Opinion ID: 1860874
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Plan Documents

Text: Elam contends that the circuit court abused its discretion in allowing the jury to consider plan documents that were prepared by the parent company of Elam's employer to explain insurance benefits to its employees and, according to Elam, that incorrectly described the disability policy. The danger in this evidence, according to Elam, was that the jury was likely to be unduly influenced by these documents. First Unum responds that these documents merely describe insurance coverages and were in no way prejudicial. We agree that allowing these plan documents into evidence fell within the court's discretion, and this discretion was not abused. The evidence showed that Elam reviewed the plan documents before and after enrolling with First Unum for the insurance in question. The documents, therefore, were probative of the meaning of mental illness, as used in the policy and as understood by Elam.