Opinion ID: 6931475
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Calculation Procedure (a Variation of Item 12)

Text: Plaintiffs originally asked for benefit computation worksheets. Defendants replied that worksheets were non-existent because benefit computations were all performed by computer. However, at that time, Defendants apparently had in their possessions a written “Calculation Procedure,” a step-by-step detailed description of the procedures to be followed in order to derive a participant’s benefits under the Plan. Plaintiffs allege that they only learned of the existence of this written Procedure on October 21,1988, when it was produced during the discovery phase of this litigation. They argue that even though they never requested production of this document by name, Defendants should have furnished it in response to Plaintiffs’ request for worksheets. Defendants claim that Plaintiffs knew that Defendants possessed a computer program as early as November 17, 1987, yet Plaintiffs failed to request production of the program. Plaintiffs correctly respond, however, that the program, in computer language, is hardly the equivalent of computation worksheets, but the Calculation Procedure, written in ordinary (albeit technical) language is indeed equivalent to that which they expressly requested. Thus, Plaintiffs’ decision not to ask for the computer program is irrelevant to the question of whether Defendants should have timely produced the Calculation Procedure. Defendants offer no excuse for their failure to furnish the Procedure in response to Plaintiffs’ request for item 12. Having reviewed the Procedure, we find that it so obviously contains the information that Plaintiffs expressly described when they requested “worksheets,” that Defendants either knew or should have known that they were obliged to furnish it in response to Plaintiffs’ request. Imposing a burden upon Plaintiffs to ask for the Calculation Procedure by name rather than by description would be contrary to the spirit of § 1024(b)(4).