Legal Opinion

Bernice Sokol v. Jacob L. Bernstein, M.D.

Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Decided October 28, 1986No. 85-6357PublishedCited by 112 opinions

1Opinion of the Court

ORRICK, District Judge:

The chief question presented in this case is whether a beneficiary of a pension plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. §§ 1001 et seq., can recover extra-contractual damages, such as damages for emotional distress, caused by the arbitrary and capricious acts of the trustee of the plan. We hold that such extra-contractual damages cannot be recovered, and hence we reverse and remand.

I

Plaintiff-Appellee, Bernice Sokol, is the widow of Defendant-Appellant Jacob Bernstein’s partner in medical practice. She is the sole…

2Cases cited9 opinions

Cort v. AshSupreme Court of the United States · 1975
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance v. RussellSupreme Court of the United States · 1985
Transamerica Mortgage Advisors, Inc. v. LewisSupreme Court of the United States · 1979
The Sommers Drug Stores Co. Employee Profit Sharing Trust, Cross-Appellant v. Corrigan Enterprises, Inc. And Walter N. Corrigan, Cross-AppelleesCourt of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · 1986
Fentron Industries, Inc. v. The National Shopmen Pension FundCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · 1982

4 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.

3Cited by112 opinions

Concha v. LondonCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · 1995
Diduck v. Kaszycki & Sons Contractors, Inc.Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit · 1992
Earl Lee and David Abramson v. Richard Burkhart and Patrick Sullivan, Connecticut General Life Insurance CompanyCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit · 1993
Richard Drinkwater v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.Court of Appeals for the First Circuit · 1988
Florence B. Corcoran Wife Of/and Wayne D. Corcoran v. United Healthcare, Inc., and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, Inc.Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit · 1992

107 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.