United States Eighth Circuit

Court properly applied a less deferential standard of review to the plan administrator's decision to deny benefits based on procedural irregularities in defendant's handling of plaintiff's claim; all evidence indicated plaintiff's decedent's death was accidental and the administrator erred in denying plaintiff's claims for accidental death benefits.

Appellate Information

• Decided 06/18/2004
• Published 06/18/2004

Judges

• MAGNUSON, District Judge., Before LOKEN, Chief Judge, BYE, Circuit Judge, and MAGNUSON, District Judge.

Court

• United States Eighth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• Counsel who presented argument on behalf of the appellant/cross-appellee was James R. Garrison of St. Louis, Missouri.   Also appearing on the brief was Robert D. Andrekanic., Counsel who presented argument on behalf of the appellee/cross-appellant was Kenton Ernst Knickmeyer of St. Louis, Missouri.   Also appearing on the brief was Michael D. O'Keefe.