Alvis v. AT & T Integrated Disability Service Center

377 F. App'x 673

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
• Decided: April 27, 2010
• Docket: No. 09-16048
• Status: Published

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

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Appellant Robert D. Alvis (Alvis) appeals the district court’s decision granting summary judgment in favor of AT & T Integrated Disability Service Center (AT & T IDSC).

We have previously held that “[wjhen an administrator can show that it has engaged in an ongoing, good faith exchange of information between the administrator and the claimant, the court should give the administrator’s decision broad deference notwithstanding a minor irregularity.” Abatie v. Alta Health & Life Ins. Co., 458 F.3d 955, 972 (9th Cir.2006) (en banc) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted). AT & T IDSC consistently contacted Alvis and informed him that his additional evidence did not meet the disability plan requirements for demonstrating the existence of a disabling condition. Consequently, we conclude that AT & T IDSC engaged in the type of dialogue mandated by ERISA, and its decision is entitled to deference. See id.

We also conclude that AT & T’ IDSC’s decision was reasonable because, in denying Alvis’ claim, AT & T IDSC relied upon two independent physicians who reviewed all the medical records. See Montour v. Hartford Life & Accident Ins. Co., 588 F.3d 623, 629 (9th Cir.2009), as amended (“In the absence of a conflict, judicial review of a plan administrator’s benefits determination involves a straightforward application of the abuse of discretion standard .... [and] can be upheld if it is grounded on any reasonable basis.”) (citations and internal quotation marks omitted) (emphasis in the original).

AFFIRMED.

This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9th Cir. R. 36-3.