Helms v. Monsanto Co.

MEMORANDUM OF OPINION

LYNNE, Senior District Judge.

This is an action by Clark Ray Helms for Declaratory Judgment claiming that defendant, Monsanto Company, Helms’ employer, wrongfully denied him total and permanent disability benefits. The disability benefits plaintiff seeks are provided by Monsanto Company’s Disability Income Plan (“DIP”). DIP is an employee welfare benefit plan as defined in Section 3(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. 1002(1). Thus, the provisions of ERISA control this case.

DIP provides benefits to Monsanto employees who are…