George v. Reliance Standard Life Ins. Co.

After RSL denied plaintiff's claim for long-term disability benefits, plaintiff, a helicopter pilot with an amputated leg, filed suit under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), 29 U.S.C. 1132(a)(1)(B). The district court held that the evidence supported RSL's determination that plaintiff's depression and PTSD contributed to his Total Disability. Therefore, RSL did not abuse its discretion by determining that the Exclusion Clause limited plaintiff's right to benefits. Declining to consider whether plaintiff carried his burden to show a right to benefits, the court held that RSL abused its discretion when it determined that plaintiff was not Totally Disabled where there was no evidence to show that he could earn a substantially similar salary in another position. Further, there is no rational connection between the fact that plaintiff can do sedentary work and the conclusion that he could earn a substantially similar salary in any alternative position. The court also held that RSL abused its discretion when it determined that the Exclusion Clause limited plaintiff's right to benefits, and when it affirmed RSL's determination on this basis. Accordingly, the court reversed and remanded, rendering judgment for plaintiff. View "George v. Reliance Standard Life Ins. Co." on Justia Law