Aschermann v. Aetna Life Ins. Co.

Dist. Ct did not err in granting defendants-plan administrator’s and insurance company’s motion for summary judgment in ERISA action alleging that defendants wrongfully denied plaintiff’s application for long-term disability benefits pursuant to terms of employer’s disability plan even though plaintiff claimed that her back condition limited her ability to work for only four hours per day. Defendants’ denial was not arbitrary or capricious where decision was based on opinions of three doctors who believed that plaintiff could perform full-time sedentary work, and plan administrator could delegate decision to third-party even though right to delegate was not contained in plan. Fact that plaintiff’s doctor rendered contrary opinion did not require different result. Ct. also rejected plaintiff’s contention that defendants failed to provide her with sufficient basis for its denial so as to give her adequate notice of need to generate new medical evidence to support her internal appeal of denial.