Heimeshoff v. Hartford Life & Accident Insurance Co.

Heimeshoff v. Hartford Life & Accident Insurance Co. and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Argued October 15, 2013
Decided December 16, 2013
Full case name Heimeshoff v. Hartford Life & Accident Insurance Co. and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Docket nos. 12–729
Argument Oral argument
Prior history Case dismissed, US Dis. Ct.; District Court affirmed by 2nd Ckt. Ct.
Holding
Absent a controlling statute to the contrary, a participant in an employee benefit plan covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the plan may agree by contract to a particular limitations period, even one that starts to run before the cause of action accrues, as long as the period is reasonable.
Court membership
Case opinions
Majority Thomas, joined by Roberts, Scalia, Kennedy, Kagan, Sotomayor, Alito, Ginsburg, Breyer
Laws applied
Employee Retirement Income Security Act

Heimeshoff v. Hartford Life & Accident Ins. Co. No. 12–729, 567 U.S. 310 (2013) is a United States Supreme Court case. In this case, the court considered whether the agreed-upon limitations period for filing a legal objection to long-term disability denial began when the claim was filed or the claim received a final denial.[1] In a unanimous decision, the court ruled the agreed-upon limitations period is neither too short nor is there a statute that prevents it from taking effect, as such the courts are bound to enforce the limitations period and its start date as written in the coverage plan.[2]

References


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