Robert T. Darden v. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company and Nationwide Life Insurance Company

MURNAGHAN, Circuit Judge:

Robert Darden appeals from the decision of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina granting summary judgment for defendant Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company on Darden’s claim for retirement benefits on the basis of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. § 1001, et seq.

I

From 1962 until November 1980, Darden acted as an insurance agent for Nationwide Insurance Company in Fayetteville, North Carolina. During that period, Darden represented Nationwide exclusively. While Darden enjoyed a substantial degree of…