Source: https://www.lifeanddisabilitylaw.com/erisa-watch-april-26-2016/
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 10:54:17+00:00

Document:
firm news, I will be presenting at the JCEB ERISA Litigation National Institute conference on May 19, 2016 on the topics of Discovery in ERISA Litigation – FRCP 26-34, ESI, and FOIA RequeIn sts and A Practical Guide to Ethics in ERISA Litigation. You can register for the conference here: http://shop.americanbar.org/ebus/ABAEventsCalendar/EventDetails.aspx?productId=236629602. Cassie Springer Ayeni will be presenting at ACI’s ERISA Litigation conference on June 27, 2016 at the Omni San Francisco on the topic of ERISA’s Remedial Scheme and 502(a)(3) Claims: CIGNA v. Amara and Latest Implications; Factoring Rochow Into the Equation; McCutchen and Montanile and Their Effect on Equitable Remedies; What Now Constitutes the “Plan” for Remedy Purposes, and More. You can register for the conference here: http://www.americanconference.com/2016/671/erisa-litigation.
· Following bench trial and order that Defendants breached their fiduciary duties under ERISA, awarding Plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees in the amount of $2,230,237.83 and costs in the amount of $394,531.51, for a total of $ 2,624,768.34. Severstal Wheeling, Inc. Retirement Committee et al., v. WPN Corporation et al., No. 10CIV954LTSGWG, 2016 WL 1611501 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 21, 2016) (Judge Laura Taylor Swain).
· Affirming district courts order granting judgment to Hartford Life & Accident Insurance Company in suit challenging Hartford’s denial of long-term disability benefits. Henderson v. Hartford Life & Acc. Ins. Co., No. 15-1344, __F.App’x__, 2016 WL 1581400 (4th Cir. Apr. 20, 2016) (Before WYNN and DIAZ, Circuit Judges, and DAVIS, Senior Circuit Judge).
· Termination of long-term disability benefits to claimant with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and fibromyalgia is not an abuse of discretion; state law claims dismissed as preempted by ERISA. Brookbank vs. Anthem Life Insurance Company, No. 1:15-CV-165, 2016 WL 1611380 (S.D. Ohio Apr. 20, 2016) (Judge Karen L. Litkovitz).
· Because claim for breach of contract under § 1132(a)(1)(B) provides adequate relief for Plaintiff’s only alleged injury, Hartford’s denial of his disability benefits, his claims for breach of fiduciary duty and disgorgement must fail as a matter of law. Davis v. Hartford Life & Accident Insurance Company, No. 3:14-CV-00507-TBR, 2016 WL 1574151 (W.D. Ky. Apr. 19, 2016) (Judge Thomas B. Russell).
· Denying long-term disability claimant’s motion to compel Hartford to respond to two interrogatories pertaining to instances in which Hartford has obtained medical opinions through third-party University Disability Consortium (“UDC”) and used those medical opinions as the bases for denial or approval of claims for long-term disability benefits; granting parties’ motion for Level 1 Restriction of Exhibits including Hartford internal policy manuals and guidelines and an Independent Medical Consultant Services Agreement between Hartford and UDC. Rickaby v. Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company, No. 15-CV-00813-WYD-NYW, 2016 WL 1597589 (D. Colo. Apr. 21, 2016) (Judge Nina Y. Wang).
· Granting Defendant’s motion to dismiss and finding preempted Plaintiff’s claims arising out of the purported failure by Guardian to pay Plaintiff’s disability benefits; further finding no “independent legal duties” created by New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act. Khan v. Guardian Life Ins. Co. of Am., No. CV 16-253, 2016 WL 1574611 (D.N.J. Apr. 19, 2016) (Judge John Michael Vazquez).
· In suit by medical provider against insurer of ERISA health plan, the court denied insurer’s motion to dismiss breach of written contract, breach of oral contract, and breach of implied-in-fact contract claims, but granted motion as to quantum meruit claim because provider did not allege that any defendant ever requested the services rendered. Health v. Usable Mut. Ins. Co., No. C 15-05730 WHA, 2016 WL 1598729 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 21, 2016) (Judge William Alsup).
· Plaintiff’s amputation below the knee of his left leg following a severe car accident, but complicated by his diabetes, does not entitle him to benefits under accidental death and dismemberment policy, where the accident was not the “direct and sole cause” of the loss, and because an exclusion for “physical or mental illness” that “caused or contributed to” the loss applies to Plaintiff’s diabetes. Dowdy v. Metro. Life Ins. Co., No. 15-CV-03764-JST, 2016 WL 1570004 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 18, 2016) (Judge Jon S. Tigar).
· Reversing district court’s judgment concluding that Defendant did not abuse its discretion in denying Plaintiff’s claim for pension benefits and holding that where a participant has made a prima facie case that he is entitled to pension benefits, but lacks access to information needed to substantiate the claim and defendant controls such information, the burden shifts to the defendant to produce this information. Estate of Barton v. ADT Sec. Servs. Pension Plan, No. 13-56379, __F.3d__, 2016 WL 1612755 (9th Cir. Apr. 21, 2016) (Before: ALEX KOZINSKI, SANDRA S. IKUTA, and JOHN B. OWENS, Circuit Judges).
· In putative class action to recover withheld pension benefit contributions, denying Defendants’ motion to dismiss and finding Plaintiff has made a colorable claim that he is a Plan participant, sufficiently alleged a constitutional injury, and alleged facts sufficient to plausibly support an inference that he exhausted his administrative remedies. Norris v. Mazzola, No. 15-CV-04962-JSC, 2016 WL 1588345 (N.D. Cal. Apr. 20, 2016) (Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley).
· In action brought by Savings Plan participant alleging breach of fiduciary duty and prohibited transaction claim, granting Motion to Restrict Public Access filed by Defendant Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company related to Plaintiff’s Motion for Class Certification and related filings. Teets v. Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company, No. 14-CV-02330-WJM-NYW, 2016 WL 1586418 (D. Colo. Apr. 20, 2016) (Magistrate Judge Nina Y. Wang).
· Affirming district court’s dismissal of employee benefit plans’ breach of fiduciary duty claim against Defendants for being time-barred, where plans had actual knowledge in August 2010 that employer contributions were not being made, statute of limitations ran in August 2013, and lawsuit was not filed until December 2014. Mid-S. Iron Workers Welfare Plan v. Harmon, No. 15-6064, 2016 WL 1445067 (10th Cir. Apr. 13, 2016) (Before GORSUCH, McKAY, and BACHARACH, Circuit Judges).
· A party seeking a constructive trust on benefits allegedly incorrectly paid does not have to specifically identify, in an initial pleading, the location or account numbers of the funds the party seeks to recover; whether the monthly pension benefit payments received by Plaintiffs from Defendants have been dissipated is a matter upon which the defendants are entitled to discovery. Metzgar v. U.A. Plumbers & Steamfitters Local No. 22 Pension Fund, No. 13-CV-85V(F), 2016 WL 1545186 (W.D.N.Y. Apr. 15, 2016) (Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo).
· Interest of justice requires granting Unum’s motion to transfer long-term disability case from W.D. Wisconsin to District of Massachusetts, where Plaintiff is a Massachusetts resident, obtained benefits under a plan located and administered in Massachusetts, and received medical treatment in Massachusetts. Leader v. Unum Life Insurance Company Of America, No. 16-CV-027-JDP, 2016 WL 1559187 (W.D. Wis. Apr. 18, 2016) (Judge James D. Peterson).
· Finding that Equipment Leasing was a trade or business under common control with Sidney Truck such that it is jointly and severally liable for withdrawal liability, and granting summary judgment against all Defendants. Cent. States v. Sidney Truck & Storage, Inc., No. 14 C 3663, 2016 WL 1594967 (N.D. Ill. Apr. 21, 2016) (Judge John Robert Blakey).
· Granting Funds’ motion for summary judgment, finding that CBA obligated Wingra to make contributions to two of the Union’s member benefit funds, Plaintiffs Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Fund and Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Health and Welfare Fund. Cent. States, Se. v. Wingra Redi-Mix, Inc., No. 12-CV-04084, 2016 WL 1555579 (N.D. Ill. Apr. 18, 2016) (Judge Andrea R. Wood).

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