Snow v. Boston Mutual Insurance

915 F. Supp. 2d 1273, 55 Employee Benefits Cas. (BNA) 1287, 2013 WL 151142, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5587
CourtDistrict Court, M.D. Alabama
DecidedJanuary 15, 2013
DocketCase No. 3:11-cv-813-MEF
StatusPublished

This text of 915 F. Supp. 2d 1273 (Snow v. Boston Mutual Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Alabama primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Snow v. Boston Mutual Insurance, 915 F. Supp. 2d 1273, 55 Employee Benefits Cas. (BNA) 1287, 2013 WL 151142, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5587 (M.D. Ala. 2013).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

MARK E. FULLER, District Judge.

Before the Court are (1) Plaintiff Dorothy Snow’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. # 31), and (2) Defendant Boston Mutual Insurance Company’s Motion for Summary Judgment (Doc. # 32). For the reasons set forth below, the Court finds that Plaintiffs motion is due to be DENIED, and Defendant’s motion is due to be Granted in part and denied IN PART.

I. INTRODUCTION

This is an ERISA1 case involving two distinct claims for relief brought by Plaintiff Dorothy Snow (“Plaintiff’ or “Snow”), the widow and designated beneficiary under a life insurance policy issued to James Francis Snow (“Mr. Snow”), against Boston Mutual Insurance Company (“Boston Mutual” or “Defendant”) and Mr. Snow’s former employer, Meadowcraft, Inc. (“Meadowcraft”), for the payment of certain life insurance benefits. Count I of Plaintiffs Amended Complaint alleges that Boston Mutual wrongfully denied payment of approximately $115,000 in life insurance benefits in violation of 29 U.S.C. § 1132(a)(1)(B). Count II of Plaintiffs Amended Complaint asserts an alternative claim for equitable relief under 29 U.S.C. §§ 1132(a)(3) and 1133 based upon Boston Mutual’s breach of certain fiduciary duties it purportedly owed to Plaintiff as a Plan Administrator and claims adjudicator.

Plaintiff and Boston Mutual have filed cross-motions for summary judgment, each arguing in their briefs that they are entitled to judgment as a matter of law on both of Plaintiffs claims. Specifically, Plaintiff argues that: (1) under the terms of the policy at issue, and in accordance with 29 U.S.C. § 1132(a)(1)(B), she is entitled to approximately $115,000 in life insurance benefits as a matter of law; and (2) Boston Mutual breached certain fiduciary duties that it owed to her, thus entitling Plaintiff to equitable relief under 29 U.S.C. §§ 1132(a)(3) and 1133. Boston Mutual disagrees with Plaintiff, arguing that: (1) under the terms of the policy at issue, and in accordance with 29 U.S.C. § 1132(a)(1)(B), Boston Mutual is not obligated to pay any life insurance benefits to Plaintiff because her husband was not cov[1275]*1275ered under the policy at the time of his death; and (2) Boston Mutual neither owed nor breached any fiduciary duties to Plaintiff that would entitle her to equitable relief under 29 U.S.C. §§ 1132(a)(3) and 1133.

In sum, this case boils down to two issues. First, does Boston Mutual owe Plaintiff any life insurance benefits under the policy at issue? Second, did Boston Mutual owe any fiduciary duties to Plaintiff and, if so, did it breach any of those duties, thereby entitling Plaintiff to any of the equitable remedies she seeks? Each of these issues is addressed in turn below.

II. JURISDICTION AND VENUE

The court has subject matter jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331 (federal question) and 29 U.S.C. § 1132(e)(1) (ERISA). The parties do not contest personal jurisdiction or venue, and the court finds sufficient factual bases for both.

III. SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD

A. Summary Judgment Standard

A motion for summary judgment looks to “pierce the pleadings and to assess the proof in order to see whether there is a genuine need for trial.” Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). A court should grant summary judgment when the pleadings and supporting materials show that no genuine issue exists as to any material fact and that the moving party deserves judgment as a matter of law. Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). The party moving for summary judgment “always bears the initial responsibility of informing the district court of the basis for its motion, and identifying” the relevant documents that “it believes demonstrate the absence of a genuine issue of material fact.” Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986). To shoulder this burden, the moving party can present evidence to this effect, or it can show that the non-moving party has failed to present evidence in support of some element of its case on which it ultimately bears the burden of proof. Id. at 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548.

If the moving party meets its burden, the non-movant must then designate, by affidavits, depositions, admissions, or answers to interrogatories, specific facts showing the existence of a genuine issue for trial. Jeffery v. Sarasota White Sox, Inc., 64 F.3d 590, 593-94 (11th Cir.1995). A genuine issue of material fact exists when the non-moving party produces evidence that would allow a reasonable fact-finder to return a verdict in his or her favor. Waddell v. Valley Forge Dental Assocs., 276 F.3d 1275, 1279 (11th Cir.2001). Thus, summary judgment requires the non-moving party to “do more than simply show that there is some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts.” Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586, 106 S.Ct. 1348. Indeed, a plaintiff must present evidence demonstrating that he can establish the basic elements of his claim, Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, because “conclusory allegations without specific supporting facts have no probative value” at the summary judgment stage. Evers v. Gen. Motors Corp., 770 F.2d 984, 986 (11th Cir.1985).

A court ruling on a motion for summary judgment must believe the non-movant’s evidence. Anderson, 477 U.S. at 255, 106 S.Ct. 2505. It also must draw all justifi[1276]*1276able inferences from the evidence in the non-moving party’s favor. Id.

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915 F. Supp. 2d 1273, 55 Employee Benefits Cas. (BNA) 1287, 2013 WL 151142, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5587, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/snow-v-boston-mutual-insurance-almd-2013.