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Home > Blog > Blog > Long Term Disability > Ninth Circuit Finds ERISA Plan’s Procedural Error in Reviewing Claim for Disability Benefits Does Not Warrant Remand to the Plan

Ninth Circuit Finds ERISA Plan’s Procedural Error in Reviewing Claim for Disability Benefits Does Not Warrant Remand to the Plan

In Dimry v. Bert Bell/pete Rozelle NFL Player Ret. Plan, No. 20-17049, __F.App’x__, 2021 WL 3509349 (9th Cir. Aug. 10, 2021), a dispute over total and permanent disability benefits under ERISA, the Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle NFL Player Retirement Plan, The NFL Player Supplemental Disability Plan, and the plan administrator (“the Plan”) appealed a second favorable judgment to Charles Dimry and Dimry cross-appealed. The trial court determined that the Plan did not give Dimry a full and fair review and mandated “objective evidence” which is not required by the Plan. The court ordered a remand to the Plan for reconsideration.

The Ninth Circuit agreed with the district court that the Plan violated the requirement of “a meaningful dialogue between ERISA plan administrators and their beneficiaries.” Booton v. Lockheed Med. Ben. Plan, 110 F.3d 1461, 1463 (9th Cir. 1997). On remand after the first judgment in Dimry’s favor, the Plan did not inform Dimry that it was reopening the record to obtain a report from the Plan’s Medical Director, Dr. Allen Jackson. Excluding Dimry from the process following remand was procedural error. The court found that this error prevented the full development of the administrative record and that the district court should determine whether Dimry is entitled to benefits. Notably, both parties agreed that if a remand was necessary that the court should not remand to the Plan. Following Ninth Circuit precedent, the district court should decide Dimry’s entitlement to benefits.

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*Please note that this blog is a summary of a reported legal decision and does not constitute legal advice. This blog has not been updated to note any subsequent change in status, including whether a decision is reconsidered or vacated. The case above was handled by other law firms, but if you have questions about how the developing law impacts your ERISA benefit claim, the attorneys at Roberts Disability Law, P.C. may be able to advise you so please contact us.

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