United States Fourth Circuit

Summary judgment for defendant-plan administrator upholding its denial of disability benefits to plaintiff, a covered employee, is vacated and remanded, where: 1) the language at issue in the plans is ambiguous and does not clearly confer discretionary decision-making authority on the plan administrator; 2) the administrator's eligibility determinations denying benefits to a covered employee are therefore subject to de novo judicial review, and the district court erred in reaching a contrary conclusion; and 3) the district court erred in concluding that defendant's group insurance plan requires objective proof of disability in order for an employee to qualify for plan benefits.

Appellate Information

• Decided 11/12/2013
• Published 11/12/2013

Judges

• KEENAN

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel