Montanile v. Board of Trustees of Nat. Elevator Industry Health Benefit Plan

Justice THOMAS delivered the opinion of the Court.*

When a third party injures a participant in an employee benefits plan under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), 88 Stat. 829, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq., the plan frequently pays covered medical expenses. The terms of these plans often include a subrogation clause requiring a participant to reimburse the plan if the participant later recovers money from the third party for his injuries. And under ERISA § 502(a)(3), 29 U.S.C. § 1132(a)(3), plan fiduciaries can file civil suits "to obtain ... appropriate…