Opinion ID: 655521
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Perdue's Appeal of ERISA Section 1132(a)(1)(B) Claim

Text: 14 Section 1132(a)(1)(B) of ERISA provides a private right of action for persons alleging entitlement to benefits, or seeking to enforce or clarify rights, pursuant to the terms of an ERISA plan. 6 Perdue's section 1132(a)(1)(B) claim alleges that the Committee abused its discretion in denying him eligibility to receive severance benefits under the Program. On appeal, he argues that material fact issues were raised before the district court. 15 The district court held that Perdue is precluded from bringing a section 1132(a)(1)(B) claim for benefits because his termination did not result from either a workforce reduction or a job elimination plan. We agree. The plain language of the BKC Program limits eligibility to employees involuntarily terminated in connection with either a workforce reduction or job elimination plan. 7 Because Perdue does not allege that his termination as FOM occurred under either of these two circumstances, he fails to allege entitlement to benefits within the eligibility provision of the Program. 8 16 A BKC employee terminated for cause, or for reasons unrelated to a workforce reduction or job elimination, is expressly ineligible to receive benefits under the Program, and, therefore, does not have a claim for benefits under section 1132(a)(1)(B) of ERISA. The summary judgment evidence establishes that Perdue's employment was terminated for cause, specifically because Bushey no longer considered Perdue trustworthy following the travel advance incident. 9 Thus, summary judgment on Perdue's section 1132(a)(1)(B) claim is proper. 17