Schane v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union Local No. 710 Pension Fund Pension Plan

Record failed to support defendant-pension plan’s rationale for denying plaintiff-retiree’s request for $2,900 monthly pension benefit and for allowing plaintiff only $2,600 monthly benefit. Language of pension plan was ambiguous as to definition of “retirement date,” and plaintiff’s interpretation, which required that he cease both “covered employment,” as well as certain activities listed in plan in order to be deemed retired, was only reasonable interpretation of said term. Moreover, defendant failed to give adequate reason of its interpretation of “retirement date” that would deem plaintiff’s retirement at cessation of covered employment or cessation of activities listed in plan. As such plaintiff was entitled to greater amount of pension benefit based on his interpretation of plan’s language.