Bellah

Bellah v. American Airlines, Inc.

Good Law

656 F. Supp. 2d 1207·2009 WL 2777317·2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 75408

United States District Court, Eastern District of CaliforniaAugust 25, 2009CIV. S-08-0066 FCD GGHCalifornia5,001 words

Opinion

Damrell, J.

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER

This matter is before the court on defendants American Airlines, Inc.’s (“AA”) and Met Life’s motion for summary judgment pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56. Plaintiff Barbara Bellah (“plaintiff’ or “Bellah”) opposes defendants’ motions. The court heard oral argument on the motions on August 21, 2009. For the reasons stated herein, defendants’ motions are GRANTED.

BACKGROUND

Plaintiff Bellah worked as a flight attendant for Trans World Airlines, Inc. (“TWA”) from 1985 until 2001. (MUF ¶ 1; AUF ¶ 1.) In 1997, during' Bellah’s TWA employment, International Association of Machinists (“IAM”), the TWA Flight Attendant’s Union, applied, negotiated, and contracted for Long Term Disability (“LTD”) benefits for its flight attendant members from a company known as American Bankers Life Assurance Company (“ABLAC”). (DF ¶ 2.) Plaintiff enrolled herself in the ABLAC LTD Plan, which was effective from October 1,1997 through November 30, 2001. (See AUF ¶ 13.)

TWA filed for Title 11 Bankruptcy on January 10, 2001. (AUF ¶ 1.) Defendant AA purchased certain of TWA’s assets in April 2001 and incorporated those assets into a company known as TWA LLC. (MUF ¶ 2; AUF…

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