LaMantia v. Hewlett-Packard Co. Employee Benefits Organization Income Protection Plan

MEMORANDUM *

Karen LaMantia (“LaMantia”) appeals the district court’s summary judgment for the defendant. Under the relevant disability-benefits plan (“the Plan”), an independent claims administrator, Voluntary Plan Administrator (“VPA”), determines whether a claimant qualifies for benefits. LaMantia seeks review of VPA’s denial of her petition for long-term benefits, asserting that this denial was an abuse of the VPA’s discretion.

Abatie v. Alta Health & Life Insurance Co., 458 F.3d 955 (9th Cir.2006), filed the day before argument in this appeal, fundamentally changed how we review…