Hyde

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

This is an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) action for recovery of long-term disability benefits. Plaintiff Beverly Hyde (“Plaintiff’) seeks benefits under a group insurance policy (the “Policy”) issued to Time Warner Inc. and its participating subsidiaries, including Warner Bros., by Hartford Life Insurance Company (“Hartford”). On November 10, 2008, following the filing of the Administrative Record and briefing by the parties, the Court, sitting without a jury, conducted a bench trial. Having considered the materials submitted by the parties and reviewed the evidence, the Court makes the following findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 52(a):

I. Factual and Procedural Background

Plaintiff was employed as an executive secretary at Warner Bros, until August 1998. (Administrative Record (“AR”) 721.) In April 1999, she submitted a claim for long term disability benefits as a result of bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (“CTS”). (AR 721-27.) As part of her claim, Plaintiffs employer prepared an “Employer’s Statement” which requested information concerning the physical aspects of…