Circuit Court Rulings on ERISA Insurance Claims

This document is a report detailing recent rulings by various Circuit Courts regarding ERISA-related insurance claims. It discusses the case of Fulkerson v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, where the Sixth Circuit ruled that a beneficiary was not entitled to accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) benefits due to a crime exclusion in the policy, specifically related to reckless driving. The report also covers Bunner v. Dearborn National Life Insurance Co., where the Fifth Circuit upheld the denial of long-term disability benefits based on a preexisting condition exclusion. Additionally, it addresses Gimeno v. NCHMD Inc., where the Eleventh Circuit recognized a cause of action for beneficiaries to recover monetary benefits lost due to fiduciary breaches during the enrollment process. Lastly, it examines Harris v. Lincoln National Life Insurance Co., clarifying the scope of de novo review in ERISA cases, allowing district courts to consider all relevant evidence beyond the administrative record.