Opinion ID: 3069022
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The member’s surviving brothers and sisters

Text: E. The executor or administrator of the member’s estate. After Hunter passed away, the Plan Administrator considered, and rejected, the possibility that Hunter’s stepsons, Stephen and Michael Herring, might be entitled to Hunter’s benefits. Because Hunter’s spouse had predeceased him and he had no surviving parents and no biological or legally adopted children, the Plan Administrator distributed the benefits, which totaled more than $300,000.00, to Hunter’s six siblings. About two years later, the Herrings challenged the distribution, arguing that they were Hunter’s “children” and should have been given priority over Hunter’s siblings. Citing their close relationship with Hunter, the fact that Hunter left his estate to them, and the fact that Hunter referred to them as his “beloved sons” in his will, the Herrings suggested that they were entitled to Hunter’s benefits under the Texas probate law doctrine of “equitable adoption” (“adoption by estoppel”). The Plan Administrator conducted a second review and again determined that Hunter’s stepsons were not entitled to collect benefits under the Plan. The Herrings then filed suit. After a bench trial, the district court found for the Herrings and denied the Plan Administrator’s counterclaim for a declaratory judgment, concluding that 2 Case: 11-40953 Document: 00511948633 Page: 3 Date Filed: 08/07/2012 No. 11-40953 the Plan Administrator “abused her discretion by failing to consider the Herrings’ claims of adoption by estoppel.” After the Plan Administrator filed a motion for reconsideration, the district court issued an order modifying some of its findings of fact and conclusions of law but did not alter its judgment. The Plan Administrator timely appealed.