Opinion ID: 786114
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Aventis' Lost Document

Text: 42 Aventis lost a document pertaining to Koons' termination before this litigation began. Specifically, an investigation into Koons' conduct was done by Johnson, who prepared a Case History. The Case History purportedly contained Johnson's notes of conversations he had with Krohne and Waier regarding the policies in place at the time of Koons' termination. The paper copy of that document appears to have been lost in transit or after it arrived in New Jersey, during the course of Aventis' reorganization. Johnson's hard drive, which contained the document, was also erased. Johnson testified to what would have been contained in that document and Waier testified to what he told Johnson. 43 As to Koons' claim for benefits, a trial court conducting a de novo review may expand the scope of what it will consider beyond the evidence that was before the plan administrator at the time it made its decision if good cause to do so exists. Donatelli, 992 F.2d at 765. Koons argues that there was no good cause to consider any evidence other than the document, without the document there was no proof of a policy violation, and, thus, the trial court's decision was clearly erroneous. But there is no reason to assume the trial court considered any evidence in conjunction with the claim for benefits that did not exist at the time the decision was made. Even if it had, the lack of a true administrative record in this case, which could be attributed to either party, would allow the trial court, in its discretion, to consider additional evidence. See Dishman v. UNUM Life Ins. Co., 269 F.3d 974, 986 (9th Cir.2001). Under these circumstances, we see no reason why either party should be heard to complain that too much evidence was before the trial court. 44 Koons was also not entitled to an adverse inference of Aventis' intent to interfere with his severance benefits. The trial court drew no adverse inference from the loss of the document because Koons made no showing that Aventis had intentionally lost or destroyed the information: [T]he evidence suggests that during the move of the company's corporate offices and the turnover of employees, this file was accidently misplaced. 45 Substantial evidence supports this finding. See Stevenson v. Union Pacific R.R. Co., 354 F.3d 739, 745 (8th Cir.2004) (standard of review). Thus, sanctions in the form of an adverse inference would have been inappropriate. See id. at 746-47 (holding that a showing of bad faith — an intent to destroy the evidence for the purpose of obstructing or suppressing the truth — was required before an adverse inference could be imposed for the prelitigation destruction of documents pursuant to a document retention policy). Koons makes much of the fact that the loss of these documents contravened Aventis' own document retention policy. We agree that this is some evidence suggesting bad faith, and we in no way condone Aventis' conduct. After reviewing the record, however, we cannot say the trial court abused its discretion in concluding the loss was accidental. 46 Moreover, Koons made no showing that he was prejudiced by the loss. See id. at 748 (prejudice required before sanctions are appropriate). All that has been shown is that the document contained Johnson's notes regarding his investigation of Koons. Johnson testified at trial, and there was no evidence that the document he created contained anything that would have harmed Aventis or helped Koons in the course of this litigation. 47 We have considered all of Koons' other arguments and find them without merit.