Lydia Winz-Byone v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co

MEMORANDUM

Lydia Winz-Byone (“Winz-Byone”) appeals from a decision of the district court dismissing her action against Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) and the Park Water Company Long Term Disability Plan (“LTD Plan”). Specifically, Winz-Byone alleged that MetLife and the LTD Plan wrongfully terminated her long-term disability payments under the LTD Plan in violation of the Employee Retirement Security Act (“ERISA”). The matter was brought before the district court for decision on the motion of MetLife and the LTD Plan for summary judgment and the cross-motion of Winz-Byone for summary judgment. Also before the district court was a motion by Winz-Byone to augment the record. The district court granted MetLife and the LTD Plan’s motion for summary judgment and denied Winz-Byone’s motions.

The district court had jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331 and 29 U.S.C. §§ 1001 and 1132(e)(1). This Court has jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 .

“This appeal involves two different standards of review: one applying to our review of the district court’s decision, and the other concerning the standard that applies to court review of the ERISA plan administrator’s decision.”…