Hegarty
Hegarty v. AT & T Umbrella Benefit Plan No. 1
Opinion
Lead Opinion
Chen, J.
ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFF’S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND DENYING DEFENDANT’S CROSS-MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
I. INTRODUCTION
Plaintiff Frederick Hegarty brings this action for short-term disability (STD) benefits under 29 U.S.C. § 1132 (a)(1)(B), which provides civil claims against employee benefit plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Plaintiff contends that the employee benefit plan he is covered by, AT & T Umbrella Benefit Plan No. 1 (“Defendant”), wrongfully- denied his application for STD benefits. Currently pending before the Court are the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment. For the reasons discussed below, Plaintiffs motion is GRANTED and Defendant’s motion is DENIED.
*1252 II. BACKGROUND
A. Terms of the Disability Plan
At all times relevant to this action, Plaintiff was a Testing Technician at Pacific Bell Telephone Company, and was thus a participant in the AT & T West Disability Benefits Program (Disability Plan). Administrative Record (AR) at 3. The AT & T West Disability Benefits Program is a component program of AT & T Umbrella Benefit Plan No. 1. Docket No. 37-2, Joint Statement of Undisputed Material Facts…