Opinion ID: 50872
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: ERISA Preemption of Other State-Law Claims

Text: Lester next insists that the district court erred in dismissing, as preempted by ERISA, his claims against the Plan Administrator for breach of fiduciary duty and against AERT for breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing. We disagree. ERISA supersedes “any and all State laws insofar as they may now or hereafter relate to any employee benefit plan”15 but does not govern an employee benefits plan that “is maintained solely for the purpose of complying with applicable workmen’s compensation laws.”16 We have held, however, that occupational injury benefit plans established by non-subscribers to Texas’s workers’ compensation system —— such as the one at issue here —— are not “maintained solely for the purpose of complying with applicable workmen’s compensation laws” and thus are governed by ERISA.17 Consequently, the district court properly dismissed Lester’s state-law claims against the Plan Administrator for breach of fiduciary duty and 15 29 U.S.C. § 1144(a). 16 § 1003(b)(3). 17 See Hernandez v. Jobe Concrete Products, Inc., 282 F.3d 360, 363 (5th Cir. 2002). 9 against AERT for breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing as preempted by ERISA. Moreover, we note that Texas courts have routinely declined to recognize a duty of good faith and fair dealing flowing from an employer to its employees.18 Finally, we conclude that, to the extent Lester’s complaint encompasses a claim for breach of fiduciary duty under ERISA, that claim is not actionable. Under ERISA, a plan participant may bring a civil action to enjoin an act that violates any provision of ERISA or to obtain any “otherwise appropriate equitable relief.”19 Here, Lester seeks only compensatory and punitive damages for AERT’s delay in paying benefits under the Plan. The Supreme Court has held that money damages are not available through the civil remedy provisions of ERISA.20 Consequently, Lester’s claim for breach of fiduciary duty against the Plan Administrator is not cognizable under the limited civil remedies provided by ERISA.