United States Second Circuit

A Summary Plan Description (SPD) was defective for omitting a critical restriction on plaintiff's eligibility for survivor income benefits as a domestic partner. Requiring plan participants or beneficiaries to show detrimental reliance to recover for a deficient SPD contravenes ERISA's objective to promote distribution of accurate SPDs to employees.

Appellate Information

• Decided 07/17/2003
• Published 07/17/2003

Judges

• MCLAUGHLIN, Circuit Judge., Before:  MINER, McLAUGHLIN and POOLER, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Second Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• George A. Schell,Schell & Schell, P.C., Fairport, N.Y. (Jennifer M. Hoeling, on the brief), for Plaintiff-Appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Eric J. Ward, Ward Norris Heller & Reidy, LLP, Rochester, N.Y. (Heather D. Kenny, of counsel), for Defendants-Appellees.