Aleda Hoffman v. U.S. West Inc., a Colorado Corporation

8 F.3d 27 NOTICE: Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3 provides that dispositions other than opinions or orders designated for publication are not precedential and should not be cited except when relevant under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, or collateral estoppel. Aleda HOFFMAN, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. U.S. WEST INC., a Colorado Corporation, Defendant-Appellee. No. 92-35087. United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Submitted Sept. 2, 1993. * Decided Sept. 29, 1993. 1 Before: WALLACE, WRIGHT and NOONAN, Circuit Judges 2 MEMORANDUM ** 3 Aleda Hoffman sued her late husband's employer, U.S. West, Inc., claiming that the company arbitrarily and capriciously denied her ERISA death benefits. The district court granted summary judgment for U.S. West. Aleda Hoffman appealed, and we now AFFIRM. FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS 4 Aleda Hoffman's husband, Lee Hoffman, was employed by U.S. West Communications, Inc., a subsidiary of U.S. West, Inc. On August 29, 1988, Lee Hoffman committed suicide. 5 At the time of her husband's death, Aleda Hoffman had moved out of the home she shared with her husband and was living in an apartment with her daughter from a previous marriage, Kelly. This living…