Butler v. New York State Teamsters Conference Pension & Retirement Fund
Butler v. New York State Teamsters Conference Pension & Retirement Fund
Opinion of the Court
SUMMARY ORDER
Appellants Jerry Butler and James G. Harris appeal from a February 16, 2005 judgment granting appellee’s motion for summary judgment and dismissing appellants’ complaint under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq. We assume the parties’ familiarity with the factual background of the case, its relevant procedural history and the issues on appeal.
This Court reviews orders granting summary judgment de novo, focusing on whether the district court properly concluded that there was no genuine issue of material fact and that the moving party was entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law. See Miller v. Wolpoff & Abramson, L.L.P., 321 F.3d 292, 300 (2d Cir. 2003).
We agree with the district court that, based on the language in the plan document, the arbitrary and capricious standard of review applies to the Board of Trustees’ calculations of appellants’ benefits. Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. v. Bruch, 489 U.S. 101, 115, 109 S.Ct. 948, 103 L.Ed.2d 80 (1989) (holding that an arbitrary or capricious standard of review applies when an ERISA plan gives fiduciary or administrator discretionary authority to determine eligibility for benefits or to construe terms of plan). The only disputed issue raised by the appellants in challenging the Board’s calculation is whether the Board improperly calculated their benefits under a 1997 plan agreement that postdated their time of service, based on letters from the appellee indicating that
The appellants further contend that the appellee should be subject to sanctions for engaging in intentional deception by failing to provide Butler with a copy of the 1997 plan agreement upon request. However, the record supports the district court’s conclusion that the appellee made a good-faith effort to comply with Butler’s requests.
For the reasons discussed, the judgment of the district court is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.