Hester v. Cigna Corporation

Filing 18

MEMORANDUM OPINION & ORDER, 1) granting 12 MOTION for Judgment by Life Insurance Company of North America. Signed by Judge Henry R. Wilhoit, Jr on 2/24/14.(SMT)cc: COR

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY

NORTHERN DIVISION

ASHLAND

Civil Action No. 13-147-HRW
CYNTIDA A. HESTER,

v.

PLAINTIFF,

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER

LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NORTH AMERICA,

DEFENDANT.

This matter is before the Court upon Defendant Life Insurance Company of North
America's (hereinafter "LINA") Motion for Judgment [Docket No. 12]. For the reasons set
forth below, the Court finds that LINA is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.
I.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
This case arises from LINA's denial of Plaintiff Cynthia Hester's claim for accidental

death benefits following her husband's death.
Plaintiffs husband, David Hester, was an employee ofCSX and during his employment
with the company obtained a $200,000 benefit on his life under Group AD&D Policy OK 81 70
74. [Administrative Record, Docket No. 11, p. 37-63]. The Policy provides:
We agree to pay benefits for loss from bodily injuries: a) caused by
an accident which happens while an insured is covered by this
policy; and b) which, directly and from no other causes, result in a
covered loss, (See the Description of Coverage.) We will not pay
benefits if the loss was caused by: a) sickness,
disease, or bodily infirmity; or b) any of the Exclusions listed on
page 2.

[Docket No. 11, pAO].
Page 2 of the Policy provides: No benefits will be paid for loss resulting from:

intentionally self-inflicted injuries, or any attempt thereat, while sane or insane (in Missouri,

while sane)." [Docket No.ll, p. 42].
Mr. Hester died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest in the garage of the family
home on July 16,2002. [Docket No. 11, p. 10- 12] His death was ruled a suicide by the Greenup
County Coroner. [Docket No. 11, p. 12] On August 7,2002, Plaintiff filed a claim for benefits
with UNA. [Docket No. 11, p. 11].
By letter dated August 19,2002, UNA informed Plaintiff that suicide was an exclusion
under the policy and invited her to submit any additional information that would "indicate the
accidental circumstances of this death." [Docket No. 11, p. 9]. The letter explicitly stated that if
she failed to submit additional information, the claim would be closed. [Docket No. 11, p. 9]
Plaintiff did not submit any additional information or otherwise respond to the letter.
On September 12, 2002, UNA again sent a letter to Plaintiff, informing her that claim
was denied due to the policy exclusion pertaining to self-inflicted injuries. The letter quoted
from the pertinent portion of the policy and listed the documents UNA reviewed in making its
determination, including the State of Kentucky Certificate of Death. It identified David Hester's
cause of death as II [hJemorrhage, due to or as a consequence of 38-cal. gunshot wound to midline
of left chest". The manner of death is listed as "Suicide". The death certificate identifies the
circumstances surrounding this death "self inflicted 38 ca wound to left mid line of chest". No
other significant conditions are listed. In this letter, UNA also pointed out that in Plaintiffs
Proof of Loss form, she, too described the circumstances of her husband's death as
"[self inflicted 38 ca. wound to lower chest in the garage" [Docket No. 11, p. 7-8].
The letter further informed Plaintiff she could appeal or request a review of the decision
in writing within 60 days from the September 12,2002 denial date. Plaintiff did not

request a review.
UNA's policy contains a limitation provision for bringing legal actions.
Legal Actions: No legal action to get policy benefits may be
brought less than 60 days nor more than 3 years after written proof
has been furnished as required by the policy.
[Docket No. 11, p. 43].
On August 22, 2013, Plaintiff instigated this civil action, alleging that UNA wrongfully
denied her claim for benefits. UNA seeks judgment on the claim alleged herein.

II.

ST ANDARD OF REVIEW
A challenge to a denial of benefits under ERISA is reviewed de novo. When applying a de

novo standard in the ERISA context, the role of the court reviewing a denial of benefits "is to
determine whether the administrator ... made a correct decision." The review is limited to the
record before the administrator and the court must detennine whether the administrator properly
interpreted the plan and whether the insured was entitled to benefits under the plan. Hoover v.
Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company, 290 F.3d 801,809 (6th Cir. 2002). No
deference is given to the claimant's position; no deference is given to the administrator's
position. Without bias in either direction, the Court simply decides whether it agrees with the
administrator's decision. Perry v. Simplicity Engineering, 900 F.2d 963, 966 (6 th Cir. 1990).

III.

ANALYSIS
A.

Plaintiff's claim is time barred.

There are two periods of limitations applicable to Plaintiffs claim. The first is derived
from the policy itself. The policy at issue provides for a three year period in which to bring legal
action under the tenns of the policy. The second is the five year period of limitations for ERISA

actions in Kentucky. See Redmon v. Sud-Chemie Inc. Retirement Plan/or Union Employees,
547 F.3d 531, 537-38 (6th Cir. 2008). In this case, Plaintiff waited nearly eleven years to seek
redress, several years too late under either period of limitations.
Plaintiff urges the Court to apply KRS 4l3.090(2),s fifteen year period of limitations
upon a recognizance, bond or written contract, contending that the policy's three year window is
unreasonable. However, Plaintiff ignores, indeed makes no mention of, the Sixth Circuit's clear
mandate that the relevant statute of limitations in Kentucky in an ERISA context is not KRS
413.090(2), but rather the five-year provision contained in KRS 413.120. Id. See also, Fallin v.

Commonwealth Industries, Inc. Cash Balance Plan, 521 F.Supp.2d 592 (2007); Clemons v.
Norton Healthcare, Inc. Retirement Plan, No. 3:08-cv-0069-TBR, 2013 WL5437646 (W.D. Ky.
Oct. 31, 2013).
Thus, there can be no question that Plaintiff's claims are untimely. UNA denied
Plaintiff's claim for benefits on September 12,2002. A formal letter was sent to Plaintiff on or
around this date regarding the denial of benefits and her appeal and/or review options. Plaintiff
failed to pursue either, and instead filed this action on August 26, 20 13-almost eleven years
after receiving formal notice that her benefits request was denied. Thus, Plaintiff's claims
are untimely.

B.

LINA's decision was appropriate.

Assuming arguendo, that Plaintiff's claim is not time barred, a de novo review of the
record in this case substantiates UNA's decision.

The policy under which Plaintiff seeks benefits as her husband's beneficiary specifically
excludes benefits for loss resulting from "intentionally self-inflicted injuries, or any attempt
thereat while sane or insane ... " David Hester's death certificate reflects that his cause of death
was due to or as a consequence of a gunshot wound to his left chest. The death certificate
specifically lists the manner of death as "suicide." [Docket no. 11, p. 12]. Even the application
for benefits submitted and signed by Plaintiff, herself, states that her husband sustained a selfinflicted 38 ca (caliber) wound to lower chest in the garage. All the evidence in the record shows
that the shot was intentional.
UNA specifically requested that Plaintiff submit any evidence or circumstances that
might contradict the evidence in the record and demonstrate that the gunshot wound was
accidental. No such evidence was ever submitted.
The Court finds that UNA's decision was correct based on the administrative record
before it.

IV.

CONCLUSION
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendant Life Insurance Company of

North America's Motion for Judgment [Docket No. 12] be SUSTAINED.
This 24th day of February, 2014.