Mullin v. John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance

Robert E. Mullin brought this claim pursuant to the Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), 29 U.S.C. §1132(a)(1)(B), to recover benefits under the terms of an insurance plan (plan) issued by John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company (Hancock) to Wang Laboratories, Inc. (Wang). Mullin is seeking judgment that he is and has been totally or partially disabled under the terms of the plan since October 12, 1988. Hancock has moved that the appropriate standard to review Hancock’s denial of benefits under the plan is an abuse of discretion review. Mullin argues that a de novo standard…