Tremain

OVERVIEW

Petitioner Steffany Tremain (“Tremain”) brought suit against Bell Industries, Inc. (“Bell Industries”); Bell Industries, Inc. Long Term Disability Plan (“the Bell Plan”); and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MetLife”) (collectively, “the Defendants”). Tremain claimed the Defendants wrongfully terminated her long-term disability payments under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. § 1001 , et seq. In addition, Tremain asserted claims for breach of fiduciary duty under 29 U.S.C. §§ 1105 , 1109(a) and 1132(a)(2) and claims for current and retroactive benefits under 29 U.S.C. § 1132 (a)(1)(B). The district court granted the Defendants’ motion for summary judgment as to all of Tremairis claims. Tremain appeals the district court’s judgment only as to her claims under 29 U.S.C. § 1132 (a)(1)(B).

Tremain contends the district court erred in applying the arbitrary and capricious standard to review MetLife’s decision to terminate her long-term disability benefits. Tremain also contends the district court erred in refusing to consider evidence outside the administrative record. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 . We reverse the…