Opinion ID: 789268
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Availability of Requested Relief

Text: 18 Upon affirming the district court's finding of preemption, we now consider plaintiffs' request for a temporary restraining order in light of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. As discussed below, we conclude that the requested relief is not available under the Act and, therefore, the district court properly denied the motion. 19 Plaintiffs seek injunctive relief under 29 U.S.C. § 1132(a)(3), which provides: 20 A civil action may be brought by a participant, beneficiary, or fiduciary (A) to enjoin any act or practice which violates any provision of this subchapter or the terms of the plan, or (B) to obtain other appropriate equitable relief (i) to redress such violations or (ii) to enforce any provisions of this subchapter or the terms of the plan. 21 The Supreme Court has construed the phrase appropriate equitable relief narrowly, noting that such equitable relief is limited to redressing violations or enforcing provisions of the Act or a plan governed by the Act. Mertens v. Hewitt Assocs., 508 U.S. 248, 253-54, 113 S.Ct. 2063, 124 L.Ed.2d 161 (1993). The Court has eschewed a compensatory monetary award as an available remedy and held that the equitable relief referenced in the Act is limited to those categories of relief that were typically available in equity. Id. at 256, 113 S.Ct. 2063. The Act does not provide a cause of action for legal actions for monetary damages disguised as suits in equity. Great-West Life, 534 U.S. at 215-16, 122 S.Ct. 708. 22 Here, plaintiffs request a restraining order; ordinarily, this is a form of equitable relief. However, plaintiffs asks the Court to direct Formica, or its pension plan, to pay monies, which are not owed, for an uncertain duration. As Formica argues, this is the kind of dollar amount that doesn't lend itself to injunctive relief. It lends itself appropriately for claims of relief if you prevail. This form of relief is not authorized under the Act. Therefore, the district court correctly denied plaintiffs' motion.