Burke

I.

BACKGROUND

A. Facts

Burke was hired by Pitney Bowes Management Services (“Pitney”) as a sales employee in December 1995 and quali- fied for coverage under Pitney’s Long-Term Disability Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan is subject to the requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq. The Plan’s Employee Benefits Committee (the “Committee”) is responsible for the Plan’s general administration,1 while Pitney’s Disability and 1 The record does not disclose the Committee’s makeup, but the parties argue the case on the assumption that it is a “management” committee controlled by the employer and we accept that assumption. BURKE v. PITNEY BOWES 13303 Benefits Department is delegated the day-to-day responsibili- ties. The Committee is the final decision-maker regarding benefits eligibility.

Benefits paid out by the Plan come from the Plan’s Trust, which is funded in part by Pitney and in part by employee contributions. The Committee has the authority to determine the amounts of the employer and employee contributions to the Trust, but it is unclear from the record what portion of the Trust is funded by the…