Select Circuit Court Decisions

Third Circuit

Miller v. American Airlines, Inc., No. 10-1784, 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 1462 (3rd Cir. Jan. 25, 2011).

The plaintiff, an airline pilot, suffered a psychotic episode while on duty and was later admitted to a hospital for treatment. As a result, the plaintiff's FAA medical certification, required for all commercial pilots, was revoked. Based on the diagnosis of a brief reactive psychosis and information supporting disability from his own occupation, the plan approved payment of LTD benefits. Four years later, because medical records indicated that the plaintiff was asymptomatic, although his diagnoses remained the same, the plan terminated the plaintiff's LTD benefits.