Gammell v. Prudential Insurance Co. of America

MEMORANDUM AND ORDER ON CROSS-MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT

SAYLOR, District Judge.

This is a dispute concerning the denial of long-term disability benefits. The matter arises under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq. The central legal issue presented is whether the Court should review that denial de novo, or give deference to the plan administrator’s decision.

Plaintiff Thomas Gammell was covered by a long-term disability plan as a benefit of his employment with Digital Equipment Corporation, to which Hewlett-Packard Company is the…