Bradford v. Life Insurance Co. of North America

49 F. Supp. 3d 789, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 125391, 2014 WL 4407703
CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Washington
DecidedSeptember 8, 2014
DocketNo. 13-CV-3109-TOR
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 49 F. Supp. 3d 789 (Bradford v. Life Insurance Co. of North America) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bradford v. Life Insurance Co. of North America, 49 F. Supp. 3d 789, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 125391, 2014 WL 4407703 (E.D. Wash. 2014).

Opinion

ORDER ON CROSS-MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

THOMAS O. RICE, District Judge.

BEFORE THE COURT are the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment (ECF Nos. 20 & 23). These matters were heard with oral argument on September 4, 2014. Lawrence J. Kuznetz appeared on behalf of the Plaintiff. Michael Reilly appeared telephonically on behalf of Defendant. The Court has reviewed the briefing and the record and files herein, and is fully informed.

BACKGROUND

This is an action to recover long-term disability benefits allegedly owing to Plaintiff under Section 502(a) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. § 1132(a). In the instant cross-motions, the parties ask the Court to review the administrative record de novo and resolve any factual disputes concerning Plaintiffs entitlement to benefits pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 52(a). For the reasons discussed below, the Court finds that Plaintiff is “disabled” within the meaning of Defendant’s policy and is therefore entitled to payment of benefits.

STANDARD OF REVIEW

The parties agree that the challenged benefits decision should be reviewed de novo. ECF No. 20 at 3; ECF No. 23 at 8. De novo review affords no deference to the plan administrator’s determination. McDaniel v. Chevron Corp., 203 F.3d 1099, 1108 (9th Cir.2000). The plaintiff has the burden of proof. Muniz v. Amec Const. Mgmt., Inc., 623 F.3d 1290, 1294 (9th Cir.2010).

The parties further agree that the Court should make findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 52(a) and enter judgment. ECF No. 23 at 9; ECF No. 24 at 10. In an ERISA action, review under Rule 52(a) entails a “bench trial on the record” using the materials considered by the plan administrator. Kearney v. Standard Ins. Co., 175 F.3d 1084, 1094-95 (9th Cir.1999) (en banc). Evidence outside the administrative record may only be considered when “circumstances clearly establish that it is necessary to conduct an adequate de novo review of the benefit decision.” [791]*791Ingram v. Martin Marietta Long Term Disability Income Plan for Salaried Emp. of Transferred GE Operations, 244 F.3d 1109, 1115 (9th Cir.2001) (quotation and citation omitted). The relevant inquiry under Rule 52(a) is not whether there are genuine issues of material fact, but whether the plaintiff “is disabled within the terms of the policy.” Kearney, 175 F.3d at 1095. The court must necessarily weigh conflicting evidence and resolve disputed factual issues. Id. Rule 52(a) further requires the court to “find the facts specially and state its conclusions of law separately.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 52(a)(1).

SUMMARY OF ADMINISTRATIVE RECORD

At all times relevant to these proceedings, Plaintiff Mark Bradford (“Plaintiff’) was insured under a disability insurance policy issued by Defendant Life Insurance Company of North America (“Defendant”). This policy provides for long-term disability (“LTD”) benefits to an insured who becomes “disabled.” The policy defines the term “disability” as follows:

An Employee is Disabled if, because of Injury or Sickness,

1. he/she is unable to perform all the material duties of his/her regular occupation, or solely due to Injury or Sickness, he/she is unable to earn more than 80% of his/her Index Covered Earnings; and
2. after Disability Benefits have been payable for 24 months, he/she is unable to perform all the material duties of any occupation for which he/she may reasonably become qualified based on education, training or experience, or solely due to Injury or Sickness, he/she is unable to earn more than 80% of his/her Indexed Covered Earnings.

ECF No. 17-7, Tr. 1192 (emphasis added).

Plaintiff began experiencing lower back pain in 1998. He subsequently underwent an L4-5 laminectomy in 1998, followed by an L4-5 fusion in 2000. These surgeries were not successful, and Plaintiffs pain became progressively worse over the next several years. Plaintiff took pain killers on a daily basis to manage his pain while he was at work. In September 2009, Plaintiffs back pain became so severe that he was unable to continue working. Plaintiff began taking sick leave and attempted to recuperate to the point that he could resume his normal work duties.

Plaintiff’s efforts to recuperate were unsuccessful. On February 23, 2010, Plaintiff filed an application for LTD benefits. The application states:

I began having low back pain and sciatica in 1998. I had two surgeries, in 1998 and 2000. I have had to take daily doses of painkillers in increasing amounts, as the years went on, simply to go to work. The rigors of my position at State Farm demanded many hours of driving, frequent travel [and] additional work in my office and home. Performing these duties caused severely increasing back and leg pain, which affected my work performance and personal life. In September of last year, I reached a point where I simply could no longer stand the pain, and was forced to take sick leave. Currently, I am incapable of sitting or lying on my back without the aid of a cushion. I can tolerate periods of standing, walking, or physical therapy up to a total of perhaps 2 hours per day without lying down, or taking prescription painkillers at a high level, which I do not wish to do.
Over the last 2 years, I have had MRI’s and bone scans, been referred to back specialists, and tried injections for potential nerve ablation, all to no avail.... I have been participating in physical [792]*792therapy for 5 months religiously, currently using water therapy. I do not know if I have scar tissue from prior surgeries, if there is a problem with the metal hardware in my spine, or suffer from spinal spondylosis. I only know that supporting my low back can only be done when I am lying down. All other activity eventually leads to intolerable pain and muscle spasms that can lead to days needed to recover.

ECF No. 17-5, Tr. 741.

On March 29, 2010, Plaintiffs treating physician, Dr. Allen Skidmore, completed a physical ability assessment form at Defendant’s request. Dr. Skidmore indicated that Plaintiff could. sit, stand and walk “occasionally,” i.e., for less than 2.5 hours and/or no more than one-third of an eight hour workday. ECF No. 17-4, Tr. 670. Attached to this form were treatment notes dating back to August 2009.

On July 1, 2010, Plaintiff underwent a functional capacities evaluation (“FCE”) at Defendant’s request at Summit Rehabilitation Associates.

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49 F. Supp. 3d 789, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 125391, 2014 WL 4407703, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bradford-v-life-insurance-co-of-north-america-waed-2014.