st on ; Un iv ers al Heal th Serv ic es , Inc .; UHS of Dela ware, In c.; B rid ge way , Inc

.

ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll ll l Defe nd

an ts - App el le es

__ __ __ __ __ __ App eal fro m

Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t Co ur t fo r th e Eas te rn Dis tri ct of Ark an sa s - Li tt le Ro ck

__ __ __ __ __ __

Su bm it te d: Sep te m

be r 25 , 20 13 Fil ed : No ve m

be r 29 , 20 13

__ __ __ __ __ __

Befo re WOL LMAN, BEAM, an d S MITH, Ci rcu it Ju dg es

.

__ __ __ __ __ __

W OLLMAN, Circ ui t J ud ge

.

Lis a Gerh ard t ap pe al s fr om th e d is tri ct co ur t’s or de r de nyin g he r m ot io n fo r 1 jud gm en t on th e reco rd

, affi rm in g Lib e r t y Li fe Ass ur an ce Co m pa ny of Bo st on ’s

The Hon or ab le J. Leo n Ho lm es , Uni te d S ta te s Di st ric t J ud ge for th e Eas te rn 1
Dis tri ct of Ark an sa s.(Lib ert y ) de ci si on to te rm in at e pa y m en t of he r lo ng -te rm di sa bi li ty be ne fit s, an d

di sm is si ng he r co m

pl ai nt wit h p reju di ce. We affir m

.

I. Ba ck gr ou nd

Gerh ard t ob ta in ed an as so ci at e’s de gr ee in nu rs in g in 19 80 an d th erea fte r ob ta in ed a reg is te red nu rs e’s li cen se

. Fro m 19 80 t o 2 0 0 0

, G erh ard t wor ke d as a

reg is te red nu rs e an d he ld ot he r po si ti on s wit h i n t he he al th care fie ld

. In Ju ly 20 00

, Gerh ard t st op pe d wor ki ng be cau se sh e su ffer ed fro m os te oa rth rit is an d ne ed e d to

un de rg o an th ro pl as ty su rg ery on each of he r th um bs

. At th e ti m e, sh e was em pl oyed

as th e Dire ct or of Add ic ti on Serv ic es fo r a ps y ch ia tri c ho sp it al

, th e Bri dg eway, In c., whi ch was own ed an d op erat ed by Uni ve rs al Heal th Serv ic es , In c. Uni ve rs al Heal th 2

Serv ic es pr o v i d e d lo ng -te rm di sa bi li ty co ve rag e to it s em pl oyees un de r a Gro up Dis ab il it y I n c o me P o li cy (th e Po li cy ) is su ed by Lib ert y

. Gerh ard t fil ed a cl ai m fo r lo ng -te rm di sa bi li ty ben efi ts wit h Li be rty in Oc to be r 20 00

.

To rece iv e lo ng -te rm dis ab il it y be ne fit s, th e Po li cy req ui red in su red em pl oyees

to pr ov id e Lib ert y wit h pr oo f of di sa bi li ty. As rel ev an t to th is cas e, th e Po li cy de fin es

“ Dis ab il it y ” o r “ Dis ab le d” as f ol lo ws:

i. If th e Co ve red Pers on is el ig ib le fo r t h e 24 Mo nt h Own Occu pa ti on Ben efi t, “ Dis ab il it y ” or “ Dis ab le d” m ean s du rin g th e Eli mi n at io n Peri od an d th e ne xt 24 m on th s of Dis ab il it y th e Co ve red Pers on is un ab l e t o p erfo rm al l of th e m at eri al an d

su b s t a nt ia l du ti es of hi s oc cu pa ti on on an Acti ve Em pl oym en t ba si s b ecau se of a n In

jury or Si ck ne ss ; an d

ii

. Afte r 24 m on th s of ben efi ts ha ve be en pa id

, th e Co ve red Pers on is un ab le to pe rfo rm , wit h reas on ab le co nt in ui ty, al l of th e

UHS of Dela ware, In c., is th e m an ag em e n t c o m pa ny fo r Uni ve rs al Heal th 2
Serv ic es , Inc

.

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-m at eri al an d su bs ta nt ia l du ti es of hi s own or an y ot he r oc cu pa ti on f o r whi ch he is or be co m es reas on ab ly fit te d by tra i n i n g , ed uc at io n, ex pe rie nc e, ag e an d p hysic al an d m en ta l ca pa ci ty.

Acco rd in gl y , th e in it ia l de te rm in at io n of whe th er an e mp l o y ee is “ Dis ab le d” is

de pe nd en t up on whe th er th e em pl oyee is ab le to pe rfo rm hi s or he r own oc cu pa ti on , whe reas aft er th e em

pl oyee ha s rece iv ed be ne fit s fo r twen ty-fou r mo n t h s , th e de te rm in at io n i s d ep en de nt up on whet he r th e em pl oyee can pe rfo rm

hi s o r he r own

oc cu pa ti on or a ny occu pa ti on for whi ch th e em pl oyee is reas on ab ly fitt ed

.

Lib ert y ap pr ov ed Gerh ard t’s clai m un de r th e fi rs t s ta nd ard an d b eg an pa y in g he r lo ng -te rm di sa bi li ty be ne fit s on Nov em be r 5, 20 00

. The reaf

te r, Gerh ard t was di ag no se d wit h va rio us m ed ic al co nd it io ns in cl ud in g fy br om y a l g i a, de pr es si on , art hr it is

, an d os te op or os is

. In 20 02

, Lib ert y reev al ua te d Gerh ard t’s cl ai m un de r th e

se co nd st a n d a rd

—t he “ an y oc cu pa ti on ” st an da rd —an d de te rm in ed th at Gerh ard t

co nt in ue d to qu a l i f

y fo r be ne fit s un de r th e Po li cy

. Lib ert y , ho wev er, no ti fie d

Gerh ard t t ha t h er cl ai m

wou ld be ev al ua te d p eri od ic al ly.

In 20 04 an d 20 05

, Gerh ard t pa rti ci pa te d in two se pa rat e In de pe nd en t Med ic al

Eva lu at io ns (IM E) at Lib ert y ’s req ue st

. Barr y B a s k i n , M.D., an d Bru ce Safm an , M.D., se pa rat el y ev al ua te d Gerh ard t an d co nc lu de d th at sh e was c a p a bl e of

pe rfo rm in g fu ll -ti m e se de nt ary wor k de sp it e he r va rio us m ed ic al co nd it io ns

. In 20 05

, Teres a Mar qu es , a vo cat io na l co ns ul ta nt
, co m pl et ed a Tran sf

erab le Sk il ls Ana lysis (TSA) ba se d on he r rev ie w of Gerh ard t’s f i l e a nd st an da rd vo cat io na l res ou rces

. Mar qu es id en ti fie d fiv e oc cu pa ti on s Gerh ard t co ul d pe rf or m tha t w er e co nsi sten t wit h

th e “ an y oc cu pa ti on ” st an da rd

.

Gerh ard t’s fam il y pr act ic e do ct or , ho wev er, op in ed th at Gerh ard t was di sa bl ed

an d co ul d no t ho ld a fu ll -ti m e job

. The reaf t er, a ph y si cal th erap is t who ha d be en hi red by Lib ert y pe rfo rm ed a Fu nc ti on al Cap aci ty Eva lu at io n (FCE) of Gerh ard t an d

-3

-co nc lu de d th at Gerh ard t was ca p a b le of pe rfo rm in g se de nt ary wor k. Add it io na ll y ,

Lib ert y hi red a se pa rat e vo cat io na l co ns ul ta nt to rev ie w th e TSA, who co nf irmed th at
Ge r h a r dt was cap ab le of pe rfo rm in g each of th e fiv e oc cu pa ti on s Mar qu es ha d

pr ev io us ly i de nt ifi ed

. On May 1 , 2 00 6, Lib ert y no ti fie d Ge rh ard t of it s de ci si on to

te rm in at e pa y m en t of he r l on g- te rm di sa bi li ty be ne fit s as of May 5, 20 06

. Lib ert y

co nc lu de d th at Gerh ard t was no lo ng er el ig ib le fo r di sa bi li ty be ne fit s be cau se sh e was

cap ab le of p erfo rm in g fu ll -ti m e se de nt ary wor k.

Gerh ard t ap pe al ed Lib ert y ’s de ci si on to te rm in at e be ne fit s, an d Lib ert y ag ai n de ni ed Gerh ard t’s cl ai m

. Gerh ard t th en so ug ht jud ic ia l revi ew of Lib ert y ’s ad ve rs e be ne fit s de te rm in at io n unde r the E m plo y ee Re tir em en t In co m e Se curi ty Act (ERISA)

. See 29 U.S.C. § 11 32 (a)( 1) (B). Th e d i s t ric t co ur t rev ers ed Lib ert y ’s de ci si on to

te rm in at e be ne fit s an d rem an de d Gerh ard t’s cl ai m to Lib ert y fo r fu rth er pr oc eed in gs

. The di st ric t co ur t co nc lu de d th at su bs ta nt ia l ev id en ce s u p p o r te d Lib ert y ’s

de te rm in at io n th at Gerh a r d t was ph y si cal ly cap ab le of pe rfo rm in g th e oc cu pa ti on s id en ti fie d in th e TSA, bu t co nc lu de d th at Lib ert y ha d n o t a d eq ua te ly ad dr es se d

whe th er Gerh ard t was m en ta ll y cap ab le of pe rfo rm in g th os e oc cu pa ti on s.
Acco rd in gl y , th e di st ric t co ur t in st ru ct ed Lib ert y to “ co ns id er no t on ly Gerh ard t’s ph y si cal im

pa irments

, bu t al so he r m en ta l im pa irments

, th e si de effe ct s of an y

ne ces sa ry m ed ic at io ns , he r ag e, an d ot he r co ns id erat io ns co nt ai ne d in th e ad m in is tra ti ve reco rd .” D. Ct

. Ord er of Ju ne 17

, 20 08

, at 29

. The di st ric t co ur t al so ad vi se d th e pa rti es to “ co ns id er ob ta in in g a ne w tra ns fera bl e sk il ls an al y si s repo rt.”

Id

. Lib ert y ap pe al ed

, an d we di sm is se d th e ap pe al f o r l a ck of juri sd ic ti on

. See
Gerh ard t v. Lib ert y Life Ass ur an ce Co

. of Bo st on , 57 4 F.3 d 50 5 (8 th Ci r. 20 09 ). On

rem an d, Gerh ard t su bm it te d ad di ti on al in fo rm at io n fo r Lib ert y ’s rev ie w an d

un de rwen t furt he r m ed ic al as se ss m en ts

. Ult im at el y , Lib ert y ad he red to it s dec is io n

to te rm in at e be ne fit s. Gerh ard t m ov ed to reo pe n th e cas e a n d th en m ov ed fo r jud gm en t on th e reco rd

, req ue st in g th at th e di st ric t co ur t or de r Lib ert y to pa y he r cl ai m

.

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-II . Termina tio n o f Ben efi ts

Bec au se it is un di sp ut ed th at th e Po li cy ga ve Lib ert y di sc ret io na ry au th or it y to
de te rm in e Gerh ard t’s el ig ib il it y fo r be ne fit s, we rev ie w Lib ert y ’s de ci si on fo r ab us e of di sc ret io n. See Nor ris v. Ci ti ba nk

, N.A. Dis ab il it y Pl an (5 01 ), 30 8 F.3 d 88 0, 88 3 (8 th Ci r. 20 0 2 )

. U n de r th e ab us e of di sc ret io n st an da rd of rev ie w, we do no t

“ su bs ti tu te ou r own weig hi ng of th e ev id en ce fo r th at of th e ad m in is tra to r.” Sah ul ka

v. Luc en t Tech s., In c., 20 6 F.3 d 76 3, 76 9- 70 (8 th Ci r. 20 00 ). I n s te ad

, “ a pl an ad m in is tra to r’s de ci si on wil l st an d if reas on ab le ; ‘ i.e.
, su pp or te d by su bs ta nt ia l

ev id en ce.’” Ortl ie b v. Uni te d Heal th Care Ch oi ce Pl an s, 38 7 F.3 d 77 8, 78 1 (8 th Ci r.
20 04 ) (q uo ti ng Fl et ch er-M erri t v. Nor Am Ene rg y Co rp ., 25 0 F

. 3 d 1 1 74

, 11 79 (8 th

Ci r

. 2 0 0 1 )). “ W e rev ie w th e di st ric t co ur t’s ap pl ic at io n of th is st an da rd de no vo .”

Nor ris , 30 8 F .3d at 8 84

.

“ A pl an ad m in is tra to r ab us es it s di sc ret io n whe n it ig no res rel ev an t ev id en ce.”

W il lc ox v. Lib ert y Life Ass ur an ce Co

. of Bo st on , 55 2 F.3 d 69 3, 70 1 (8 th Ci r. 20 09 ).

Gerh ard t arg ue s th at Li b e rty ab us ed it s di sc ret io n in te rm in at in g he r lo ng -te rm di sa bi li ty be ne fit s be cau se it en ti rel y i g no red ev id en ce th at su pp or te d he r cl ai m

. Sp eci fic al ly, Gerh ard t co nt en ds th at Lib ert y ig no red th e fo l l o w in g ev id en ce: Gerh ard t’s lo ss of he r reg is te red nu rs e’s li cen se an d la ck of a ba ch el or ’s de gr ee, Dr.
Safm an ’s ori gi na l IM E rep or t, an d Ger ha rd t’s ag e. 3

At or al arg um en t, Gerh ard t cl ari fie d th at sh e is no t arg ui ng th at “ th es e pi eces 3
of ev id en ce were m is co ns tru ed or m is un de rs to od by Lib ert y ” or th at “ Lib ert y

un de rwei gh te d th em so m eh ow.” In st ead

, sh e arg ue s th at “ Lib ert y en ti rel y refu se d to

co ns id er t he se th ree p ie ces of e vi de nc e.”

-5

-A. Expi ra tio n o f Nurs e’s Lic ens e an d Abs ence of a Ba chel or ’s Degr ee

Gerh ard t’s reg is te red nu rs e’s l i c en se ex pi red aft er sh e st op pe d wor ki ng in

20 00

. W he n vo cat io na l co ns ul ta nt Mar qu es co m pl et ed th e or ig in al TSA in 20 05

, sh e

co nc lu de d th at Gerh ard t was cap ab le of an d reas o n a b l y fit te d to pe rfo rm th e fo ll owi ng oc cu pa ti on s: co m m un it y he al th /p ro gr am di rect or ; nu rs e cas e m an ag er;

ut il iz at io n rev ie w nu rs e; he al th se rv ic es co or di na to r; an d am bu la nc e/ em erg en cy

se rv ic e di sp at ch er. Mar qu es tw i c e up da te d th e TSA aft er rem an d, co nc lu di ng th at
Gerh ard t co ul d al so wor k as a pr ecer ti fic at io n nu rs e or a te le ph on e tri ag e nu rs e. On

rem an d, Gerh ard t su bm it te d a Voc at io na l Em pl o yabi li ty Ass es sm en t au th or ed by a

cert ifi ed reh ab il it at io n co un se lo r f o r Lib ert y ’s rev ie w. The rep or t co nc lu de d th at
Gerh ard t’s ph y si cal an d co gn it iv e li m it at io ns pr ecl ud ed he r fro m pe rfo rm in g an y of

th e o ccu pa ti on s i de nt ifi ed in th e TSA.

Gerh ard t arg ue s th at Lib ert y ab us ed it s d is cret io n i n te rm in at in g he r be ne fit s be cau se it fai le d to id en ti fy a n y o c c u pa ti on th at sh e was bo th cap ab le of an d

reas on ab ly fit te d to pe rfo rm ba se d on he r tra in in g, ed uc at io n, ex p e r i en ce, ag e, an d ph y si cal an d m en ta l cap aci ty. Acco rd in g t o Ger ha rd t, s ix of th e se ve n oc cu pa ti on s id en ti fie d in th e TSA req ui red ei th er a reg is t e r e d n ur se ’s li cen se or a ba ch el or ’s

d eg ree. The on ly oc cu pa ti on th at di d no t req ui re a reg is te red nu rs e’s li cen se or a ba ch el or ’s de gr ee was am bu la nc e/ em erg en cy se rv ic e di sp at ch er. Bec au se Gerh ard t
di d n ot ha ve a reg is te red nu rs e’s li cen se or a ba ch el or ’s deg ree, s he ass ert s s he was

no t reas on ab ly fit te d to pe rfo rm an y of th e si x oc cu pa t i o n s i d e n ti fie d. Gerh ard t
fu rth er co nt en ds th at sh e was no t reas on ab ly fi t t e d to pe rfo rm th e oc cu pa ti on of

am bu la nc e/ em erg en c y se rv ic e di sp at ch er be cau se he r tra in in g, ed uc at io n, an d

e x p e rie nc e are in th e fie ld s of nu rs in g an d he al th care , whe reas th e oc cu pa ti on of

di sp at ch er i s i n t he fie ld of p ol ic e wor k.

W e co nc lu de th at Lib ert y di d no t ab us e it s d i s cret io n in de te rm in in g th at
Gerh ard t was reas on ab ly fi tt ed to pe rfo rm th e o ccu pa ti on of am

bu la nc e/ em erg en cy

-6

-se rv ic e di sp at ch er. In m ak in g th is de te rm in at io n, Lib ert y co ns id e red th e rep or t of

Gerh ard t’s reh ab il it at io n co un se lo r. Lib ert y , ho wev er, ul ti m at el y ch os e to rel y on th e
TSA c om pl et ed b y M a r qu es , wh o co ns id ered Gerh ard t’s m ed ic al st at us , f un ct io na l

c a p a c i ty, ed uc at io n hi st or y , wor k hi st or y , an d vo cat io na l st at us in de te rm in in g t h e

oc cu pa ti on s fo r whi ch Gerh a rd t was reas on ab ly fit te d. In ad di ti on to he r or ig in al

an al y si s, Mar qu es a l s o up da te d th e TSA twi ce aft er rem an d an d co nt in ue d to

c o n c lu de th at Gerh ard t was reas on ab ly fit te d to pe rfo rm th e oc cu pa ti on of

am bu la nc e/ em erg en cy se rv ic e di sp at ch er. Mo reo ve r, at le as t on e ot he r vo cat io na l

ex pe rt rev ie wed th e TSA an d co nf irmed Mar qu es ’s d et erm in at io n. Lib ert y ha d th e di sc ret io n to weig h th e ev id en ce, an d Gerh ard t ha s no t es ta bl is he d th at Lib ert y ’s

rel ia nc e on th e TSA was un reas on ab le

. Tha t Lib ert y reje c t ed th e co nc lu si on of

Gerh ard t’s reh ab il it at io n co un se lo r do es n o t r e n d er it s rel ia nc e on th e TSA

un reas on ab le

. Si m il arl y , al th ou gh Gerh ard t arg ue s th at a dis pa tc he r wor ks in th e fie ld

of la w en fo rcem en t an d th at la w en fo rcem en t is un rel at ed to th e fie ld s of nu rs in g an d

he al th care , Lib ert y

rel ie d o n i ts ex pe rts ’ op in io ns to th e co nt rary.

The Po li cy pr ov id es th at an em pl oyee is no t di sa bl ed if th e em pl oyee is cap ab le

of pe rfo rm in g an y oc cu pa ti on f o r w h i c h h e or sh e is reas on ab ly fit te d. Bec au se Lib ert y ha s id en ti fi e d at le as t on e oc cu pa ti on Gerh ard t is bo th cap ab le of an d

reas on ab ly fit te d to pe rfo rm , we do no t reac h th e m eri ts of Gerh ard t’s co nt en ti on th at

t he ex pi rat io n of he r reg is te red nu rs e’s li cen se m ad e he r un fit fo r al l job s req ui rin g

a reg is te red nu rs e’s li cen se

.

B. Dr. Saf

m an ’s Ori gi na l I ME Repo rt

In 20 05 , Dr. Safm an ev al ua te d Ger ha rd t o n b eh al f of MLS Nati on al Med ic al

Eva lu at io ns (MLS)

, an in de pe nd en t co nt ract or th at co or di na te d th e IME fo r Lib ert y

. Dr. Safm an pr ep ared a rep or t (th e or ig in al IME rep or t) an d se nt it to MLS. At th e en d

of th e or ig in al IME rep or t, Dr. S a f man in di cat ed

, “ I be li ev e wit h fib ro m y al gi a, as

se ve re as th at whi ch sh e ap pe ars to ha ve , th at th ere wil l be day s when sh e co ul d no t

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-pa rti ci pa te in se de nt ary act iv it ie s, an d th ere wer e o t h e r d a ys th at sh e co ul d.” MLS

ge ne rat ed th e fin al ve rs io n of th e rep or t (th e fin al IME rep or t), whi ch was lo ng er an d

m or e de ta il ed th an th e or ig in al I M E r e p o rt. Dr. Safm an th en si gn ed th e fin al IME

rep or t, an d it was se nt to Lib ert y

. The fin al IME rep or t co nc lu de d th at Gerh ard t was

cap ab le of pe rfo rm in g fu ll -ti m e se de nt ary wor k an d di d no t ex pr es sl y in cl u d e D r

. Safm an ’s st at em en t “ th at th ere wil l be da y s whe n [Gerh ard t] co ul d no t pa rti ci pa te in

se de nt ary act iv it ie s.”

Gerh ard t co nt en ds th at Lib ert y ab us ed it s di sc ret io n by ig no rin g Dr. Safm an ’s

or ig in al IME rep or t an d wit hh ol di ng th e r e p o rt fro m it s po st -rem an d rev ie wers

. Acco rd in g to Gerh ard t, th e st at em en t se t fo rth ab ov e su pp or ts he r di sa bi li ty cl ai m b e c a us e it is ev id en ce th at sh e wou ld be un ab le to pe rfo rm an oc cu pa ti o n “wi t h

reas on ab le co nt in ui ty.” Lib ert y , ho wev er, di d no t ig no re Dr. Safm an ’s or ig in al IME

rep or t.

On rem an d, Gerh ard t sp eci fic al ly req ue st ed th at Lib ert y co ns id er th e or ig in al IME rep or t an d s ub m it te d a co py of th e rep or t t o Li be rty. In it s i ni ti al po st -rem an d

le tte r m ai nta ini ng its de cisi on to te rm in at e be ne fit s, Lib ert y ack no wled ge d Gerh ard t’s

re que st

. The reaf

te r, Lib ert y rep eat ed ly co nf irmed th at it ha d rev ie wed Gerhar dt’ s fi le

, al on g with th e ad di ti on al ev id en ce t ha t s he ha d s ub m it te d a fte r rem an d. The refo re, al th ou gh we do no t kn ow th e ex act weig ht Lib ert y affo rd ed th e or ig in al IME rep or t,
th e rec or d e st ab li sh es th at Lib ert y di d n ot en ti rel y

ig no re t he rep or t.

The reco rd is no t cl ear whe th er Lib ert y pr ov id ed th e or ig in al IME re po rt to

Mar qu es an d th e ph y si ci an s who e va lu at ed Gerh ard t aft er rem an d. Eve n as su m in g th at th os e rev ie wers di d no t kn ow of th e rep or t, Gerh ard t ha s no t sh own th at Lib ert y ’s

de ci si on to te rm in at e be ne fit s co ns ti tu te d an ab us e of di sc ret io n. Dr. Safma n’s

st at em en t m ay ha ve su pp or te d Gerh ard t’s cl ai m , bu t it di d no t co nc lu si ve ly es ta bl is h

th at sh e was di sa bl ed

. Mo reo ve r, to th e ex te nt th e or ig in al IME rep or t an d th e fin al

IME rep or t are in co ns is te nt
, no th in g in th e reco rd in di cat es th at th e fin al IME rep or t

-8

-di d no t rep res en t Dr. Safm an ’s fin al op in io n. Lib ert y th us was in a po si ti on whe re it

ha d co ns id ered th e o r i g i n a l IME rep or t, it kn ew whe th er th e rev ie wers ha d th e

or ig in al IME rep or t, an d i t co ul d wei gh all of t he ev id en ce ac co rd in gl y

.

C. Age

The Po li cy req ui res Lib ert y to co n s i d er an em pl oyee’s ag e in de te rm in in g whe th er th e em

pl oyee is reas on ab ly fit te d fo r an oc cu pa ti on

. Gerh ard t was fif ty-two

y ears ol d whe n he r lo ng -te rm di sa bi li ty be ne fit s were t e r mina te d. Gerh ard t arg ue s th at Lib ert y fai le d to co ns id er he r ag e, ei th er be fo re or aft er rem an d, an d th us ab us ed

it s di sc ret io n. Gerh ard t acknow le dge s, how ev er , tha t in the bene fit -te rm in at io n le tt ers Lib ert y se nt he r pr io r to rem an d, Li be rty ind ic at ed th at it ha d c on si de red he r ag e in

ev al ua ti ng he r cl ai m

. Fu rth erm or e, Gerh ar d t ’s ag e was refe rred to in m os t of th e

rep or ts is su ed by th e rev ie win g ph y si ci an s an d voca tio nal co ns ul ta nt s bo th be fo re an d

aft er rem an d. In li gh t of th is ev id en ce, Gerh ard t ha s n o t e s t a bl is he d th at Lib ert y ig no red he r ag e whe n it ter m in at ed it s p ay m en t o f he r lo ng -te rm di sa bi li ty be ne fit s.

II I. Co ncl us io n

Gerh ard t ha s no t es ta bl is he d th at Lib ert y en ti rel y ig no red rel ev an t ev id en ce or th at Lib ert y ’s de ci si on to te rm in at e it s pa y m en t of lo ng -te rm di sa bi li ty be ne fit s was

ot he rwis e un reas on ab le

. The reco rd refl ect s t ha t Lib ert y ’s de ci si on to te rm in at e be ne fit s was sup po rte d by su bs ta nt ia l evi de nc e an d th us di d no t con st it ut e an ab us e of di sc ret io n.

The jud gm en t i s af

fir m ed

.

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