Lamantia v. Hewlett-Packard Co. Employee Benefits Organization Income Protection Plan
Lamantia v. Hewlett-Packard Co. Employee Benefits Organization Income Protection Plan
Opinion of the Court
MEMORANDUM
This is the third time we address the issues in this ERISA disability case. We first held that the district court should have applied abuse of discretion review rather than de novo review because the plan gave Voluntary Plan Administrators (“VPA”) “the discretionary power to construe the language of the Plan” and there was good faith communication between the claims administrator and Plaintiff-Appellant Karen LaMantia. LaMantia v. Voluntary Plan Administrators, 401 F.3d 1114, 1123 (9th Cir. 2005) (“LaMantia I”). On the second appeal, we remanded this case for the district court to reconsider its decision in light of an intervening en banc decision, Abatie v. Alta Health & Life
The district court correctly found no procedural irregularities apparent in the record that would warrant a less deferential standard of review under Abatie. LaMantia’s assertion that VPA’s final denial of her claim was inconsistent with its initial denial is not born out by the record: In its initial denial, VPA stated, “there is no supporting data to indicate your subjective symptoms are a result of an organic impairment [of Fibromyalgia].” The final denial stated that there was no evidence that “Ms. LaMantia’s functional ability was limited to the point of precluding performance of sedentary or light work based on chronic bronchitis and fibromyalgia.... ”
Both the initial denial and final denial recognized treatment for depression and chronic fatigue syndrome, which are not covered conditions under the Plan. The only difference between the two denials is that the latter denial acknowledges symptoms of Epstein Barr Virus (“EBV”), which the Plan does not cover. As the district court properly concluded, “[t]he conclusion of both findings were essentially the same: there was insufficient evidence that plaintiff suffered from Fibromyalgia.”
Nor is there evidence of “doctor shopping”; the medical reports simply reflect a resolution of conflicting diagnoses. The weighing of conflicting expert testimony is appropriate. See Black & Decker Disabil. Plan v. Nord, 538 U.S. 822, 831-34, 123 S.Ct. 1965, 155 L.Ed.2d 1034 (2003); Jordan v. Northrop Grumman Corp. Welfare Benefit Plan, 370 F.3d 869, 878 (9th Cir. 2004). Although VPA requested additional documentation from some of LaMantia’s treating physicians and not others, LaMantia bore the burden of producing all of the evidence she wanted VPA to review.
LaMantia argues that Hewlett-Packard has control over VPA because it has the right to override or veto any benefit or eligibility decision made by VPA, and because Hewlett-Packard may require VPA to review claims in accordance with its own interpretation. However, these are factors related to whether or not there exists a structural conflict, which in LaMantia I we already determined did not exist, and there is no evidence that these factors had any impact on this particular case. A less deferential standard of review is not warranted under Abatie.
The VPA did not abuse its discretion in determining that LaMantia was not totally disabled and denying her petition for long-term benefits. While conflicting evidence exists, the VPA’s assertion that LaMantia has EBV and chronic fatigue syndrome is supported by medical evidence, such as Dr. Herman’s and Dr. Argesti’s reports. Dr. Argesti’s report that LaMantia was disabled due to chronic bronchitis, fibromyalgia, and immune deficiency syndrome does not include a statement of how these conditions interfere with LaMantia’s work, and it was within VPA’s discretion to conclude that LaMantia was physically able to perform some occupations for which she was qualified. Plan administrators do have the discretion to choose between conflicting diagnoses. See Jordan, 370 F.3d at 878.
LaMantia argues that the district court erred in failing to consider doctors’ reports outside the administrative record. The reports were written after August 24, 2001, the date the VPA issued its decision denying LaMantia’s claim. These reports
AFFIRMED.
This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.