Robert E. Anderson v. Blue Cross/blue Shield of Alabama, Health Maintenance Group

FAY, Circuit Judge:

Appellee Robert Anderson sued his health insurers, appellants Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama (Blue Cross) and Health Maintenance Group of Birmingham, Inc. (HMG), for denied benefits. The trial court held appellants liable under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq., for the medical expenses Anderson had incurred. Because the trial court misconstrued the applicable standard of review under Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. v. Bruch, 489 U.S. 101, 109 S.Ct. 948, 103 L.Ed.2d 80 (1989), as well as the language of the insurance…