No. 22-1210

Colgate-Palmolive Company, et al. v. Rebecca McCutcheon, Individually and on Behalf of all Others Similarly Situated, et al.

Lower Court: Second Circuit
Docketed: 2023-06-14
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Tags: actuarial-assumptions benefit-determination circuit-split deference erisa erisa-plan-administrator-discretion extrinsic-evidence judicial-interpretation plan-administrator statutory-and-regulatory
Key Terms:
AdministrativeLaw Arbitration ERISA SocialSecurity ClassAction JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2023-09-26
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the Second Circuit erred in holding that it must disregard all objective extrinsic evidence of the reasonableness of an ERISA plan administrator's interpretation of plan terms if the court views the plan terms as unambiguous

Question Presented (from Petition)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED This Court has repeatedly held that when an ERISA plan expressly confers upon the plan administrator discretion to interpret its terms, that interpretation should stand unless arbitrary and capricious. See Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. v. Bruch, 489 U.S. 101 (1989); Metro. Life Ins. Co. v. Glenn, 554 U.S. 105 (2008); Conkright v. Frommert, 559 U.S. 506 (2010). In declining to defer to the reasonableness of the Colgate plan administrator’s interpretation of key plan provisions, the Second Circuit departed from this line of cases and deepened two separate circuit splits. The questions presented are: 1. Whether the Second Circuit erred in holding, contrary to decisions of the Seventh Circuit, that it must disregard all objective extrinsic evidence of the reasonableness of an ERISA plan administrator’s interpretation of plan terms if the court views the plan terms as unambiguous within the four corners of the plan. 2. Whether the Second Circuit erred in holding, contrary to decisions of the Ninth and Tenth Circuits, that an ERISA plan administrator’s reasonable interpretation of plan terms receives no deference if the plan terms at issue involve actuarial assumptions used to determine a plan participant’s benefits.

Docket Entries

2023-10-02
Petition DENIED.
2023-08-30
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/26/2023.
2023-08-29
Reply of petitioners Colgate-Palmolive Company, et al. filed. (Distributed)
2023-08-14
2023-06-29
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including August 14, 2023.
2023-06-27
Motion to extend the time to file a response from July 14, 2023 to August 14, 2023, submitted to The Clerk.
2023-06-12
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due July 14, 2023)

Attorneys

Colgate-Palmolive Company, et al.
Evan R. CheslerCravth, Swaine & Moore, LLP, Petitioner
Evan R. CheslerCravth, Swaine & Moore, LLP, Petitioner
Rebecca McCutcheon, et al.
Leon DayanBredhoff & Kaiser P.L.L.C., Respondent
Leon DayanBredhoff & Kaiser P.L.L.C., Respondent