Facts

Ly Nguyen sued RTS Packaging LLC's Consolidated Pension Plan, and RTS Packaging LLC, in connection with her husband's death.

PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
Plaintiff alleged that her husband, Kenneath Boatright, was under a pension plan with defendant. After his death, plaintiff applied for survivor benefits under the company's plan. However, defendant informed her that she was ineligible because only surviving spouses who had been married to an eligible employee for one year or more qualified to receive survivor benefits. Plaintiff then sued defendants for denying her claims for benefit under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

DEFENDANTS' CONTENTIONS:
Defendant contended that a review of Boatright's records indicated that he and plaintiff had not been married for one year or more. Consequently, plaintiff did not qualify for survivor benefits, and denied her claim on this basis.

Defendants moved for summary judgment.

Result

The court found that defendant's decision to deny Nguyen's claim for survivor benefits was supported by undisputed evidence. Moreover, the court found that RTS did not abuse its discretion in denying Nguyen's claim, and upheld the claim denial.

Other Information

FILING DATE: Aug. 9, 2012.