Graeber
Graeber v. Hewlett Packard Co. Employee Benefits Organization Income Protection Plan
Opinion
Opinion
Breyer, J.
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
This ERISA lawsuit challenges the termination of plaintiffs long-term disability benefits.
BACKGROUND
A. The ERISA Plan
This is a dispute about coverage under the Agilent Technologies, Inc. Disability Plan (“the Plan”). The Plan provides that
Plan § 8(a), Administrative Record (“AR”) at 25. The Plan, in turn, gives the Claims Administrator discretion in reviewing denied claims:
Id. § 8(c)(iii), AR at 26.
The Plan provides benefits to Plan Members who become “Totally Disabled” as follows:
Id. § 2(s), AR at 8 (emphasis added). Thus, after one year of disability the Plan Member may receive benefits only if he cannot perform any occupation, not just his own occupation. Totally disabled includes disability resulting from a mental disorder only if the employee is confined to a hospital for a prolonged period of time. Id. § 2(s)(A), AR at 9. Benefits cease whenever the Claims Administrator determines that the employee is no longer Totally Disabled. Id. § 5(c)(1), AR at 15.
The Plan also provides for “Transitional Return to Work” during the first year (the first 52-week period). The Member may return to work at Agilent or one of its subsidiaries on a…