United States Third Circuit

Dismissal of an action alleging defendant's negligence in determining that a tube was "medically unnecessary," is affirmed where the suit is completely preempted by the civil enforcement provision of ERISA; remanded to determine whether preemption similarly applies to a hospital discharge claim.

Appellate Information

• Argued 03/14/2003
• Decided 10/15/2003
• Published 10/15/2003

Judges

• Before BECKER, Chief Judge,RENDELL and AMBRO, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Third Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• James I. Devine, (Argued), Norristown, PA, for Appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Jonathan B. Sprague, Post & Schell, Philadelphia, PA, Roy T. Englert, Jr., (Argued), Robbins, Russell, Englert, Orseck & Untereiner, Washington, DC, for Appellee Aetna U.S. Healthcare., Michael O. Pitt, James P. Kilcoyne & Associates, Plymouth Meeting, PA, for Appellees Michael Picariello, Sarah Fowler, Ear Nose & Throat Assoc. of Chester County, Inc., Cathy A. Wilson,White & Williams, Paoli, PA, for Appellee Chester County Hospital.