Ashley

ORDER RE: DEFENDANT’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

I. Introduction

Plaintiffs complaint alleges a single cause of action for denial of benefits pursu ant to the terms of an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) plan. Defendant brings the present motion for summary judgment, arguing that the decision to deny benefits was neither arbitrary nor capricious and, therefore, that its decision must be upheld as a matter of law.

II. Factual Background

Plaintiff Marsha Ashley (“Ashley”) was an at-will employee of defendant Morton International, Inc. (“Morton”) from 1980 until she was terminated in 1997. At the time of her termination, Ashley was a Human Resources/Office Manager for Morton. While plaintiff makes allegations of discrimination and other improper motives for her termination, her first amended complaint states a single claim, brought under ERISA, for recovery of benefits due under the terms of a pension plan. Ashley alleges that, at the time of her termination, she was entitled to payment of $15,384.60 pursuant to the terms of Morton’s Separation Allowance Policy. In addition, she alleges that by terminating her prior to the end of the fiscal year, Morton…