United States Fourth Circuit

In case seeking equitable relief under ERISA for breach of fiduciary duties by engaging in improper claims procedures to deny claims for long-term disability, judgment on the pleadings for defendant is affirmed, because adequate relief for plaintiff is available through review of individual benefits claim under 29 U.S.C. section 1132(a)(1)(B) and relief under section 1132(a)(3) will not lie.

Appellate Information

• Argued 10/26/2006
• Decided 12/13/2006
• Published 12/13/2006

Judges

• Before WILKINSON, NIEMEYER, and WILLIAMS, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:  John Bucher Isbister, Tydings & Rosenberg, Baltimore, Maryland, for Appellant.  Kathleen Mary McKenna, Proskauer & Rose, L.L.P., New York, New York, for Appellee.   ON BRIEF:  Jason Newfield, Justin Frankel, Frankel & Newfield, P.C., Garden City, New York;  Edward O. Comitz, Andrew S. Friedman, Bonnett, Fairbourn, Friedman & Balint, P.C., Phoenix, Arizona;  Lawrence J. Quinn, Tydings & Rosenberg, Baltimore, Maryland, for Appellant.  Stephanie L. Marn, Proskauer & Rose, L.L.P., Washington, D.C.;  Tracey Rogers, Proskauer & Rose, L.L.P., New York, New York, for Appellee.