Ortega-Candelaria v. Johnson & Johnson

Plaintiff received coverage under Johnson & Johnson’s Long-Term Disability Plan while working for a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. Later, Johnson & Johnson and Medical Card System, Inc. (together, Appellees) terminated Plaintiff’s long-term disability benefits. The district court upheld the denial, holding that the plan administrator had ample basis for finding Plaintiff did not cooperate fully during the Functional Capacity Examination (FCE) and was thus ineligible for continuing benefits. Plaintiff again appealed, arguing, among other things, that the plan administrator abused its discretion in crediting an examination by a physical therapist over the opinion of his treating physician. The First Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed, holding (1) the plan administrator’s finding that Plaintiff was uncooperative during his final FCE was supported by substantial evidence, and therefore, the administrator’s decision to terminate Plaintiff’s long-term disability benefits was neither arbitrary nor capricious; and (2) the administrator did not abuse its discretion in determining whether there existed grounds for termination of Plaintiff’s benefits. View "Ortega-Candelaria v. Johnson & Johnson" on Justia Law