Opinion ID: 715734
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: ERISA Informational Request Claim

Text: 19 The district court granted Defendants' motion to dismiss Plaintiff's informational request claim because only the Retirement and Welfare Plans, rather than the Board (the plan administrator), were parties to the action. 2 Aplt.App. 10521. ERISA requires plan administrators to respond to informational requests by plan participants. 29 U.S.C. § 1024(b)(4). Any administrator who fails or refuses to comply with a request ... may in the court's discretion be personally liable to such participant ... in the amount of up to $100 a day.... Id. 1132(c). Such causes of action may be brought only against designated plan administrators, rather than the plan itself or the employer. See McKinsey v. Sentry Ins., 986 F.2d 401, 403 (10th Cir.1993). ERISA defines administrator as the person specifically so designated by the terms of the instrument under which the plan is operated. 29 U.S.C. § 1002(16)(A)(i). 20 The language of § 1132(c) and § 1002(16)(A)(i) is unambiguous and admits of no other interpretation. Because the Retirement Plan specifically designates the Board as its administrator, 1 Aplt.App. 10189, the Board is the only party liable to Plaintiff under 29 U.S.C. § 1132(c). We affirm the district court's determination that Plaintiff cannot maintain this claim against Defendants as they are not designated administrators under ERISA. Accordingly, we need not reach the district court's further holding, citing Moothart v. Bell, 21 F.3d 1499, 1506 (10th Cir.1994), that even if Plaintiff were allowed to proceed against Defendants under § 1132(c), his claims would fail as a matter of law due the lack of evidence of either resultant prejudice or bad faith, see 2 Aplt.App. 10521. 21