Opinion ID: 1377995
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: We review de novo the district court's ruling, applying the same legal standard as the district court. Whitaker v. Hartford Life & Accident Ins. Co., 404 F.3d 947, 949 (6th Cir.2005). Here, the district court appropriately applied the arbitrary-and-capricious standard of review because the benefit plan granted the ERISA plan administrator discretionary authority to interpret the terms of the plan and to determine eligibility for benefits. See Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. v. Bruch, 489 U.S. 101, 115, 109 S.Ct. 948, 103 L.Ed.2d 80 (1989); see also Glenn v. MetLife, 461 F.3d 660, 666 (6th Cir.2006). Under the arbitrary-and-capricious standard, we will uphold a plan administrator's decision if it is the result of a deliberate, principled reasoning process and if it is supported by substantial evidence. Baker v. United Mine Workers of Am. Health & Ret. Funds, 929 F.2d 1140, 1144 (6th Cir.1991). However, as we have repeatedly stated, the federal courts do not sit in review of the administrator's decisions only for the purpose of rubber stamping those decisions. Moon v. Unum Provident Corp., 405 F.3d 373, 379 (6th Cir. 2005).