Pearson

Pearson v. Northwest Airlines, Inc.

Good Law

659 F. Supp. 2d 1084·2009 WL 3164428·2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94999

United States District Court, Central District of CaliforniaOctober 4, 2009Case EDCV 09-257(SGL)(RCx)California4,808 words

Opinion

Larson, J.

ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANTS’ MOTION TO DISMISS

Plaintiff Veronica Pearson (“plaintiff’ or “Pearson”) filed this suit on February 6, 2009 against the Northwest Airlines, Inc. Long-Term Disability Income Plan (“the Plan”), American General Assurance Company (“AGAC”), and five unnamed Does (collectively “defendants”), alleging a breach of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). Before the Court is defendants’ motion to dismiss, which forces the Court to examine the terms of the Plan contract, and the intersection of ERISA and the Railway Labor Act (“RLA”).

I. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

From 1994 through 2004, Pearson was employed by Northwest Airlines (“Northwest”) as a ramp worker at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Compl. ¶ 2. As an employee of Northwest and a member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Union-District 143, Pearson participated in the Plan, an employee welfare benefit plan sponsored by Northwest, and created pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement (“the CBA”), paying premiums out of her paycheck. Compl. ¶3. The Plan is administered by Northwest Airlines, and claims are administered by AGAC. Compl.…

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