Opinion ID: 736978
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Unjust Enrichment & Declaratory Judgment

Text: 21 Finally, plaintiff argues that even if he has not alleged viable claims under ERISA, he has properly alleged claims against defendant for unjust enrichment and declaratory relief. First, he asserts that Count III sets forth a federal common law claim for unjust enrichment, presumably in order to avoid ERISA's broad preemption of state law claims. See 29 U.S.C. § 1144(a) ([T]he provisions of [ERISA] shall supersede any and all State laws insofar as they may now or hereafter relate to any employee benefit plan....). Courts have recognized that Congress intended for the judiciary to develop and apply a federal common law to actions premised on the contractual obligations created by ERISA plans. See Whitworth Bros. Storage Co. v. Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Fund, 794 F.2d 221, 235-36 & n. 23 (6th Cir.1986). However, federal common law is developed under ERISA only in those instances in which ERISA is silent or ambiguous. See Muse v. International Bus. Machs. Corp., 103 F.3d 490, 495 (6th Cir.1996), petition for cert. filed, 65 U.S.L.W. 3666 (U.S. Mar. 25, 1997). Here, creation of a federal common law of unjust enrichment for plan beneficiaries seeking to recover benefits under a plan would be inconsistent with ERISA's terms and policies. See Morales v. Pan Am. Life Ins. Co., 914 F.2d 83, 87 (5th Cir.1990). Plaintiff essentially seeks the same relief in Count III as he seeks in Counts I and II, namely the benefits to which he believes he is entitled under the plans. ERISA provides him with a cause of action in § 1132(a)(1)(B). 22 With regard to Count IV, in which plaintiff seeks declaratory relief, plaintiff has merely asserted a form of relief, not a cause of action. Plaintiff is not entitled to this relief in the absence of a viable claim.