Simonia

DECISION AND JUDGMENT

I

INTRODUCTION

On December 12, 2007, Plaintiff Aleck Simonía (“Simonía”) filed suit against Glendale Nissan/Infiniti Disability Plan, an ERISA (“Plan”), and the Hartford Insurance Company (“Hartford”) (collectively, “Defendants”).

This is an ERISA action for long-term disability (“LTD”) benefits pursuant to a benefit plan established by Simonia’s employer, Glendale Nissan/Infiniti (“Glendale”). The Plan was funded by a group disability insurance policy purchased effective July 1, 2001 by Glendale from Continental Casualty Company (“Continental”). In 2003, Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company purchased 100 percent of the issued and outstanding stock of Continental. In that same year, Continental’s name was changed to Hartford Life Group Insurance Company. In 2006, Hartford Life Group Insurance Company merged with Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company, and Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company became the surviving entity.

Hartford administered Glendale’s employees’ claims under the terms of the Continental policy.

Simonía alleges that Hartford improperly denied his claim for LTD benefits under the Plan.

A bench trial was held on…