Grabowski v. Genzink Steel Class 2 Group Long Term Disability Plan et al
Filing
55
OPINION; Order to issue; signed by Judge Janet T. Neff (Judge Janet T. Neff, clb)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
JAMES GRABOWSKI,
Plaintiff,
Case No. 1:10-cv-140
v.
HON. JANET T. NEFF
LINCOLN NATIONAL LIFE
INSURANCE COMPANY,
Defendant.
____________________________________/
OPINION
In this benefits case under the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29
U.S.C. § 1001 et seq. (ERISA), Plaintiff, James Grabowski, is suing Defendant, the Lincoln Life
National Life Insurance Company (Lincoln), for reinstatement of his long-term disability (LTD)
benefits. The benefits were paid pursuant to an employee welfare benefit plan (the Plan) under a
policy issued to Grabowski’s former employer, Genzink Steel, by Defendant’s corporate
predecessor, the Canada Life Assurance Company (Canada Life). Defendant is now insurer of the
group policy and is acting as the claims administrator, determining eligibility for benefits. Plaintiff
began receiving LTD benefits in 2000, and Lincoln terminated the benefits in 2008.
The parties have filed cross-motions for judgment on the administrative record (Pl. Mot., Dkt
43; Def. Mot., Dkt 45). Each party has filed a brief in support of its respective motion (Pl. Dkt 44;
Def. Dkt 47), a response (Pl. Dkt 46; Def. Dkt 52), a Statement of Material Facts (SMF) (Pl. Dkt 50;
Def. Dkt 49), and a response to opposing party’s statement of facts (Pl. Dkt 48; Def. Dkt 51). The
Administrative Record (AR) has also been filed (Dkt 22).
Defendant asserts that its decision to terminate LTD benefits should be assessed and
approved under the arbitrary and capricious standard of review. Defendant also claims that Plaintiff
failed to exhaust his administrative remedies by failing to make a timely second appeal of his denial
of benefits. Plaintiff requests that his LTD benefits be restored because his physical condition has
not improved but, instead, has deteriorated, and he remains vocationally disabled. Plaintiff argues
that Defendant’s termination of benefits decision should be rejected under either the de novo or the
arbitrary and capricious standard of review and that Defendant’s conflict of interest, as both insurer
and administrator, should be taken into account. Plaintiff further maintains that the Court should
apply the de novo standard because the discretionary authority afforded Canada Life did not devolve
to Lincoln and because its discretionary clause is void under Michigan law
The Court has carefully considered the parties’ briefs and the Administrative Record. For
the reasons that follow, the Court concludes that Plaintiff’s motion for judgment (Dkt 43) should be
granted and Defendant’s motion (Dkt 45) denied.
I. Legal Issues
A. Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies
Defendant argues that judgment should be entered in its favor because Plaintiff failed to file
a timely second appeal (Dkt 47, Def. Mem. in Supp. at 23-24). Plaintiff maintains that a second
appeal is not required under the Plan documents, which does not provide for multiple appeals (Dkt
44, Pl. Br. in Supp. at 16-17). The Plan refers in the singular to “a review of the denied claim” and
states that “the final decision” will subsequently be issued (AR 93). Lincoln’s denial of benefits
letter stated: “once all required reviews of your claim have been completed, you have the right to
bring a civil action under applicable law” (AR 188). The Plan cannot be construed to require more
2
than one appeal. See Huffaker v. Metro. Life Ins. Co., 271 Fed. App’x 493, 499 (6th Cir. 2008)
(description of process for appeal in singular implies only one appeal). Plaintiff’s claim thus will
not be dismissed for failure to exhaust administrative remedies.
B. Standard of Review for ERISA Claim
The standard of review for ERISA claims is well established. “[A] denial of benefits
challenged under § 1132(a)(1)(B) is to be reviewed under a de novo standard unless the benefit plan
gives the administrator or fiduciary discretionary authority to determine eligibility for benefits or
to construe the terms of the plan.” Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. v. Bruch, 489 U.S. 101, 115 (1989).
“If, as here, the insurance plan administrator is vested with discretion to interpret the plan, we
review the administrator’s denial of benefits under the arbitrary and capricious standard.” DeLisle
v. Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada, 558 F.3d 440, 444 (6th Cir. 2009). “Though highly
deferential, this standard nevertheless requires review of the quality and quantity of the medical
evidence and the opinions on both sides of the issues.’” Curry v. Eaton Corp., 400 Fed. Appx 51,
57 (6th Cir. 2010) (quoting McDonald v. W.-S. Life Ins. Co., 347 F.3d 161, 172 (6th Cir. 2003)).
“[M]erely because our review must be deferential does not mean our review must also be
inconsequential. While a benefits plan may vest discretion in the plan administrator, the federal
courts do not sit in review of the administrator’s decisions only for the purpose of rubber stamping
those decisions.” Moon v. Unum Provident Corp., 405 F.3d 373, 379 (6th Cir. 2005). The court’s
task is to review the record to determine if the administrator’s decision “‘is the result of a deliberate,
principled reasoning process, and if it is supported by substantial evidence.’” Glenn v. MetLife, 461
F.3d 660, 666 (6th Cir. 2006), aff’d, 554 U.S. 105 (2008) (quoting Baker v. United Mine Workers
of Am. Health & Ret. Funds, 929 F.2d 1140, 1144 (6th Cir. 1991)).
3
C. Deferential Standard for Successor
Plaintiff maintains that the Court should apply a de novo standard of review because Lincoln
is not entitled to the deferential standard of its predecessor (Dkt 44, Pl. Br. in Supp. at 17-18; Dkt
46, Pl. Resp. at 3-9). The Plan identifies Genzink Steel as the Policyholder and Plan Administrator
and Canada Life as the Claims Administrator, the entity who authorizes and makes payment of
benefits (AR 91-92). Claimants are required to give “satisfactory Proof of Disability” to Canada
Life for payment of claims and ongoing disability benefits (AR 85-86). Plaintiff acknowledges that
this “satisfactory proof” requirement gave Canada Life, as Claims Administrator, discretion over
disability determinations (Dkt 44, Pl. Br. in Supp. at 17).
Plaintiff argues, however, that this discretion was not delegated to Jefferson Pilot Financial
Insurance Company (Jefferson), Lincoln’s predecessor, because Jefferson acquired less than a 100%
ownership of Canada Life, which is still a going concern (id. at 17-18; Dkt 46, Pl. Resp. at 3-5).
Lincoln counters that Jefferson acquired the Plan in its entirety and all of Canada Life’s rights and
obligations under the Plan, including its right to make discretionary decisions (Dkt 47, Def. Mem.
in Supp. at 11-13). Lincoln supports its claim with an Affidavit of Business Records and the
Assumption Reinsurance Agreement, attached as Exhibit A to its Statement of Facts (Dkt 49, Ex.
A). We will consider this document, although it is not in the Administrative Record, for purposes
of deciding the standard of review. See Weinkauf v. Unicare Life & Health Ins. Co., No 1:09-cv638, 2010 WL 1839441, at *4 (W. D. Mich. Apr. 23, 2010) (ERISA review guidelines allow
consideration of evidence outside administrative record to ascertain appropriate standard of review).
Case law supports Defendant’s contention that a successor acquires the discretionary
authority conferred by the plan if the successor steps into the shoes of the predecessor. See Schnur
4
v. CTC Commc’ns Corp. Group Disability Plan, No. 5 Civ. 3297, 2010 WL 1253481, at *10
(S.D.N.Y. Mar. 29, 2010); Hunley v. Hartford Life & Accident Ins. Co., 712 F. Supp. 2d 1271, 1281
(M.D. Fla. 2010); Simonia v. Hartford Ins. Co., 606 F. Supp. 2d 1091, 1096-97 (C.D. Cal. 2009),
aff’d, 378 Fed. App’x 725 (9th Cir. 2010).
Plaintiff’s argument that discretion did not devolve (Dkt 46, Pl. Resp. at 5) is unconvincing.
In particular, Plaintiff argues that acquisition of 100% ownership of a predecessor is critical, based
on a distinction drawn in Williams v. Hartford Life & Accident Co., No. C 2-08-128, 2009 WL
3127761, at *7 (S.D. Ohio Sept. 25, 2009) in its analysis of Weidauer v. Broadspire Servs., Inc., No.
C-3-07-097, 2008 WL 4758691, at *10 (S.D. Ohio Oct. 27, 2008). A careful review of the Williams
analysis and the opinion in the underlying Weidauer case shows that the critical issue in Weidauer
was not transfer of 100% of a company’s assets but rather the lack of any evidence in the record
before the court to support the complex transfers of functions and assets alleged by the defendants.
Williams, 2009 WL 3127761, at *7; Weidauer, 2008 WL 4758691, at *10.
Here, Lincoln has offered documentation in support of its position, and the Assumption
Reinsurance Agreement provides evidence of transfer of the Plan to Jefferson (Dkt 49, Ex. A, ¶ 3).
It specifically provides that Jefferson is “entitled to all the rights owed to [Canada Life], pursuant
to the terms and conditions of the policies …” (id., ¶ 3) and that “[Jefferson] shall make all
discretionary decisions with respect to the assumed business …” (id., ¶ 4 (g)). As noted above,
Plaintiff acknowledges that the “satisfactory proof” language of the Plan grants discretionary
authority to the Claims Administrator, and Lincoln shows that it is the successor insurer and Claims
Administrator for the Plan.
5
Plaintiff also argues that discretionary authority did not devolve to Lincoln from Jefferson
because it was blocked by Michigan Administrative Code Rule 500.2202 (Dkt 46, Pl. Resp. at 8-9),
which provides in pertinent part:
(a) A discretionary clause unreasonably reduces the risk purported to be assumed in
the general coverage of the policy within the meaning of MCL 500.2236(5).
(b) On and after the first day of the first month following the effective date of these
rules, an insurer shall not issue, advertise, or deliver to any person in this state a
policy, contract, rider, indorsement, certificate, or similar contract document that
contains a discretionary clause. This does not apply to a contract document in use
before that date, but does apply to any such document revised in any respect on or
after that date.
(c) On and after the first day of the first month following the effective date of these
rules, a discretionary clause issued or delivered to any person in this state in a policy,
contract, rider, indorsement, certificate, or similar contract document is void and of
no effect. This does not apply to contract documents in use before that date, but does
apply to any such document revised in any respect on or after that date.
Mich. Admin. Code r. 500.2202 (2011). While Defendant (Lincoln)1 does not dispute that Rule
500.2202 was in effect when, as a result of a corporate merger, it succeeded Jefferson as claims
administrator, Defendant insists that the Plan was not amended or revised in any respect by the
merger, but that Lincoln simply stepped into the shoes of the Plan administrator under the already
established rights and obligations under the Plan (Dkt 52, Def. Reply at 5). Plaintiff provides no
evidence that the Plan, in effect before Rule 500.2202 was promulgated, has been revised.
Therefore, we review this case under the highly deferential arbitrary and capricious standard.
D. Conflict of Interest
We also consider conflict of interest as a factor to be weighed in determining whether the
1
For ease of reference to the appropriate record, the terms “Defendant” and “Lincoln” are
used interchangeably in this opinion, as are the terms “Plaintiff” and “Grabowski.”
6
decision to deny benefits was an abuse of discretion. Firestone, 489 U.S. at 115. An inherent
conflict of interest exists where, as here, an insurance company determines eligibility for benefits
under an ERISA plan and also pays those benefits. Glenn, 554 U.S. at 114. While the inherent
conflict of interest does not require the court to conclude that the conflict shaped the insurer’s
determination, Curry, 400 Fed. App’x at 58-59, the court “looks to see if there is evidence that the
conflict in any way influenced the plan administrators’ decision.” Hunter v. Life Ins. of N. Am., No
10-1244, 2011 WL 2566357, at *4 (6th Cir. June 29, 2011). “We give more weight to the conflict
‘where circumstances suggest a higher likelihood that it affected the benefits decision.’” DeLisle,
558 F.3d at 445 (quoting Glenn, 554 U.S. at 117). Courts must consider conflict of interest as one
factor among several in determining whether the plan administrator abused its discretion in denying
benefits. Glenn, 554 U.S. at 117.
II. Administrative Record Review
We summarize the pertinent facts here with references to documents in the Administrative
Record (AR). See Wilkins v. Baptist Healthcare Sys, Inc., 150 F.3d 609, 619 (6th Cir. 1998)
(Gilman, J., concurring) (district court review generally limited to administrative record).
Plaintiff was employed by Genzink Steel as a steel fabricator (AR 470-71). He applied for
disability in April 2000, claiming that neck problems and pain arising from injuries, including an
auto accident in 1998, made him unable to continue his employment as a fabricator (AR 471-74).
Plaintiff’s treating physician, Timothy Dickinson, M.D., diagnosed “cervical disc disease/L
paracentral herniated dis[c] C-4+5” in May 2000 (AR 503-05).
Following referral to a
neurosurgeon, Alain Fabi, M.D., Grabowski underwent spinal surgery in July 2000, which included
an anterior cervical discectomy at C-4-C-6 and an iliac crest autograft fusion with plating (AR 497-
7
99). The pain radiating into Grabowski’s left arm resolved with the surgery, but he continued to
experience pain in his neck and triceps (AR 491), and Dr. Fabi referred him for treatment at a pain
clinic (AR 536). Multiple visits to the Kalamazoo Anesthesiology Pain Clinic from July through
November 2001 did little to relieve the pain (AR 506-530).
Payment of benefits to a disabled employee under the Genzink Steel Plan requires that the
applicant meets the definition of “Total Disability” and begins after a 90-day Elimination Period
(AR 58). The definition of disability initially applies to the claimant’s “own occupation,” but the
definition changes 24 months after the end of the Elimination Period (id.). Thereafter, the standard
is called the “any occupation” standard, and provides (id.):
Totally Disabled and Total Disability mean because of an Injury or Sickness, all of
the following are true:
(a)
You are unable to do the Material and Substantial Duties of any
occupation for which You are or may become reasonably qualified
by education, training or experience; and
(b)
You are receiving Appropriate Evaluation and Treatment from a
Physician for that Injury or Sickness; and
(c)
Your Work Earnings are less than 20% of Your Indexed PreDisability Monthly Earnings.
Plaintiff’s LTD benefit was approved to begin on July 24, 2000 (AR 664-65). For the first
two years of disability, Plaintiff was paid LTD benefits on the basis of disability from his own
occupation (id.). On March 15, 2002, Canada Life initiated its review of Plaintiff’s qualification for
continuing benefits under the “any occupation” definition (AR 714). In the process of its review and
subsequent reconfirmations of Plaintiff’s eligibility for benefits, Defendant periodically repeated its
request for updated information and further proof.
8
Plaintiff’s treating physician, Dr. Dickinson, communicated much of the medical information
in Defendant’s file. On August 15, 2003, Dr. Dickinson reported a diagnosis of “cervical disc with
radiculopathy,” with symptoms of “severe neck and radicular pain,” and clinical findings of
restricted arm elevation [and] arm weakness” (AR 594-95). Dr. Dickinson noted that his patient
could not tolerate pushing or pulling activities or prolonged sitting or standing (AR 595). Under
“Physical Impairment,” Dr. Dickinson checked “Class 4- . . . (sedentary), but added that Grabowski
“can do no lifting, pushing, pulling, can’t tolerate prolonged sitting or prolonged standing, cannot
extend his neck, can’t tolerate jarring as with forklift, truck, etc.” (id.). “Dr. Dickinson concluded:
“It would be an unusual job that would accommodate his limitations and restrictions (id.).
Dr. Dickinson’s subsequent reports noted Plaintiff’s ongoing pain, reiterated the restrictions
and limitations quoted above, documented the diagnosis of diabetes and a heart condition, and
reported new injuries. In office notes on September 15, 2003, Dr. Dickinson described Grabowski
as, overall, “feeling really quite good,” walking, and trying to stay active, but he noted that “he is
quite limited” and listed Grabowski’s report of “severe neck and upper pain, spasm and throbbing”
after mowing with a rider mower, shortness of breath from climbing one flight of steps, and his
inability to get dishes from a cupboard above chest level (AR 571). On December 12, 2003, Dr.
Dickinson reported in office notes that Grabowski’s neck and shoulder discomfort was “clearly
worse” with cold, damp weather, that he needed medication to keep his neck pain under control, and
that, when he worked with his hands at a task like vacuuming, he developed severe neck pain for
hours to a day afterwards (id.).
Plaintiff also suffered medical set-backs. In July, 2004, he was injured on his bicycle when
he was struck by a motor vehicle (AR 673). In November 2005, he fell from a hunting stand and
9
suffered a compression fracture in his lower back (AR 287). In April 2006, he was hospitalized for
seven days after drinking heavily, falling, and fracturing his ulna at the elbow (AR 286). He was
diagnosed with diabetes while hospitalized (id.). On January 10, 2007, Dr. Dickinson reported that
Grabowski was suffering moderate back pain from a slip-and-fall in addition to his chronic neck
pain, “dulled by Vicodin, usu[ally] 2 daily” (AR 224). Dr. Dickinson also reported “sleep is still
a problem. The trazadone helps but still awakens 1-2 times nightly with a pain bolt in the neck” (id.)
Plaintiff was hospitalized again from December 8 to 12, 2007 (AR 199). He was admitted for
seizures and was in a drug-induced coma for 3 days (id.). Reporting on a December 19, 2007 office
visit, Dr. Dickinson stated that Grabowski had been vomiting and drinking lots of water and that the
hospital found him severely hyponatremic, with low potassium and very high glucose, and suspected
water intoxication (id.).
The December 19, 2007, visit to Dr. Dickinson focused on Grabowski’s blood chemistry
issues (AR 199-201). The only medical records that appear in the Administrative Record from that
visit to the June 4, 2008, termination of benefits letter (AR 185-91), are office notes from January
and February 2008, which focused on testing and improvement of Grabowski’s blood sugar and
reported his complaints of continued neck pain and resumption of his prescriptions for pain relievers
(AR 193-196).
10
The Administrative Record contains three reports by vocational consultants.2 On September
23, 2003, Plaintiff participated in a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) at the Allegan General
Hospital (AR 574-75). The two hour and thirty minute examination determined that he had limited
ability to lift, push, pull, stand, or sit (AR 575). The occupational therapist, Kim Counterman, noted
that Plaintiff complained of constant pain that increased with activity and numbness in his hands
with use of his arms (AR 574). She also reported that “patient’s fine motor skills were classified
as not qualified according to the Purdue Pegboard Assembly test” (id.) and that his hand function
was limited to “Simple Grasping” (AR 575).
Plaintiff submitted to a second FCE and was tested by Kim Counterman again on August 17,
2005, for three hours and 45 minutes, with similar results (AR 339-48). Plaintiff again reported that
he experienced pain, which increased with activity (AR 343), and he tested below the 1st percentile
in fine motor skills (AR 345). A functional lifting test showed Plaintiff capable of occasionally
lifting 10-11 pounds and carrying 13 pounds (AR 346). Counterman noted that Grabowski
2
There is a reference in the Administrative Record to a fourth vocational assessment dating
from 2003. Plaintiff applied for Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits, which were denied
on December 23, 2003 (AR 686-96). In the Decision, the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ)
considered testimony from an individual the ALJ described as a vocational expert, and concluded
that Plaintiff had the functional capacity to do a limited range of light work such as machine tender,
packer, janitor, assembler, or cashier (AR 693). The ALJ concurred with the vocational expert’s
opinion that Plaintiff had no transferable skills to light work, but concluded Plaintiff could make a
vocational adjustment to light work (693-94). The ALJ also noted that someone who can do light
work “can also do sedentary work, unless there are additional limiting factors such as loss of fine
dexterity or inability to sit for long periods,” but did not make any finding as to whether such
limiting factors existed (AR 694). Lincoln did not refer to this 2003 determination in its 2008
termination of benefits letter or its 2009 letter affirming denial on appeal, but Defendant (Lincoln)
mentions it several times in its arguments to this Court as a reason to terminate benefits and
erroneously asserts that the ALJ found Grabowski capable of sedentary work (Dkt 47, Def. Mem.
in Supp. at 14). Defendant does not otherwise explain why the ALJ’s 2003 opinion is relevant to
its 2008 decision.
11
demonstrated reasonable effort and his report of his abilities was consistent with his performance
(AR 347). She concluded that he was capable of sedentary work, with sitting and standing for no
more than 66% of the workday and walking, bending, and reaching 1-33% of the workday (AR 348).
In 2005, Lincoln’s predecessor, Jefferson, referred Plaintiff to Adling and Associates, Inc.
for a vocational evaluation. The vocational rehabilitation consultant, Janine Holloman, reviewed
Plaintiff’s medical records, met with Plaintiff on February 21, 2005, discussed her finding with
Defendant, and wrote a detailed report (AR 673-676). Holloman noted that Grabowski reported
ongoing severe neck pain and communicated details about his bicycle accident in 2004, his
medication regimen, job history, and job skills (id.). She reported that he had been charged about
four years earlier with two misdemeanor counts of domestic violence (AR 674). Holloman also
reported that Plaintiff did not use a computer and had passed typing in high school with a D- grade
(AR 675).
She concluded: “The claimant has no transferable skills to light or sedentary
occupations” (id.). She also commented on “multiple barriers to vocational rehabilitation,” which
included the restriction to sedentary work, the lack of a valid driver’s licence, and residence in a
rural area, and noted that “claimant’s medication regimen makes his pain manageable, but has the
side affects of drowsiness and difficulty concentrating, which could make retraining difficult” (id.).
Defendant’s internal note on the consultation identifies “lack of motivation” as one of the barriers
to vocational rehabilitation (AR 17), but Holloman did not mention lack of motivation in her written
report (AR 673-76).
On May 31, 2006, Jefferson routed Plaintiff’s file to “Atlanta Voc” for a vocational review
(AR 17). Internal notes dated June 5, 2006, stated that the Transferable Skills Report it received in
response found no occupations for Grabowski at sedentary capacity (AR 5), and a subsequent
12
internal note regarding Plaintiff’s LTD status described him as “vocationally disabled” (AR 4). A
note entered in Defendant’s internal claims file on May 22, 2007, stated that claimant “is capable
of sedentary work, but we could not find him gainful, thus he is vocationally disabled” (AR 3). The
note explained that he was not a good candidate for vocational rehabilitation because he lacked
education and sedentary skills and lacked motivation (AR 3). Grabowski was again designated
vocationally disabled on February 12, 2008, in an internal note to his claim file (AR 3) after Lincoln
took over from Jefferson as Claims Administrator (AR 209) and received the medical records it had
requested from Dr. Dickinson on January 31, 2008 (AR 3).
Lincoln’s next reported internal activity occurred three weeks before it sent Plaintiff its
notice of termination of benefits. On May 14, 2008, the file was referred for a Transferable Skills
Report (id.) The Report, dated May 19, 2008, attached a list of six jobs identified as “a sample of
potential jobs that the above individual has the transferable skills, education, training and or
background to perform and meet the gainful amount of $1,457 per month” (AR 190). On May 21,
2008, Defendant’s internal record notes: “gainful occ found at sedentary level. Will send file for
full med review to see if [claimant] has R[estrictions]/L[imitations] from Sedentary level” (AR 3).
The next entry, dated June 4, 2008, is entitled “DENIAL RATIONAL” and states (id.):
FCE performed in 2003 and 2005 indicated clmnt [(claimant)] could do sedentary
level work.
[R]ecent notes do not indicate any significant
R[estrictions]/L[imitation]s preventing work at sedentary level. Med review done
and R[estrictions] /L[imitation]s for sedentary were not supported. [W]ill pay claim
to 7/1/08 and close.
The medical review on which Defendant relied to terminate benefits was a file review
conducted in-house by Linda Brandenburg, RN BS (AR 19-20). She entered her report into
Defendant’s computerized reporting system on June 2, 2008, and described the medical review as
13
“limited” (AR 19). Brandenburg’s brief report emphasized portions of Plaintiff’s medical records
that did not address his pain level or restrictions (AR 19-20). Her review mentioned the surgery in
2000, cited the 2005 FCE, and identified some of plaintiff’s injuries since 2005, but did not mention
the 2005 Holloman report or the most recent Attending Physician’s Statement in Grabowski’s file
at the time (id.). In that statement, dated May 10, 2006, Dr. Dickinson identified symptoms of neck
pain, restricted range of motion, and spasms (AR 337-38). While indicating his agreement with the
FCE’s assessment that Grabowski had the capacity to perform some sedentary occupations by
attaching the 2005 FCE report, he qualified Plaintiff’s capacity by spelling out, under “Restrictions”
that Plaintiff should not “lift, push, pull” and “can neither sit [n]or stand for very long,” needs
“frequent change of position,” and “can’t reach above head” (AR 337). Brandenburg did not
acknowledge or explain why she disregarded these restrictions (AR 19-20).
Summarizing Dr. Dickinson’s October 4, 2006 notes, Brandenburg highlighted the comment
that Grabowski was walking at least one mile twice a day (AR 20), but she did not include any of
the other information , which detailed Grabowski’s reports of frequent and severe pain (AR 257).
She reviewed in more detail the medical records from late 2007 and early 2008, which focused on
Plaintiff’s hospitalization and did not address his capacity for work (AR 20). Brandenburg
concluded that medical documentation did not appear to support restrictions or limitations that
preclude work in a sedentary occupation (id.)
On June 4, 2008, Lincoln sent Plaintiff a letter announcing that it was terminating benefits
as of July 1, 2008, on the grounds that Plaintiff was not limited from working in a sedentary capacity
(AR 184-91). The letter stated that the determination that Plaintiff was capable of working at a
sedentary level was based on the 2003 and 2005 FCE’s and medical records provided by Dr.
14
Dickinson, Dr. Fabi, and Kalamazoo Anesthesiology (AR 186). Defendant defined sedentary work
as “Sitting for 6 hours out of an 8-hour day and lifting no more than 10” (AR 187). Explaining that
it had used the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) as a reference, Lincoln listed six
occupations it determined that Plaintiff was capable of performing, one of which was “System
Surveillance Monitor” and the other five of which were clerical jobs (id.) Lincoln then described
the list as “just a sample of various jobs that you show transferable skills to perform (id.; emphasis
added).
Plaintiff filed an appeal of the termination of benefits on October 27, 2008.3 Plaintiff’s
attorney then forwarded medical records, including a report by Dr. Dickinson on June 20, 2008, that
plaintiff had restricted neck motion, severe upper trapezius pain, ongoing pain in lower back, and
restricted motion of the spine (AR 153) Dr. Dickinson concluded: “There appears to be no
improvement and apparent insidious decline in function. Has considerable ongoing pain. I
serious[ly] doubt that he will ever be able to get gainful employment in the future” (id.). On
September 30, 2008, Dr. Dickinson reported that Grabowski had had an “apparent ‘melt-down’ and
is struggling to get his life back together again” (AR 147). Dr. Dickinson noted that Plaintiff’s range
of motion in his neck had decreased, and he concluded, Grabowski “is no better and if anything is
feeling worse. Is in continuous pain and very limited in activities” (id.). Dr. Dickinson’s notes on
Plaintiff’s December 2, 2008, visit reported that Grabowski was putting his life back together but
still had constant pain and on-going restrictions of waist extension and neck movements (AR 143-
3
The Administrative Record contains an undated letter of appeal from Plaintiff (AR 155)
and letters from Plaintiff’s attorney attaching medical records (AR 138-49, 151-54). Defendant
acknowledged receipt of an appeal letter from Plaintiff’s attorney (AR 176), but that letter does not
appear to be included in the Administrative Record.
15
45). Dr. Dickinson concluded that Grabowski’s lumbar disc degeneration and cervical impairments
were severe and that he was very limited by pain (AR 145).
As part of the appeal process, Lincoln sent Plaintiff for an Independent Medical Evaluation
(IME) with a neurosurgeon, Dr. Carr, D.O. (AR 106). Dr. Carr examined Plaintiff on January 7,
2009, reviewed his medical records, and reported findings and conclusions (AR 106-15). Dr. Carr
acknowledged Plaintiff’s physical impairments of the spine, noting that he had “significant
degenerative disease in his cervical spine at virtually all levels” and that this impairment involved
“mild to perhaps approximating moderate decrease in range of motion” (AR 114-15). Dr. Carr
discounted Plaintiff’s reports of pain, stating, “I believe that his described pain, disability, and range
of motion are out of proportion to the physical examination and diagnostic studies” (AR 114). Dr.
Carr opined that Plaintiff was able to work full time at sedentary occupations and added: “I do not
see the need for specific restrictions” (AR 115). But he qualified his opinion on restrictions by
defining occupations in the sedentary category as ones that “would not involve repetitive, frequent,
extreme, or prolonged movements of the cervical spine, if any” and adding that Plaintiff “should
provide his own personal restrictions to maintain comfort” (id.).
Lincoln denied Plaintiff’s appeal in a letter dated February 11, 2009 (AR 101-05). The letter
explained that Plaintiff’s claim for LTD benefits “was originally approved from 7/24/2000 to
07/01/2001 as we found your client meet [sic] the definition of Total Disability” and that the benefits
“were terminated on 07/01/2008, because our review of the medical records failed to support a Total
Disability” (AR 102). Defendant listed again the six jobs it found using the Dictionary of
Occupational Titles, and described them as “a sample of various jobs that your client shows
transferable skills to perform” (AR 103-04; emphasis added). Defendant concluded, “In summary,
16
we find the medical documentation in Mr. Grabowski’s claim file does not support that there are
restrictions and limitations that would render your client unable to perform each of the main duties
of any gainful occupation that your client has the training, education, and experience to perform”
(AR 104).
III. Analysis
With due regard for the deferential standard of review for this ERISA claim, discussed
above, we consider several factors in reviewing Lincoln’s decision to terminate benefits, including
the quantity and quality of the medical and vocational evidence, the opinions on both sides of the
issues, Lincoln’s decision-making process, and the conflict of interest inherent in Lincoln’s role as
insurer and Claims Administrator.
Plaintiff argues that Lincoln improperly terminated LTD benefits after approving his benefits
for several years because Lincoln had no evidence of an improvement that would support its
decision to make a change. Plaintiff maintains that there was no improvement but instead, a
worsening of Plaintiff’s medical condition (Dkt 44, Pl. Br. in Supp. at 18-20). Defendant counters
that it need not show improvement but need only have a rational basis for concluding that Plaintiff
was not disabled and could perform sedentary work.
When benefits are terminated, lack of evidence of an improvement is “a circumstance to be
weighed by a reviewing court, rather than per se proof of arbitrariness.” Morris v. Am. Elec. Power
Long-Term Disability Plan, 399 Fed. App’x 978, 984 (6th Cir. 2010). The insurer must have a
reason for the change, but new evidence need not necessarily show medical improvement. Id.
Instead, the reason may be based on evidence that better defines a claimant’s medical condition or
shows newly acquired skills. Id. The Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit explained: “We are not
17
suggesting that paying benefits operates forever as an estoppel so that an insurer can never change
its mind; but unless information available to an insurer alters in some significant way, the previous
payment of benefits is a circumstance that must weigh against the propriety of an insurer’s decision
to discontinue those payments.” McOsker v. Paul Revere Life Ins. Co., 279 F.3d 586, 589 (6th Cir.
2002).
A. Medical Evidence
While Plaintiff argues that he is impaired from doing any work in the sedentary category,
there is substantial evidence in the record to support a finding that Plaintiff is capable of sedentary
work with some limitations. This opinion is expressed in the two FCE reports and in several of the
medical records provided by Dr. Dickinson, identified above. While evidence of Grabowski’s
deteriorating health suggests he may be categorized as incapable of any work in the future, the
evidence in the record provides a reasonable basis for a conclusion that Plaintiff is capable of some
sedentary work. The point of dispute with respect to Plaintiff’s medical condition is whether
Lincoln had sufficient evidence to reasonably determine that no restrictions or limitations needed
to be placed on his capacity for sedentary work.
In making its determination to terminate benefits as of July 1, 2008, Lincoln relied on an
internal medical review by Brandenburg, a registered nurse. Courts have expressed skepticism of
a decision based on in-house review by a medical professional in the insurance company’s employ.
“[W]hen a plan administrator’s explanation is based on the work of a doctor in its employ, we must
view the explanation with some skepticism.” Moon, 405 F.3d at 381-82. Here, the Lincoln
employee referring the file for the medical review noted that he was referring the file “to see if clmt
[(claimant)] has R[estrictions]/L[imitations] from Sedentary level (AR 3)” The admittedly limited
18
review responded to that question without expressly analyzing any specific evidence of restriction,
concluding that “medical documentation does not appear to support R[estrictions]\L[imitation]s that
would preclude work capacity in a sedentary occupation” (AR 19-20). Lincoln’s review ignored
rather than addressed Plaintiff’s reports of constant pain and did not discuss his treating physician’s
assessment that Plaintiff’s work capacity was restricted due to his impairments and pain level.
In its argument to this Court, Defendant does not cite Lincoln’s internal medical review to
justify its decision to terminate benefits, but instead argues that its decision weighed the medical
evidence in the record and reasonably discounted Dr. Dickinson’s “variable positions” and
Plaintiff’s “unreliable subjective complaints” (Dkt 47, Def. Mem. in Supp. at 2, 14, 19-22).
Defendant asserts that its decision is supported by the opinions of two neurosurgeons, Dr. Carr, who
performed the IME, and Dr. Fabi, who performed surgery on Grabowski in 2000 (Dkt 45, Def. Mot.
¶ 2(iii); Dkt 47, Def. Mem. in Supp. at 2, 14, 19-22).
Lincoln’s repeated references to the opinion of Dr. Fabi rely on a document (AR 515) that
is, on its face, questionable. Lincoln claims that Dr. Fabi signed this document on March 18, 2002,
and checked “Class 4- . . . (sedentary)” (Dkt 49, Def. SMF ¶ 21). Although Plaintiff raised
objections only to the relevance and not the authenticity of the document, it appears to be a modified
copy of an earlier document. Except for the “x” at “Class 4" and the signature, the document dated
March 18, 2002 (AR 515), appears identical to the first page of a two-page document completed and
signed by Dr. Fabi more than a year earlier, on January 31, 2001 (AR 552-53). Moreover, the
signature on the 2001 document (AR 553) does not resemble the signature of Dr. Fabi dated March
18, 2002 (AR 515). Defendant’s repeated citations to this letter as evidence that Lincoln had reasons
to terminate benefits is inconsistent with the absence of any reference to the document in question
19
in its termination of benefits letter. In fact, in that letter, Lincoln identified the documentation from
Dr. Fabi as notes “dated 6/14/200[0] to 04/19/2001” (AR 186), and made no reference to a record
from Dr. Fabi dated March 18, 2002. Even if the document could be fully credited, an opinion that
Plaintiff was capable of sedentary work in 2002 does not reasonably support a 2008 decision to
terminate benefits.
While Defendant provides some evidence of variations in Dr. Dickinson’s opinions, its attack
on his credibility is based on a selective, ahistorical reading of the documents and assumes that
variations reflect bias rather than fluctuating pain levels. Dr. Dickinson generally indicated that
Grabowski was in constant pain but was capable of limited sedentary work. The May 2005
assessment that Defendant highlights, in which Dr. Dickinson stated that Grabowski could never
return to work, coincided with an office visit in which Grabowski reported extreme pain levels (AR
288) Dr. Dickinson’s later assessments again reflected contemporaneous reports (e.g., 2006
assessment, AR 337). In the reports submitted for Plaintiff’s appeal, Dr. Dickinson reiterated that
Plaintiff experienced constant pain that increased with activity and stated that he doubted Grabowski
“will ever be able to get gainful employment in the future” (AR 153, 147, 145), but he did not opine
that Plaintiff was unable to perform any sedentary occupation.
Defendant disingenuously describes Black & Decker Disability Plan v. Nord, 538 U.S. 822,
832 (2003) as “acknowledging the well known propensity for treating physicians to act as disability
advocates” (Dkt 47, Def. Mem. in Supp. at 22). The Nord opinion does not disparage the opinions
of treating physicians but, instead, explaining its holding that the Social Security disability
program’s presumption in favor of treating physicians did not apply in ERISA, the Court indicated
that neither consulting and treating physicians’s reports should be accorded routine deference. 538
20
U.S. at 832. The Court noted that “if a consultant engaged by a plan may have an ‘incentive’ to
make a finding of ‘not disabled,’ so a treating physician, in a close case, may favor a finding of
‘disabled.’” Id.
Dr. Carr’s IME (AR 106-16) does not provide Defendant with new or substantial evidence
for dismissing Plaintiff’s treating physicians opinions regarding restrictions and limitations. While
discounting Plaintiff’s pain level, the IME did not contribute new findings about Grabowski’s
medical condition. After review of the medical records, Dr. Carr acknowledged that Plaintiff’s
physical impairment was serious but stated that he believed Plaintiff’s subjective report of pain
should be discounted (AR 114-15). Dr. Carr did not measure or quantify Plaintiff’s pain level and
did not indicate whether he thought Plaintiff’s reports were slightly or dramatically out of proportion
to his underlying impairments. Moreover, Dr. Carr gave an equivocal opinion regarding work
restrictions, stating that no restrictions were necessary but including restrictions in his definition of
sedentary work and acknowledging that Plaintiff “should provide his own personal restrictions to
maintain comfort” (AR 114-15).
Defendant’s determination to dismiss Plaintiff’s claims of restrictions and limitations for
work in the sedentary capacity and disregard the opinions of Plaintiff’s treating physician, examined
in light of the medical evidence as a whole, clearly lacks a reasonable basis. Dr. Carr’s equivocal
opinions on limitations and his vague opinion that reports of pain should be discounted fail to state
a case for dismissing the recommendations for range of movement restrictions and frequent position
changes in Dr. Dickinson’s reports. Instead, the IME indicates that some restrictions would be
appropriate. Moreover, because neither the internal medical review nor the IME provided evidence
that shows medical improvement or better defines Grabowski’s medical conditions, the lack of
21
evidence of medical improvement must be considered as a factor to be weighed in determining
whether Lincoln’s decision was arbitrary and capricious.
B. Other Evidence of Disability
Defendant relied on vocational as well as medical analysis to terminate benefits. In fact,
Lincoln’s decision to terminate benefits pivoted on the Transferable Skills Report (TSR) that it
obtained in-house in May 2008 (AR 3). Lincoln appended the TSR to its June 4, 2008, termination
of benefits letter and its appeal-rejection letter and described it to Plaintiff as containing a list of jobs
that he showed transferable skills to perform (AR 187, 104).
Until Lincoln acted on the May 2008 TSR, it had defined Plaintiff as Totally Disabled (AR
102), even though it judged him capable of some sedentary work, on the grounds that he lacked
sedentary skills and was “vocationally disabled” (AR 3-4). Two years earlier, Defendant had sent
Grabowski’s file for a TSR, which showed no occupations at sedentary that met the Plan
requirements for gainful employment (AR 5). While the 2008 TSR yielded a different result,
Lincoln cites no evidence of a change in Grabowski’s skills or vocational ability to explain the
change. Lincoln’s correspondence with Plaintiff does not explain the change in TSR results and the
Administrative Record contains limited evidence of the process by which the 2008 TSR was
obtained. All it indicates is that the TSR used the Dictionary of Occupational Titles as a reference
(AR 187) and Lincoln obtained the results within four business days (AR 3). There is no narrative
report like the nurse’s medical review in the internal record from either of the individuals who
signed the TSR (AR 190) and no other indication that the TSR reviewers read Plaintiff’s file or made
any assessment of his skills, education, training or background.
22
The substantial vocational reports in the record, including the 2003 and 2005 FCE’s, which
focused on Plaintiff’s functional abilities (AR 574-75, 339-48), and the 2005 vocational assessment,
which focused on Plaintiff’s vocational potential (AR 673-76), document in detail Plaintiff’s skills,
education, training and background. This evidence cannot reasonably be construed to support
Defendant’s conclusion that Plaintiff had the skills needed to perform occupations that required
computer skills, typing skills or the background for occupations requiring a clean police record. The
assessment of vocational potential completed at Defendant’s request in 2005, found that Plaintiff
had no transferable skills to sedentary work, did not use the computer and had received a D- grade
in high school typing (AR 674-75). It also noted that Plaintiff had a record of two misdemeanor
counts of domestic violence (id.). The 2003 FCE reported that his fine motor skills were classified
as “not qualified” (AR 574). In 2005, the FCE provided more detail on Plaintiff’s manual dexterity,
reporting that he scored below the first percentile on each of the Purdue Pegboard tests (AR 345).
Defendant provides no explanation for its conclusion that Plaintiff had sedentary skills and
cites no evidence contrary to the 2003 and 2005 vocational assessments. While Defendant was not
required to perform another assessment of Plaintiff’s vocational skills and potential, it had the right
under the Plan to supplement its existing information on Plaintiff’s vocational skills (AR 85).
Lincoln did not seek to update its vocational studies but simply ignored them. We must weigh the
lack of evidence of newly acquired skills in assessing the propriety of Lincoln’s decision to
terminate benefits. McOsker, 279 F.3d at 589; Morris, 399 Fed. App’x at 894. Defendant’ s bald
assertion in its termination letters that Plaintiff had the transferable skills for the jobs it identified
and its failure to give any reasons why the vocational reports in the record were not considered in
assessing the TSR list of occupations utterly fails to meet the requirement that a plan administrator
23
follow a deliberate, principled reasoning process and support its decision with substantial evidence.
See Glenn, 461 F.3d at 666.
In its argument to this Court, Defendant maintains that Plaintiff could not rely on the
evidence in the vocational assessments but was required to present new evidence on appeal (Dkt 47,
Def. Mem. in Supp. at 23). In light of the lack of evidence in the record showing that Plaintiff had
gained transferable skills, Plaintiff’s reliance on the record is reasonable. Lincoln, moreover,
misrepresents its own data to make its argument. It asserts that Plaintiff’s reliance on the lack of
transferable sedentary skills is misplaced because at least some of the jobs listed in the TSR,
including address-change clerk, are unskilled jobs, and Plaintiff had the burden to prove he lacked
qualifications for such positions (id.). The assertion that the vocational assessments in the record
did not address requirements for a job like address-change clerk is directly contradicted by the
source on which the TSR relied. The Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) identifies addresschange clerk as a job that requires many clerical skills that Plaintiff lacks and shows no aptitude for
acquiring. The DOT provides:
203.582-066 TYPIST (clerical)
Operates typewriter or computer to type and revise documents. Compiles
material to be typed. Reads instructions accompanying material, or follows verbal
instructions from supervisor or person requesting document, to determine format
desired, number of copies needed, priority, and other requirements. Types and
revises material such as correspondence, reports, statistical tables, addresses, and
forms, from rough draft, corrected copy, recorded voice dictation, or previous
version displayed on screen, using typewriter or computer and word processing
software. May verify totals on report forms, requisitions, or bills. May operate
duplicating machine to reproduce copy. May be designated according to material
typed, as Address-Change Clerk (insurance); Endorsement Clerk (insurance); Policy
Writer (insurance); Record Clerk (hotel & rest.); Statistical Typist (clerical). …
24
DICTIONARY OF OCCUPATIONAL TITLES, U.S. Dep’t of Labor, Emp’t & Training Admin. (Vol. I, 4th
ed., rev. 1991).4 Defendant’s failure to consider whether Plaintiff met the requirements for jobs it
identified, added to its disregard of the evidence in its file that Plaintiff lacked transferable skills,
is further proof that its decision to terminate benefits was arbitrary and capricious.
C. Conflict of Interest
Although Plaintiff did not present any direct evidence of conflict of interest, Defendant’s
decision-making process is highly indicative of a process aimed at denial of benefits rather than one
directed by proper regard for the fiduciary duties owed to a claimant. This is most evident in
Lincoln’s disregard of evidence at every turn, including its utilization of a limited in-house medical
review, its disparagement of the opinions of Plaintiff’s treating physician, its disregard of the
evidence it had collected on Plaintiff’s vocational skills, and its failure to analyze the job
descriptions of occupations it claimed Plaintiff showed the skills, education, training and
background to perform against its evidence of his actual abilities. Lincoln’s wholly inadequate
review provides ample evidence that a conflict of interest “‘arising from its dual role as
administrator and insurer of the LTD policy interfered with an objective review of the record,’”
Hunter, 2011 WL 2566357, at *8 (quoting Evans v. UnumProvident Corp., 434 F.3d 866, 879 (6th
Cir. 2006)).
IV. Conclusion
Reviewing the evidence and decision-making process as a whole and weighing the factors
discussed above, we find that Lincoln did not engage in a deliberate and principled reasoning
4
The DOT is available on the internet at Department of Labor, Office of Administrative Law
Judges Law Library, DOT, but a caution is posted on the page that the DOT has not been revised
since 1991. See http://www.oalj.dol.gov/libdot.htm.
25
process in making and supporting its decision to terminate benefits. Defendant’s approach did not
reflect a reasoned consideration of Plaintiff’s claim in terms of the Plan provisions, but instead
reflected arbitrary decisions unsupported by substantial evidence.
Where an insurer’s determination is arbitrary and capricious, the court may either award
benefits or remand to the plan administrator. Elliott v. Metro. Life Ins. Co., 473 F.3d 613, 621 (6th
Cir. 2006). The court has broad discretion to craft a remedy. Id. at 622. Here, the record shows that
Lincoln’s decision to terminate benefits was made without evidence that Plaintiff’s skill level or
employment capacity had improved. In light of the lack of a change in the evidence for the LTD
determination that had afforded Plaintiff benefits prior to the cut-off date, we conclude that
Grabowski remains entitled to his disability benefits and that they should be reinstated, with interest.
Accordingly, Plaintiff’s Motion for Judgment on the Administrative Record (Dkt 43) is
granted, and Defendant’s Motion for Judgment on the Administrative Record (Dkt 45) is denied.
Plaintiff may file an appropriate motion for attorney fees and costs.
An Order consistent with this Opinion will issue.
DATED: August 11, 2011
/s/ Janet T. Neff
JANET T. NEFF
United States District Judge
26
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?