Sunderlin v. First Reliance Standard Life Insurance

235 F. Supp. 2d 194
CourtDistrict Court, W.D. New York
DecidedNovember 4, 2002
DocketNo. 00-CV-6253
StatusPublished

This text of 235 F. Supp. 2d 194 (Sunderlin v. First Reliance Standard Life Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, W.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Sunderlin v. First Reliance Standard Life Insurance, 235 F. Supp. 2d 194 (W.D.N.Y. 2002).

Opinion

DECISION AND ORDER

SIRAGUSA, District Judge.

INTRODUCTION

This is an action pursuant to the Employee Income Retirement Security Act (ERISA) 29 U.S.C. 1001 et seq. The following motions are now before the Court: 1) a motion [# 79] by defendants ENI, Inc. Long Term Disability Plan (“the Plan”) and ENI Technology, Inc. (“ENI”), to dismiss plaintiffs Second Amended Complaint; and 2) a motion [# 86] by defendant First Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company (“First Reliance”) for summary judgment against plaintiff and for dismissal of the cross-claim by ENI pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6). For the reasons that follow, the motion by ENI and the Plan is denied in its entirety, and First Reliance’s motion is denied as to plaintiff but granted as to ENI. Moreover, plaintiff is granted summary judgment as to liability only on her first cause of action, and is granted summary judgment on her second, third, and fourth causes of action.

MOTION TO DISMISS/SUMMARY JUDGMENT STANDARD

It is well settled that in determining a motion to dismiss under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) for “failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted,” a district court must accept the allegations contained in the complaint as true and draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmov-ing party. Burnette v. Carothers, 192 F.3d 52, 56 (2d Cir.1999). The Court “may dismiss the complaint only if it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief.” Id. (internal quotations omitted)(citing Conley v. Gibson, 355 U.S. 41, 45-46, 78 S.Ct. 99, 2 L.Ed.2d 80 (1957)).

If, on a motion to dismiss, “matters outside the pleading are presented to and not excluded by the court, the motion shall be treated as one for summary judgment and disposed of as provided in Rule 56, and all parties shall be given reasonable opportunity to present all material made pertinent [226]*226to such a motion by Rule 56.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(c).

The standard for granting summary judgment is also well established. Summary judgment may not be granted unless “the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.CivP. 56(c). A party seeking summary judgment bears the burden of establishing that no genuine issue of material fact exists. See, Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 157, 90 S.Ct. 1598, 26 L.Ed.2d 142 (1970). “[T]he movant must make a prima facie showing that the standard for obtaining summary judgment has been satisfied.” IT Moore’s FedeRal PRACTICE, § 56.11[l][a] (Matthew Bender 3d ed.). Once that burden has been established, the burden then shifts to the non-moving party to demonstrate “specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e); Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 250, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). To carry this burden, the non-moving party must present evidence sufficient to support a jury verdict in its favor. Id. at 249, 106 S.Ct. 2505. The parties may only carry their respective burdens by producing evi-dentiary proof in admissible form. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(e). The underlying facts contained in affidavits, attached exhibits, and depositions, must be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. U.S. v. Diebold, Inc., 369 U.S. 654, 655, 82 S.Ct. 993, 8 L.Ed.2d 176 (1962). Summary judgment is appropriate only where, “after drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of the party against whom summary judgment is sought, no reasonable trier of fact could find in favor of the non-moving party.” Leon v. Murphy, 988 F.2d 303, 308 (2d Cir.1993).

While in the instant case, plaintiff did not file a cross-motion for summary judgment, it is well settled that

summary judgment may be rendered in favor of the opposing party even though he has made no formal cross-motion under Rule 56. A motion for summary judgment searches the record. If undisputed facts are found which, when applied to the law, indicate that judgment against the moving party is appropriate, Rule 56(c) will operate to grant summary judgment in favor of the non-moving party.

Dempsey v. Town of Brighton, 749 F.Supp. 1215, 1220 (W.D.N.Y.1990) (citations omitted), affirmed sub. nom Curenton v. Town of Brighton, 940 F.2d 648 (2d Cir.1991), cert denied, 502 U.S. 925, 112 S.Ct. 338, 116 L.Ed.2d 278 (1991).

BACKGROUND

Defendant ENI Technology, Inc. is the sponsor of an employee welfare benefit plan to provide disability insurance for its employees. In that regard, ENI contracted with defendant First Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company to provide long-term disabihty benefits to the Plan’s participants. Plaintiff Terry R. Sunderlin is an employee of ENI and a participant in the Plan. In November 1995, plaintiff became disabled and began receiving disabihty benefits. In June 1996, plaintiff returned to work at ENI on a part-time basis. On May 25, 1999, First Reliance denied plaintiff any further benefits. At the suggestion of her doctor, plaintiff then retained an attorney and sought to appeal the denial of benefits by First Reliance. Before filing an appeal, plaintiffs counsel requested, on June 30, 1999 and August 10, 1999, that First Rehance provide him [227]*227with certain Plan documents, but First Reliance did not.

On July 22, 1999, First Reliance informed plaintiffs counsel that the Plan administrator was Linda Almekinder, an employee of ENI. On July 27, 1999, plaintiffs counsel wrote to Ms. Almekinder, requesting a copy of the Summary Plan Description (“SPD”). This letter was returned, with a notation that Ms. Almekin-der no longer worked at ENI. On July 27, 1999, plaintiffs counsel again wrote to ENI, requesting a copy of the SPD. Plaintiffs letter expressly stated that it was a “request for a copy of the Plan’s Summary Plan Description.” (Perticone Affidavit, Exhibit 2). On August 9, 1999, ENI sent plaintiffs counsel a copy of the disability insurance policy issued by First Reliance. The insurance policy is the only document which plaintiff ever received in response to her request for a summary plan description.

On August 25, 1999, plaintiff filed an appeal with First Reliance.

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235 F. Supp. 2d 194, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/sunderlin-v-first-reliance-standard-life-insurance-nywd-2002.