Phia Group Russo & Minchoff

First Circuit Permits § 502(a)(3) Recoupment Claim Despite Failure To Identify “Specific Account” Holding Funds

Adam V. Russo | January 25, 2010

This is a huge win for the subrogation industry.
The court held that Sereboff, rather than Knudson, controlled in this case. Like in Sereboff, the Plan targeted specific funds for recovery , Cusson’s LTD payments, and identified the specific portion to which Liberty is entitled— the amount of the overpayment while Cusson was receiving benefits under [...]

From the Bench

Adam V. Russo | June 24, 2009

by John H. Eggertsen, Esq. and Michael Friedman, Esq. of SIIA, www.siia.org
I. District of Columbia’s Efforts to Regulate PBMs Preempted by ERISA
In their efforts to combat the ongoing initiatives on the part of several states to regulate the business activities of pharmacy benefit managers (“PBMs”), the PBMs recently won a skirmish. In Pharmaceutical Care Management [...]

1st Circuit Tweaks Benefits Denial Case Law

Adam V. Russo | May 28, 2009

by Fred Schneyer of PLANSPONSOR, www.plansponsor.com
After tweaking their standard for how federal judges should handle employee benefits denial cases involving a conflicted plan administrator, federal appellate judges have ordered more hearings in just such a case.

First Circuit Refines Its Standard Of Review Analysis Based On Supreme Court’s Glenn Decision

Adam V. Russo | May 22, 2009

[Denmark v. Liberty Life Assurance Co. of Boston, 2009 WL 1219438 (1st Cir. 2009)] For a copy:http://http://www.ca1.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/getopn.pl?OPINION=05-2877P.01A
The First Circuit has reviewed its analysis of the standard of review applicable in ERISA benefits litigation and found the need for only modest refinements in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Glenn decision.