Bernstein v. CapitalCare, Inc.

How courts have described this case

Verbatim parenthetical descriptions written by other courts when citing this decision. Ranked by citation-network relevance.

• applying modified standard based solely on fact that plan administrator was plan insurer
• refusing to consider plan administrator’s evidence developed after the final denial of benefits
• “The administration of benefit and pension plans should be the function of the designated fiduciaries, not the federal courts.”
• An administrator faces a conflict of interest where a decision to grant or deny benefits impacts the insurer’s financial interests as it “both administers the plan and pays for benefits received by its members.”
• where administrative record inadequate to allow district court a meaningful review, remand is necessary
• “The more incentive for the administrator or fiduciary to benefit itself by a certain interpretation of benefit eligibility or other plan terms, the more objectively reasonable the administrator or fiduciary’s deci sion must be and the more substantial the evidence must be to support it.”

Source: CourtListener parenthetical corpus (CC0).

Cited by

95 cases in this archive cite this case; the 20 most cited are listed.

• Helton v. AT & T Inc.
  Fourth Circuit· 2013-03-06· cited 308×
• Ellen v. Ellis v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
  Fourth Circuit· 1997-09-10· cited 225×
• Evans v. Eaton Corp. Long Term Disability Plan
  Fourth Circuit· 2008-01-08· cited 146×
• Brenda Elliott v. Sara Lee Corporation
  Fourth Circuit· 1999-09-14· cited 142×
• Colin v. Marconi Commerce Systems Employees' Retirement Plan
  M.D. North Carolina· 2004-09-01· cited 142×
• Krauss v. Oxford Health Plans, Inc.
  Second Circuit· 2008-03-26· cited 128×
• Brogan v. Holland
  Fourth Circuit· 1997-01-24· cited 124×
• Patrick L. Gallagher v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company
  Fourth Circuit· 2002-09-25· cited 116×
• Jay M. Feder v. The Paul Revere Life Insurance Company
  Fourth Circuit· 2000-09-21· cited 68×
• Duperry v. Life Insurance Co. of North America
  Fourth Circuit· 2011-01-24· cited 50×
• Booth v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Associates Health & Welfare Plan
  Fourth Circuit· 2000-01-14· cited 44×
• Neal S. Smith v. Continental Casualty Company, Neal S. Smith v. Continental Casualty Company
  Fourth Circuit· 2004-05-28· cited 42×
• Michele Eckelberry, in Her Capacity as Beneficiary v. Reliastar Life Insurance Company
  Fourth Circuit· 2006-11-17· cited 39×
• Unnamed case
  Fourth Circuit· 2007-04-26· cited 37×
• Unnamed case
  Fourth Circuit· 2000-01-14· cited 23×
• Hotz v. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc.
  First Circuit· 2002-06-11· cited 22×
• Unnamed case
  Fourth Circuit· 2002-05-20· cited 22×
• Guthrie v. NATIONAL RURAL ELEC. COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION LONG-TERM DISABILITY PLAN
  Fourth Circuit· 2007-12-11· cited 21×
• Clark v. Unum Life Insurance of America
  D. Maryland· 2011-09-27· cited 18×
• Clark v. Metropolitan Life Insurance
  E.D. Virginia· 2005-05-11· cited 18×

Cites

7 cases in this archive are cited by this case.

• Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. v. Bruch
  Supreme Court· 1989-02-21· cited 6,595×
• John Halpin v. W.W. Grainger, Incorporated
  Seventh Circuit· 1992-05-06· cited 238×
• Hebra A. Berry v. Ciba-Geigy Corporation
  Fourth Circuit· 1985-05-13· cited 211×
• John Doe Firm Doe v. Group Hospitalization & Medical Services, D/B/A Blue Cross and Blue Shield of the National Capital Area
  Fourth Circuit· 1993-08-18· cited 210×
• William L. Baker v. United Mine Workers of America Health and Retirement Funds
  Sixth Circuit· 1991-04-09· cited 166×
• The Sheppard & Enoch Pratt Hospital, Incorporated v. Travelers Insurance Company
  Fourth Circuit· 1994-08-15· cited 152×
• Eva E. O'COnnOr Larry M. O'COnnOr v. Central Virginia U.F.C.W. And Subscribing Employers Welfare Fund
  Fourth Circuit· 1991-09-30· cited 7×