The Second Circuit concluded that a promissory estoppel claim by an out-of-network provider against an insurer was not completely preempted by ERISA and thus remanded the claim to state court for further proceedings. The provider’s claim was predicated on its assertion that the insurer made certain representations about coverage for the insured. The Court held
Preemption
Fourth Circuit Concludes That State Law Claims For Life Insurance Benefits Are Preempted
By Tulio Chirinos on
The Fourth Circuit recently concluded that a Sears employee’s state law claims seeking money damages based on denial of insurance benefits (for failure to submit evidence of insurability questionnaire) was preempted by ERISA. The Court explained that resolution of the state law claims required examining the plan to determine Sears’ obligations as plan administrator and…
State Law Claims for Short-Term Disability Benefits Not Preempted By ERISA
By Benjamin Saper on
A federal district court in Tennessee ruled that ERISA did not preempt state law claims for short-term disability benefits because the short-term disability plan fell under the “payroll practice” exception of ERISA. LeBlanc v. SunTrust Bank, No. 3:15-cv-00630 (M.D. Tenn. Aug. 24, 2015). SunTrust provided employees with short-term disability benefits for up to 25 weeks per injury or illness and required employees to be approved for the full 25-week period before they qualified for long-term disability benefits.
Sixth Circuit says ERISA does not preempt state law claim for fraudulent inducement.
By Aaron Feuer on
The Sixth Circuit recently held that ERISA did not preempt a plan participant’s claim for state law fraudulent inducement. McCarthy v. Ameritech Pub., Inc., No. 12-4510, 2014 WL 3930572 (6th Cir. 2014). Defendant-API’s decided to terminate Plaintiff’s employment and gave her two options: (1) she could leave and receive a lump-sum “termination payment”; or…