Spiteri v. Liberty Life Assurance Co.
Spiteri v. Liberty Life Assurance Co.
Opinion of the Court
SUMMARY ORDER
UPON DUE CONSIDERATION, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that the judgment of the district court be AFFIRMED.
We review Liberty’s denial of benefits directly, and must affirm unless that decision was arbitrary and capricious, that is, “ ‘without reason, unsupported by substantial evidence or erroneous as a matter of law.’ ” Celardo v. GNY Auto. Dealers Health & Welfare Trust, 318 F.3d 142, 145-46 (2d Cir. 2003) (quoting Pagan v. NYNEX Pension Plan, 52 F.3d 438, 442 (2d Cir. 1995)). Substantial evidence is “such evidence that a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support the conclusion reached by the [plan administrator.]” Id. (quotation marks omitted).
Liberty’s determination that Spiteri was ineligible for further benefits because he was not “disabled,” as that term is defined in the policy, was not arbitrary and capricious.
We have considered Spiteri’s remaining claims and find them to be without merit. For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.