Duvall

ORDER

Plaintiff has brought suit under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) seeking review of the insurance claim administrator’s determination of her entitlement to benefits. The parties have cross-moved for judgment under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 52. The court resolves the motion on the papers and after oral argument. For the reasons stated herein, the court grants defendant’s motion and denies plaintiffs.

I. FACTS

A. Defendant’s Long-Term Disability Plan

Plaintiff was a registered nurse employed by Marshall Medical Center and insured through her employer for group disability coverage by defendant. ICR at 234-35, 238. Among other things, the plan provided income replacement for eligible persons upon “total disability from sickness or injury.” Id. at 238. “Total disability” is given a specific definition in the plan. First, it only encompasses disability arising from “injury or sickness.” Id. at 246. Where a total disability is “caused by or contributed to by mental or nervous disorders,” the claimant is only entitled to benefits for twenty-four months, unless the claimant is in a hospital or institution at the end of that time. Id. at 257. These include…