You already know that ERISA plans frequently delegate discretionary authority to an administrator or fiduciary to make benefit decisions.

When reviewing the claim decision, courts may examine whether the ERISA Plan administrator properly designated authority to a claims administrator to make benefit decisions for the Plan.

If the delegation of authority is not done according to a process set forth in the ERISA Plan for designating administrators, the Court will apply the de novo standard of review, even if the Plan called for an abuse of discretion standard of review.

So, how can you be sure the Plan correctly designated fiduciary authority in claims decisions? This new case shows how to confirm when the Plan has properly delegated fiduciary duties.

Key Takeaways: (1) Follow the fiduciary designation process set out in the Plan; (2) know that a general delegation of fiduciary duties is not enough; (3) be able to establish that the delegation applies to the specific claim at issue.

Here’s the case of Hampton v. National Union, 2020 WL 5946967 (N.D. Ill. October 7, 2020)(The court applied de novo review, rather than the abuse of discretion standard of review, because “[t]he Plan Administrator did not properly delegate fiduciary duty to National Union… “[I]t is not enough to find that the insurer acted as a plan fiduciary generally; the Court must determine if it acted as a fiduciary regarding the claim at issue.”.”)

FACTS:  Hampton, a Boeing employee, died following a car accident and his wife sought ERISA-governed accidental death benefits. After the Claims Administrator, AIG Claims, concluded Hampton’s death resulted from natural causes, National Union denied the claim. A lawsuit seeking benefits followed. At issue in this case was what standard of review applied. Hampton argued that the abuse of discretion standard should not apply because Boeing’s Plan Administrator did not properly delegate authority to National Union.

ISSUE: Whether the Boeing ERISA Plan Administrator Properly Delegated Authority to National Union?

DISTRICT COURT HELD:  NO. “The Plan Administrator did not properly delegate fiduciary duty to National Union.”

1. “ERISA benefit determinations are generally fiduciary acts.” Op. at 4.

2. “‘Classifying any entity with discretionary authority over benefits determinations as anything but a plan fiduciary would thus conflict with ERISA’s statutory and regulatory scheme.’” Op. at 4.

3. The Plan and the Summary Plan Description conflicted on whether National Union had authority to make claim determinations. Op. at 6.

  • National Union contended it had been delegated authority because Boeing’s Summary Plan Description (SPD) identified National Union as “the service representative” for both the basic and supplemental accidental death and dismemberment policies….” Op. at 5-6.
  • “The SPD does not explicitly refer to [National Union’s duties of day-to-day administration and insurance coverage decisions] as fiduciary duties in nature. Yet… [the Boeing Plan] plainly purported to delegate fiduciary authority to National Union. Op. at 5.

4. But “it is not enough to find that the insurer acted as a plan fiduciary generally; the Court must determine if it acted as a fiduciary regarding the claim at issue.” Op. at 5.

5. “The problem…is that the Plan provides a specific method for delegating authority to a service representative, whereas the SPD does not.” Op. at 6.

6. The Boeing Plan provides that “When the [Boeing] Plan and the SPD conflict, the SPD stipulates that the [Boeing] Plan trumps the SPD.” This is consistent with Seventh Circuit precedent. Op. at 6.

7. The Plan set for a process for delegation of fiduciary duties. It required that delegation of duties be “in writing, approved by majority vote.” Op. at 7.

8. National Union never “alleged nor offered any evidence indicating that the Plan Administrator conformed with these procedures.” Op. at 6. As a result, National Union lacked requisite authority to deny Hampton’s claim. Op. at 7. The court then applied de novo review, rather than the abuse of discretion standard of review.

You already know that an ERISA plan recipient may recover attorney fees when prevailing in an action to enforce rights under the plan.

But to win attorney fees, the claimant must show:

  • “[success] on [a] significant issue of litigation which achieves some of the benefit…sought in bringing the suit…’”
  • something more than “‘trivial success on the merits’ or a ‘purely procedural victory….’”

SO… what IS “trivial success on the merits” or a “purely procedural victory”?

This new decision explains when courts deny attorney fee motions by claimants, when cases are remanded. Woolsey v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., Cause No. CV-18-00578-PHX-SMB (D. AZ. August 4, 2020)(Court denied plaintiff’s motion for fees after remanding the case for “procedural irregularities.”)

FACTS: Plaintiff Woolsey initially obtained ERISA-governed short term disability benefits. Aetna later discontinued those benefits, and denied long term disability benefits. Plaintiff sued, seeking benefits, and moved for summary judgment.

The District Court, concluding that Aetna’s claim denial was “generally on solid ground,” denied Plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment but “remanded the case to Aetna to remedy” a “few [procedural] irregularities”.

The “procedural irregularities” found by the Court were:

  1. Aetna’s assessment of the claim “was made without a specialist’s initial consultation clinical notes”;
  2. Aetna failed to address Plaintiff’s specific vocational requirements;
  3. Aetna failed to communicate in sufficient detail how Plaintiff could perfect his appeal;
  4. Aetna’s reviewers failed to consider the cumulative effects of his claimed conditions.” Op. at 2.

Plaintiff moved for an award of attorney fees, claiming Woolsey had succeeded on a “significant issue of litigation which achiev[ed] some of the benefit sought in bringing the lawsuit.”

ISSUE: Whether Plaintiff was entitled to attorney fees when the District Court remanded the claim to Aetna to “remedy” a “few procedural irregularities”?

DISTRICT COURT HELD: NO — Attorney Fees DENIED.

1. “A[n] [ERISA] plan recipient who prevails in an action to enforce rights under the plan is ordinarily entitled to a reasonable attorney’s fee if the participant ‘succeed[s] on any significant issue of litigation which achieves some of the benefit…sought in bringing the suit…’”. Op. at 3.

2. “A claimant does not satisfy that requirement by achieving ‘trivial success on the merits’ or a ‘purely procedural victory….’” Op. at 3. (Emph. added).

3. “[G]iven the particular circumstances here, Plaintiff’s claim constitutes no more than “purely procedural victory” that falls short of what Hardt requires.” Op. at 3.

4. “Plaintiff’s claim here [does] not compel the conclusion that Plaintiff achieved “some success on the merits.” Op. at 4.

Have a great Labor Day Weekend!

You already know that denials of ERISA-governed disability benefits are reviewed under a de novo standard unless the benefit plan gives the administrator discretionary authority to determine eligibility for benefits or to construe the terms of the plan.

But courts sometimes override this grant of discretionary review and apply de novo review when there is a conflict of interest (the administrator both decides and funds the benefit) and there were procedural irregularities in the claims process.

So, what is a “procedural irregularity,” and how bad does the procedural irregularity have to be to change the standard of review from discretionary review to de novo review? The circuits are not consistent on this.

This new case highlights the point: McIntyre v. Reliance Standard Life Ins. Co., 2020 WL 4951028 (8th Cir. August 25, 2020)(Even though there was evidence of “conflict of interest”, Reliance Standard’s procedural irregularity of failing to issue the appeal decision within ERISA regulation timelines did not justify applying de novo standard. “[A]n administrator [d]eciding an appeal after a prescribed deadline is obviously not a wholesale failure to act on an appeal.” (Emph. added))(Other circuits recognize “decisional delay” as a factor justifying application of de novo review).

FACTS: McIntyre, a long-time nurse employed by the Mayo Clinic, suffered from a degenerative neurological disorder. From 2011-2016 she received ERISA-governed disability benefits, until Reliance Standard concluded she could perform sedentary jobs, and discontinued benefits under the “Any Occupation” provision. The plan had discretionary language.

McIntyre filed an administrative appeal. Reliance Standard denied the appeal 154 days later, well beyond the 45 day timeframe under the old [pre-2017] ERISA regulations. 29 CFR 2560.503-1(i)(2009).

McIntyre sued and argued the de novo standard should apply due to conflict of interest and procedural irregularities — “decisional delay.”

District Court Held: De novo standard applies because of a “palpable conflict of interest,” and because there were “procedural irregularities.”

8th Circuit Court of Appeals HELD: REVERSED — District Court incorrectly applied the de novo review standard.

  1. “The district court erred in treating a [mere] conflict of interest as a trigger for de novo review rather than simply as a factor in determining whether Reliance abused its discretion.” Op. at 11.
  2. “The district court erred in relying on the [mere] presence of a conflict of interest to justify de novo review.” Op. at 5.
  3. With regard to whether the conflict of interest changes the standard of review, the district court incorrectly relied on Woo v. Deluxe Corp., 144 F.3d 1157, 1160 (8th Cir. 1998) in light of Metro Life Ins. v. Glenn, 554 U.S. 105, 115-6 (2008).
  4. Reliance Standard failed to issue its benefit denial within the prescribed 45-day regulatory timeframe. BUT this “procedural irregularity” of “decisional delay” alone does not justify changing from the abuse of discretion standard to de novo standard. Op. at 13.
  5. An administrator’s wholesale failure to act on an appeal can trigger de novo review….” Op. at 13.  But “an administrator [d]eciding an appeal after a prescribed deadline is obviously not a wholesale failure to act on an appeal.” Op. at 13. (Emph. added).

You know that many states ban discretionary language in ERISA plans.  This issue tees up litigation over what state law will apply –the choice of law issue.

This new case is a good read because it provides helpful analysis when litigating choice of law issues: the structure of the plan may help win choice of law issues.

Choice of law decisions may be more favorable when the employer’s plan is part of a trust with a Master Policy covering participating members over many states.

Earle v. UNUM Life Ins. Co. of America, CV 19-2903-JFW (C.D. CA. July 23, 2020)(Employer was member of trust with thousands of employer/members over 39 states — California resident sought California law to apply; court applied Maine law to make sure decisions (over 39 states) were made uniformly — abuse of discretion standard applied).

Kudos to Nicole Blohm and her team at Meserve for a nice win…

FACTS: In March 2017, Earle, an operating room nurse residing in California, fell and claimed at the time only that she had “cut her finger on the rail.”  Earle later claimed, but did not report until August 2017, that she experienced vision impairment after her fall. Five months after her fall she consulted with doctors who concluded she had cataracts, and macular holes in her eye which impaired her vision. The physician opined the macular hole was caused when her “head violently jerked backwards” during her fall months earlier.  There also were complications during her subsequent retinal surgery.  Earle made an Accidental Bodily Injury claim under the ERISA-governed plan.

UNUM denied her accidental bodily injury claim because: (1) “macular holes can occur spontaneously without any apparent cause”; (2) there was no evidence claimant’s head jerked violently in her fall; (3) it is “very unlikely” one would experience a macular hole from violent head jerking anyway; and (4) Earle’s current impaired vision likely was a result of pre-existing conditions and complications during her retinal surgery.

Earle did not see it that way…. and brought suit, arguing that California’s ban on discretionary language required de novo review. UNUM argued Maine law should apply because (at the time) Maine had no ban on discretionary language in plans.

DISTRICT COURT HELD: Applying Maine law and discretionary review: UNUM correctly denied the accidental bodily injury claim.

  1. Choice of Law—Applying Discretionary Review Standard.
    • “Where a choice of law is made by an ERISA contract, it should be followed, if not ‘unreasonable or fundamentally unfair.”  Op. at 12.
    • The Court applied Maine’s law (which at the time did not ban discretionary language in ERISA plans).  The court did not apply California law which banned discretionary language. “[T]he Court concludes that it would not be ‘unreasonable or unfair’ to enforce the Maine choice of law provision in the Summary of Benefits.”  Op. at 13.
    • The employer subscribed to the Trust, which conferred discretion with Unum. “The purpose of the trust’s structure is to support consistent life and ADD coverage for hundreds of thousands of employees who are employed by tens of thousands of employers across thirty-nine states and Washington D.C….[A]pplying the laws of one governing jurisdiction, Maine, Unum ensures that the… benefits insured by the Master Policy are uniformly administered….”  Op. at 13.
  1. Interpreting ERISA policies in the Ninth Circuit.
    • In the Ninth Circuit, when interpreting ERISA policies, the “doctrine of reasonable expectations” applies.  Op. at 14.
    • In assessing pre-existing conditions, if the language in the policy is conspicuous, then the “substantially caused” standard applies. Op. at 15.
    • That means the pre-existing condition “‘must be more than merely a contributing factor’ and that a relationship of ‘undetermined degree is not enough.’”  Op. at 15.
    • The terms and provisions regarding coverage were conspicuous. (The Court cites helpful cases and provides insightful analysis on this issue.)

3.  Unum did not abuse its discretion when it concluded that Earle’s loss of sight in her right eye was not “substantially caused by her” fall.  Op. at 17.

4.  Even if Earle’s fall contributed to her vision loss, Unum did not abuse its discretion when it concluded that Earle’s preexisting condition and retinal surgery substantially contributed to her loss of sight.  Op. at 18.

ERISA preemption of state law claims is today’s topic…

This issue comes up more frequently now with managed care organizations creating networks of doctors or preferred providers, and the issue that arises is: at what rate should the insurer pay for services provided by out-of-network health care providers.

And what happens when the insurer expressly agrees to pay the out-of-network provider, before services are rendered?

Does ERISA preempt the breach of contract claim brought by the out-of-network provider?  NO

The Third Circuit just addressed this issue of first impression this way:

“What remedies are available to an out-of-network healthcare provider when an insurer agrees to pay for the provision of services that are not otherwise available in-network and then reneges on that promise?”

Plastic Surgery Center v. Aetna Life Insurance Company, __ F.3d __, 2020 WL 4033125 (3rd Circuit July 17, 2020)(Out-of-network health care provider’s breach of contract and promissory estoppel claims not preempted by ERISA, but unjust enrichment claim was preempted by ERISA.)

FACTS: Aetna was the insurer of an ERISA-governed health plan for various employers. JL needed breast reconstruction and DW needed “facial reanimation”—both medical procedures were not available “in-network.” Both patients were referred to Plastic Surgery Center of New Jersey (PSC), an out-of-network provider. During phone calls between Aetna and PSC, Aetna agreed to pay “a reasonable amount” for breast reconstruction services, and the “highest in-network” level pay for facial reanimation.

After PSC performed these services, Aetna refused to pay. Instead of paying $292,742 for the breast reconstruction, Aetna paid $95,534.  Instead of paying $420,750 for facial reanimation, Aetna paid $40,230. PSC then brought suit alleging breach of contract, unjust enrichment and promissory estoppel. Aetna argued those claims were preempted by ERISA.

ISSUE (as phrased by the Court): “What remedies are available to an out-of-network healthcare provider when an insurer agrees to pay for the provision of services that are not otherwise available in-network and then reneges on that promise?”

3rd CIRCUIT HELD: Breach of contract and promissory estoppel claims not preempted by ERISA; unjust enrichment claim preempted by ERISA

  1. Many insurers have inserted anti-assignment provisions in ERISA plans. Anti-assignment provisions place out-of-network providers in the unenviable position of having to “bill[] the beneficiary directly” and, should payment not be forthcoming, of having either to “rely on the beneficiary to maintain an ERISA suit or to sue the beneficiary directly.”  Op. at 16.
  2. Anti-assignment provisions are enforceable. Op. at 16.
  3. “In response [to anti-assignment provisions], out-of-network medical providers like [PSC] have attempted to secure a new foothold—a promise of payment from the insurer in advance of any services. And that, in turn has given rise to a different class of claims for non-payment—common law claims…including breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and promissory estoppel.” Op. at 16.
  4. Common law claims like breach of contract “could not be brought under section 502(a) [by JL or DW] because Aetna’s alleged liability would flow not from the plans, but from an independent agreement reached between [PSC] and Aetna….”  Op. at 17.
  5. PSC’s common law claims for breach of contract and promissory estoppel are not preempted by ERISA because PSC “has plausibly pleaded breach of contract and promissory estoppel claims that do not ‘relate to’ ERISA plans….”  Op. at 18.
  6. PSC’s common law claims for breach of contract and promissory estoppel plausibly seek to enforce obligations independent of the ERISA plan.  Op. at 20.
  7. PSC’s common law claims for breach of contract and promissory estoppel “do not require interpretation or construction of ERISA plans.”  Op. at 26.
  8. PSC’s common law claims for breach of contract and promissory estoppel “do not have a ‘connection’ with ERISA plans.”  Op. at 31.
  9. “As pleaded, [PSC’s common law breach of contract and promissory estoppel] claims do not interfere with the administration of either plan.”  Op. at 35.
  10. “Holding [PSC’s common law claims preempted by ERISA] would undercut ERISA’s purposes.”  Op. at 37.
  11. However, PSC’s unjust enrichment claim IS preempted by ERISA because the benefit conferred “is not the provision of the healthcare service per se, but rather the discharge of the obligation the insurer owes to its insured.”  The benefit conferred is premised on the ERISA plan. Op. at 41-42.

 

You already know about the contractual limitations provision in disability policies. The provision works to bar untimely lawsuits. 

So, it is no surprise that the interpretation/application of these provisions has been the subject of significant litigation.

Here’s a short new case concluding the contractual limitations provision was “unambiguous,” and dismissing the claim as untimely. Kuber v. Prudential Insurance Company of America, 2020 WL 3542308 (11th Cir. June 30, 2020).

FACTS:  Kuber stopped working due to disability on September 18, 2012. Prudential paid disability benefits until January 2015, when his benefits were exhausted. After various administrative appeals, Kuber filed suit December 28, 2018, asserting a breach of contract claim. (This claim was not governed by ERISA.)

The Prudential policy stated that “[Kuber] can start legal action regarding his claim 60 days after proof of claim has been given and up to 3 years from the time proof of claim is required.”  The policy also required that Kuber provide proof of claim “no later than 90 days after [his] elimination period ends.”

ISSUE: Whether Kuber’s claim was time-barred by the contractual limitations provision?

DISTRICT COURT HELD: Kuber’s claim was time-barred by the contractual limitations provision.

11th CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS HELD:  AFFIRMED

  1. Choice of law: “Sitting in diversity, we apply the forum state’s choice-of-law rules to decide whether a choice of law provision applies…. We see nothing in Florida policy that conflicts with Delaware law here.  So Delaware law governs our analysis of the limitation provision.”  Op. at 4.
  2. Enforcement of the contractual limitations provision: “The policy’s limitation provision is unambiguous….[I]n a normal case (like this one) the three year clock starts running 90 days after his elimination period ends. And that time limitation is reasonable here.”  Op. at 5.
  3. “Applying the limitation provision’s plain meaning, we reach the same conclusion as the district court.  Kuber allegedly stopped working September 18, 2012.  His elimination period ended 180 days later—March 17, 2013.  The policy thus obligated him to provide proof of claim 90 days after that—June 15, 2013.  Skip three years and you land on June 15, 2016.  Kuber filed suit in December 28, 2018—over 30 months late.  His claim is time-barred.”  Op. at 5. 

 

This just in….

On May 4, 2020, The Department of Labor (DOL), the Department of the Treasury, and the Internal Revenue Service issued the final ruling, linked here final ruling that “extend[s] certain timeframes otherwise applicable to group health plans, disability and other welfare plans, pension plans, and their participants and beneficiaries under ERISA and the Code.”

This email focuses solely on changes and extensions made to the timeframes for participants to exercise rights pertaining to certain medical and disability claims and appeals of denied claims.

 Key Take Away: Administrators will be expected to extend the time for claimants to file a claim, or appeal a claim, and must disregard days during the “Outbreak Period.” “Outbreak period” means fromMarch 1, 2020 until 60 days following the announced end of the COVID-19 national emergency.”

How do you comply with these temporary rule changes? Examples are provided, below.   

NOTE: For purposes of these examples, below, an assumed end date for the National Emergency was needed to make the examples clear and understandable. Accordingly, the Examples assume that the National Emergency ends on April 30, 2020, with the Outbreak Period ending on June 29, 2020 (the 60th day after the end of the National Emergency). To the extent there are different Outbreak Period end dates for different parts of the country, the Agencies will issue additional guidance regarding the application of the relief in this document.

EXAMPLE:  Extended time for claims for medical treatment under a group plan.  Participant “is a participant in a group health plan. On March 1, 2020, Individual D received medical treatment for a condition covered under the plan, but a claim relating to the medical treatment was not submitted until April 1, 2021. Under the plan, claims must be submitted within 365 days of the participant’s receipt of the medical treatment. Was Individual D’s claim timely? (ii) Conclusion. Yes. For purposes of determining the 365-day period applicable to Individual D’s claim, the Outbreak Period is disregarded. Therefore, Individual D’s last day to submit a claim is 365 days after June 29, 2020, which is June 29, 2021, so Individual D’s claim was timely.”

 EXAMPLE:  Extended time for filing an internal appeal— disability plan. Claimant “received a notification of an adverse benefit determination from Individual E’s disability plan on January 28, 2020. The notification advised Individual E that there are 180 days within which to file an appeal. What is Individual E’s appeal deadline? (ii) Conclusion. When determining the 180-day period within which Individual E’s appeal must be filed, the Outbreak Period is disregarded. Therefore, Individual E’s last day to submit an appeal is 148 days (180-32 days) following January 28 to March 1) after June 29, 2020, which is November 24, 2020.”

 

As you know, many states have imposed statutes which affect which standard of review governs ERISA claim decisions.

Many policies include a “choice of law” provision, setting forth which state law will govern the standard of review. 

But what happens when the policy does not have a “choice of law” provision?

How does the court determine which state law governs the standard of review in ERISA claims?

This new case provides practitioners with an excellent review of the deliberative process courts will undertake in determining which state law governs the standard of review. Byerly v. Standard Insurance Co., 2020 WL 1451543 (E.D. Texas March 25, 2020).

FACTS: Byerly, a Texas resident employed by a Florida-based employer, stubbed his toe on some furniture. Due to complications with diabetes and arterial disease, doctors ultimately had to amputate part of his leg. Byerly then sought ERISA-governed accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) benefits.

Standard denied the claim, concluding the amputation was caused by “sickness” which is excluded under the policy: the amputation “was not caused solely and directly by an accident independently of other causes.”

Byerly brought suit in Texas alleging wrongful denial of benefits. At issue was what standard of review should be applied:  The standard authorized under Florida or Texas law? (Florida would have allowed a more favorable standard of review for the insurer).

DISTRICT COURT HELD, applying 5th Circuit and 11th Circuit precedent: Florida law applied to the ERISA claim brought by a Texas resident.

  1. “When jurisdiction is predicated upon the diversity of the parties before the court, “[a] federal court is required to follow the choice of law rules of the state in which it sits.” Op. at 16.
  2. “[W]hen exercising federal question [ERISA] subject matter jurisdiction, [courts] should apply ‘federal common law choice of law principles’[.]”  Op. at 16.
  3. “Federal common law follows the approach of the Restatement (Second) of Conflicts of Laws.”  Op. at 17.
  4. Key factors. In insurance contract cases, in the absence of a choice of law provision, the court considers: (a) the place of contracting; (b) the place of negotiation of the contract; (c) the place of performance; (d) the location of the subject matter of the contract; and (e) the domicile, residence, nationality, place of incorporation of business of the parties.  “If the place of negotiating the contract and the place of performance are in the same state, the local law of this state will usually be applied.”  Op. at 19.  The Court also considers “Section 6” principles.
  5. Application of the factors.
  • Place of contracting. The contract was entered into with a Florida employer and an Oregon insurer, using negotiators from Georgia and Florida. This favored application of Florida law. Op. at 20.
  • Place of performance. “The place of performance of a life insurance contract is the state where the premiums are made payable, even if the contract was made in another state.”  “[T]he fact that the premiums were paid in Florida to an Oregon company trumps Byerly’s involvement (applying for benefits in Texas). The place of performance factor favors Florida. Op. at 22.
  • Location of subject matter of contract. “The subject matter of a life insurance contract is the life of the insured.”  This factor favors application of Texas law. Op. at 22.
  • Domicil, Residence, Place of Incorporation.  “The domicil of the insured is a contact of particular importance in the case of life insurance contracts.” The principal place of business of the employer and Standard Insurance is Florida and Oregon, respectively.  Byerly is a Texas resident. “[T]he Court is still unpersuaded that the final factor favors Texas.  The majority of the members to this contract are not incorporated in Texas….”  Op. at 23.
  • Section 6 principles of the Restatement. (The Court applied a number of these factors, some of them are highlighted here.)
    • needs of interstate systems. The federal ERISA scheme “is the most important consideration for the Court.” Op. at 24.
    • relevant policies of the forum state and other states.   “Florida’s interest in the Group Policy, relative to Texas’ interest [to protect its citizens] seems persuasive to the Court.” Op. at 24.
    • justified expectations of the parties. “If any law is favored, it is the Florida law.”  Op. at 25.

This opinion is worth reading as it outlines the arguments one should make when contesting the choice of law to be applied to a claim.

You know that ERISA requires that the claimant receive “adequate notice in writing…setting forth the specific reasons for such denial, written in a manner to be understood by the participant.”

But what is “adequate notice,” and what is the remedy if the ERISA claimant received inadequate notice?

And… is the ERISA claimant entitled to “discovery” when litigating the interpretation of a contractual term? 

This new case highlights these points. Martinez v. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2020 WL 415145, __ F.3d __ (1st Cir. January 27, 2020)(Sun Life provided adequate notice, but barring Sun Life from asserting the provision would not be the proper remedy anyway; the Court did not abuse its discretion in denying Martinez discovery because “[i]t is unclear how discovery would help elucidate the plain meaning of an unambiguous contract term.”) 

FACTS: Martinez, honorably discharged from the military in 1992, worked for Athens Group and was eligible for ERISA-governed disability benefits. In November 2012,  he sought disability benefits due to physical restrictions related to Multiple Sclerosis. Sun Life approved the claim. In 2013 Martinez also sought service-connected disability compensation pursuant to the Veteran’s Benefits Act. The Veterans Administration awarded benefits as well.

The Sun Life policy calls for offsets related to “Other Income Benefits,” which included workers compensation benefits and benefits arising out of “Compulsory Benefit Act or Law.”

Martinez contended Sun Life improperly offset payments under his disability policy by the amount of his service-connected disability compensation (“Veterans Benefits”). Martinez argued: (1) Sun Life failed to give proper notice of the reason for offset; (2) the “Other Income Benefits” offset provision was ambiguous; and (3) Sun Life was discriminating against him because he was a veteran, in violation of the Uniformed Service Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (“USERRA”).

The district court determined Sun Life properly offset the Veterans Benefits.

FIRST CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS HELD: AFFIRMED

  1. Sun Life’s communications to Martinez complied with ERISA requirements that it “provide adequate notice in writing…setting forth the specific reasons for such denial, written in a manner to be understood by the participant.” Op. at 10. “Although Sun Life at times highlighted other rationales for the offset,  it indicated to Martinez on multiple occasions that it intended to rely on the ‘Compulsory Benefit Act or Law’ provision.”  Op. at 10.
  2. “[E]ven if Sun Life had not adequately disclosed its rationale to Martinez, barring Sun Life from raising the ‘Compulsory Benefit Act or Law” provision now would not be the proper remedy in this case….We typically have only barred a plan from asserting defenses to coverage not articulated to the insured when the lack of notice resulted in prejudice to the insured.”  Op. at 11.
  3. “Given that this case is strictly one of contract interpretation—a question of law—and Martinez had a full opportunity to present his arguments on construction of the Plan’s provisions, we could find no prejudice to Martinez even had Sun Life not adequately advanced its present argument in the initial denial.”  Op. at 11-12.
  4. The Court did not abuse its discretion in denying Martinez discovery because “[i]t is unclear how discovery would help elucidate the plain meaning of an unambiguous contract term.”  Op. at 12, fn 3.
  5. “There is nothing ambiguous about the term ‘Compulsory Benefit Act or Law’”.  Op. at 13. “[T]he only reasonable interpretation of ‘Compulsory Benefit Act or Law’ is a law that requires benefits be paid to any applicant who meets its qualifying criteria.”  Op. at 18.
  6. The Court dismissed the USERRA claim because there were no factual allegations “suggesting that Sun Life was motivated to apply the “Other Benefits” provision to him because he was receiving military-related benefits.” Op. at 25 (Emph. added).

What happens when the Social Security Administration issues a disability finding after the ERISA administrator has issued the decision denying disability benefits?

Is the ERISA administrator obligated to reevaluate the record based on this new finding? No.

Should the Court consider this as “evidence” in a subsequent lawsuit?  No.

This new case highlights the point. Ortiz v The Hartford, 2019 WL 5697784 (D. New Mexico November 4, 2019)(“[W]hen Social Security decisions arise after the close of the ERISA record, there is nothing for the administrator to assess, and the administrator needn’t reevaluate the ERISA claim.”)(attached).

FACTS: Plaintiff received disability benefits due to fibromyalgia and degenerative joint disease from February 2014 to September 6, 2016.  At that time Hartford determined, based on three medical reviewers, that she could perform jobs under the “any occupation” standard. Plaintiff later received a favorable decision for Social Security disability benefits. The plan conferred discretionary authority to Hartford.

ISSUE: Whether the Court should consider a Social Security Administration disability determination rendered after the close of the record for the administrative decision?

DISTRICT COURT HELD: NO

  1. “Hartford fairly and thoroughly evaluated Ortiz’s medical history at the end of the two-year period under the any occupation standard.”  Op. at 3
  2. Hartford produced an “Employability Analysis Report” based on information from Ortiz’s physician and found based on those physical restrictions she could perform three positions, including case aide, referral clerk and gate guard.  Op. at 3.
  3. Plaintiff argued that her treating physician’s opinions “should carry additional weight.” But the Court determined that the three independent doctors considered the treating physician’s opinions.  Besides that,  the Tenth Circuit has held that the conflicting opinion of the primary doctor is “not in and of itself a basis for reversal.”  Op. at 3.
  4. The Court concluded that it did not need to consider the later Social Security decision. Hartford’s decision came one year before the Social Security judgment.  When the administrator’s decision occurs prior to the Social Security disability decision, it cannot take the latter information into account. Op. at 3
  5. “[W]hen Social Security decisions arise after the close of the ERISA record, there is nothing for the administrator to assess, and the administrator needn’t reevaluate the ERISA claim.”  Op. at 4.