massachusetts mut life ins russell argued january decided june respondent claims examiner petitioner insurance company petitioner beneficiary employee benefit plans administered petitioner governed employee retirement income security act erisa may respondent became disabled back ailment received plan benefits october petitioner disability committee terminated benefits based orthopedic surgeon report respondent requested review decision march plan administrator reinstated benefits based medical reports retroactive benefits paid full claiming injured improper refusal pay benefits october march respondent sued petitioner california superior alleging various causes action based state law erisa petitioner removed case federal district granted petitioner motion summary judgment holding inter alia erisa barred claims extracontractual damages arising original denial respondent claim benefits appeals reversed pertinent part holding days petitioner took process respondent claim violated plan fiduciary obligation process claims good faith fair diligent manner violation gave rise cause action damages erisa asserted plan beneficiary pursuant authorizing civil enforcement erisa section provides ny person fiduciary respect plan breaches responsibilities obligations duties imposed upon fiduciaries title shall personally liable make good plan losses plan resulting breach restore plan profits fiduciary made use assets plan fiduciary shall subject equitable remedial relief may deem appropriate including removal fiduciary held section provide cause action extracontractual damages beneficiary caused improper untimely processing benefit claims pp text contains express authority award damages nothing text support conclusion delay processing disputed claim gives rise private cause action compensatory punitive relief rather text shows congress intend authorize relief except plan relevant fiduciary relationship characterized outset one respect plan fiduciary potential personal liability make good plan losses plan restore plan profits fiduciary made use assets plan pp private cause action damages implied respondent member class whose benefit erisa enacted view effect erisa impediment implying remedy legislative intent consistency legislative scheme support conclusion congress intend judiciary imply cause action civil enforcement provisions provide strong evidence congress intend authorize remedies incorporate expressly pp stevens delivered opinion burger powell rehnquist joined brennan filed opinion concurring judgment white marshall blackmun joined post john nolan reargued cause petitioners briefs paul ondrasik antonia ianniello richard davis david bacon brad baker reargued cause filed brief respondent briefs amici curiae urging reversal filed alaska fishermen canners pension trust et al thomas hart richard donaldson american council life insurance health insurance association america erwin griswold jack blaine edward zimmerman board trustees northern california carpenters trust funds et al thomas stanton donald tayer motion picture health welfare fund william cole pipe trust et al stuart young construction laborers pension trust southern california et al james watson george cox john miller lionel richman carl frankel bernard kleiman filed brief america clc amicus curiae urging affirmance justice stevens delivered opinion question presented decision whether employee retirement income security act erisa fiduciary employee benefit plan may held personally liable plan participant beneficiary extracontractual compensatory punitive damages caused improper untimely processing benefit claims respondent doris russell claims examiner petitioner massachusetts mutual life insurance company hereafter petitioner beneficiary two employee benefit plans administered petitioner eligible employees plans funded general assets petitioner governed erisa may respondent became disabled back ailment received plan benefits october based report orthopedic surgeon petitioner disability committee terminated benefits october requested internal review decision november submitted report psychiatrist indicating suffered psychosomatic disability physical manifestations rather orthopedic illness examination second psychiatrist february confirmed respondent temporarily disabled plan administrator reinstated benefits march two days later retroactive benefits paid full although respondent paid benefits contractually entitled claims injured improper refusal pay benefits october benefits terminated march eligibility restored among allegations asserts fiduciaries administering petitioner employee benefit plans company officials ignored readily available medical evidence documenting respondent disability applied unwarrantedly strict eligibility standards deliberately took days process claim violation regulations promulgated secretary labor interruption benefit payments allegedly forced respondent disabled husband cash retirement savings turn aggravated psychological condition caused respondent back ailment accordingly sued petitioner california superior pleading various causes action based state law erisa petitioner removed case district central district california moved summary judgment district granted motion holding claims erisa erisa bars claims damages punitive damages arising original denial plaintiff claims benefits salary continuance plan subsequent review thereof app pet cert appeal appeals ninth circuit affirmed part reversed part although agreed district respondent causes action erisa held complaint alleged cause action erisa see reasoned days petitioner took process respondent claim violated fiduciary obligation process claims good faith fair diligent manner concluded violation gave rise cause action asserted plan beneficiary pursuant read authorization equitable remedial relief may deem appropriate giving wide discretion damages awarded including compensatory punitive damages according appeals award compensatory damages shall remedy wrong make aggrieved individual whole meant merely contractual damages loss plan benefits relief compensate injured party losses injuries sustained direct proximate cause breach fiduciary duty including damages mental emotional distress moreover liability fiduciary personally plan appeals also held punitive damages recovered although decided award permitted fiduciary acted actual malice wanton indifference rights participant beneficiary believed result supported text congressional purpose provide broad remedies redress prevent violations act granted certiorari review compensatory punitive components appeals holding authorizes recovery extracontractual damages respondent defends judgment appeals reasoning provides express basis extracontractual damages well arguing event private remedy inferred analysis employed cort ash reject arguments caption implies establishes liability breach fiduciary duty specifically provides person fiduciary respect plan breaches responsibilities obligations duties imposed upon fiduciaries title shall personally liable make good plan losses plan resulting breach restore plan profits fiduciary made use assets plan fiduciary shall subject equitable remedial relief may deem appropriate including removal fiduciary fiduciary may also removed violation section act stat civil action may brought participant beneficiary relief provided subsection section recover benefits due terms plan enforce rights terms plan clarify rights future benefits terms plan secretary participant beneficiary fiduciary appropriate relief section stat appeals opinion focused reference equitable remedial relief may deem appropriate entire section examined emphasis relationship fiduciary plan entity becomes apparent thus relevant fiduciary relationship characterized outset one respect plan potential personal liability fiduciary make good plan losses plan restore plan profits fiduciary made use assets plan read directly opening clause identifies proscribed acts catchall remedy phrase end skipping intervening language establishing remedies benefiting first instance solely plan divorce phrase construed context construct entirely new class relief available entities plan cf fmc seatrain lines jones blue pencil method statutory interpretation omitting words part clauses deemed pertinent task hand impermissibly ignores relevant context statutory language subsists see jarecki searle case mode interpretation render superfluous preceding clauses providing relief singularly plan slight language following phrase equitable remedial relief congress specified remedial phrase includes removal fiduciary example kind relief provided specific clauses succeeds fair contextual reading statute makes abundantly clear draftsmen primarily concerned possible misuse plan assets remedies protect entire plan rather rights individual beneficiary course true fiduciary obligations plan administrators serve interest participants beneficiaries specifically provide benefits authorized plan principal statutory duties imposed trustees relate proper management administration investment fund assets maintenance proper records disclosure specified information avoidance conflicts interest duties described part title act entitled fiduciary responsibility see stat whereas statutory provisions relating claim procedures found part dealing administration enforcement stat section concerns review claim denied merely specifies every plan shall comply certain regulations promulgated secretary labor secretary regulations contemplate decision shall made promptly shall ordinarily made later days plan receipt request review unless special circumstances require extension time processing case decision shall rendered soon possible later days receipt request review cfr nothing regulations statute however expressly provides recovery either plan administrators greater time required determine merits application benefits rather regulations merely state claim may treated denied period elapsed see decision review furnished within time claim shall deemed denied review emphasis added provision therefore enables claimant bring civil action merits application determined may bring action challenge outright denial benefits significantly statutory provision explicitly authorizing beneficiary bring action enforce rights plan quoted supra says nothing recovery extracontractual damages possible consequences delay plan administrators processing disputed claim thus really nothing statutory text support conclusion delay gives rise private right action compensatory punitive relief entire text persuades us congress intend section authorize relief except plan short unlike appeals find express authority award extracontractual damages beneficiary ii relying analysis employed cort ash respondent argues private right action extracontractual damages implied even expressly authorized erisa two four cort factors unquestionably support respondent claim respondent member class whose benefit statute enacted view effect erisa impediment implying remedy two factors legislative intent consistency legislative scheme point opposite direction unless congressional intent inferred language statute statutory structure source essential predicate implication private remedy simply exist northwest airlines transport workers federal judiciary engraft remedy statute matter salutary congress intend provide california sierra club voluminous legislative history act contradicts respondent position true early version statute contained provision legal equitable relief described senate house committee reports authorizing full range legal equitable remedies available state federal courts leg hist leg hist language appeared committee reports describing version bill debate floor conference committee finalized operative language bill passed house representatives ultimately adopted conference committee reference legal relief deleted language relied respondent appeals therefore little help understanding whether congress intended make fiduciaries personally liable beneficiaries extracontractual damages six carefully integrated civil enforcement provisions found statute finally enacted however provide strong evidence congress intend authorize remedies simply forgot incorporate expressly assumption inadvertent omission rendered especially suspect upon close consideration erisa interlocking interrelated interdependent remedial scheme turn part comprehensive reticulated statute nachman pension benefit guaranty corporation case example plan administrator adhered initial determination respondent entitled disability benefits plan respondent panoply remedial devices disposal recover benefits due filed action pursuant recover accrued benefits obtain declaratory judgment entitled benefits provisions plan contract enjoin plan administrator improperly refusing pay benefits future plan administrator refusal pay contractually authorized benefits willful part larger systematic breach fiduciary obligations respondent hypothetical asked removal fiduciary pursuant finally answer possible concern attorney fees might present barrier maintenance suits small claims thereby risking underenforcement beneficiaries statutory rights noted erisa authorizes award attorney fees see stat amended reluctant tamper enforcement scheme crafted evident care one erisa stated transamerica mortgage advisors lewis statute expressly provides particular remedy remedies must chary reading others see also touche ross redington presumption remedy deliberately omitted statute strongest congress enacted comprehensive legislative scheme including integrated system procedures enforcement northwest airlines transport workers contrast repeatedly emphasized purpose protect contractually defined benefits stark absence statute legislative history reference intention authorize recovery extracontractual damages neither statute legislative history reveals congressional intent create private right action need carry cort ash inquiry northwest airlines transport workers iii thus relevant text erisa structure entire statute legislative history support conclusion congress provide intend judiciary imply cause action extracontractual damages caused improper untimely processing benefit claims judgment appeals therefore reversed footnotes regulations authorized stat appear cfr discuss infra petitioner argues review period measured november respondent submitted medical evidence rather october date requested review purposes decision accept respondent position point respondent file therefore questioned appeals holding causes action erisa respondent relies entirely expressly disclaims reliance occasion consider whether provision erisa authorizes recovery extracontractual damages tr oral arg section prohibits person convicted certain enumerated offenses serving administrator fiduciary regulated plan see stat section reads follows person willfully violates portion part subtitle regulation order issued provision shall upon conviction fined imprisoned one year except case violation person individual fine imposed upon person shall fine exceeding stat part subtitle consists imposes elaborate reporting disclosure requirements plan administrators see stat committee reports also emphasize fiduciary personal liability losses plan see conf reprinted subcommittee labor public welfare senate committee labor public welfare legislative history employee retirement income security act comm print hereinafter leg hist pp leg hist leg hist floor debate also reveals crucible congressional concern misuse mismanagement plan assets plan administrators erisa designed prevent abuses future see cong rec legislation imposes strict fiduciary obligations discretion responsibility respecting management handling disposition pension welfare plan assets remarks williams reprinted leg hist cong rec bill establish judicially enforceable standards insure honest faithful competent management pension welfare funds remarks bentsen reprinted leg hist cong rec nstances arisen pension funds used improperly plan managers fiduciaries bill contains measures designed reduce substantially potentialities abuse remarks nelson reprinted leg hist cong rec addition frequently pension funds abused responsible management manipulate purposes make poor investments remarks ribicoff reprinted leg hist cong rec isuse manipulation poor management pension trust funds frequent remarks ribicoff reprinted leg hist cong rec legislation sets fiduciary standards insure pension funds mismanaged remarks clark reprinted leg hist cong rec erisa contains provisions insure fair handling worker money remarks biaggi reprinted leg hist cong rec standards prevent abuses dealing plans remarks dent reprinted leg hist cong rec erisa imposes fiduciary disclosure standards guard fraud abuse pension funds remarks brademas reprinted leg hist consistent objective enforcement provision authorizes suits four classes secretary labor participants beneficiaries fiduciaries inclusion secretary labor indicative congress intent actions breach fiduciary duty brought representative capacity behalf plan whole indeed common interest shared four classes financial integrity plan accordingly erisa establishes duties loyalty care fiduciaries regard loyalty principal provision general prohibits sales exchanges plan one hand parties interest disqualified persons see stat vein prohibits compensating fiduciaries employees unions employers stat regard duty care among obligations imposes prudent person standard measure fiduciaries investment decisions disposition assets see stat section also mandates fiduciary shall discharge duties respect plan solely interest participants beneficiaries exclusive purpose providing benefits participants beneficiaries stat section provides accordance regulations secretary every employee benefit plan shall provide adequate notice writing participant beneficiary whose claim benefits plan denied setting forth specific reasons denial written manner calculated understood participant afford reasonable opportunity participant whose claim benefits denied full fair review appropriate named fiduciary decision denying claim stat secretary labor rulemaking power contained stat light holding reach question concerning extent may authorize recovery extracontractual compensatory punitive damages fiduciary plan determining whether private remedy implicit statute expressly providing one several factors relevant first plaintiff one class whose especial benefit statute enacted texas pacific rigsby emphasis supplied statute create federal right favor plaintiff second indication legislative intent explicit implicit either create remedy deny one see national railroad passenger corporation national assn railroad passengers amtrak third consistent underlying purposes legislative scheme imply remedy plaintiff finally cause action one traditionally relegated state law area basically concern inappropriate infer cause action based solely federal law cort ash citations omitted provision part passed senate provided ivil actions appropriate relief legal equitable redress restrain breach responsibility obligation duty fiduciary sess mar leg hist also part earlier bills see sess apr leg hist see also sess leg hist see middlesex county sewerage authority national sea clammers texas industries radcliff materials california sierra club national railroad passenger corporation national assn railroad passengers nashville milk carnation switchmen national mediation board botany worsted mills see nachman pension benefit guaranty corporation cong rec leg hist cong rec leg hist indeed congress concerned lest cost federal standards discourage growth private pension plans see leg hist cong rec leg hist cong rec leg hist justice brennan justice white justice marshall justice blackmun join concurring judgment section employee retirement income security act erisa provides wide array measures plan participants beneficiaries may enforce rights erisa terms plans participant beneficiary may file civil action example recover benefits due terms plan enforce rights terms plan clarify rights future benefits terms plan appropriate relief section enjoin act practice violates provision title terms plan obtain appropriate equitable relief redress violations emphasis added case presents single narrow question whether appropriate relief referred includes individual recovery participant beneficiary extracontractual damages breach fiduciary duty appeals ninth circuit held broadly authorizes equitable remedial relief may deem appropriate participants beneficiaries may recover damages section agree decision today fairly read context providing remedies protect entire plan rather individuals ante participants beneficiaries accordingly must look elsewhere erisa personal relief indeed since already provides participants beneficiaries appropriate equitable relief redress erisa violations reason construe expansively order bring individuals penumbra equitable remedial relief resolve course whether extent extracontractual damages available question addressed courts briefed parties amici thus properly emphasizes occasion consider whether provision erisa authorizes recovery extracontractual damages ante accordingly save another day questions extent fiduciary mishandling claim might constitute actionable breach fiduciary duties set forth nature extent appropriate equitable relief redress violations dicta opinion however construed sweeping broadly narrow ground resolution set forth although takes care limit binding effect decision terms opinion points seems speak generally whether fiduciaries ever may held personally liable beneficiaries extracontractual damages moreover remarks simply incompatible structure legislative history purposes erisa ambiguous discussion certainly subject different readings event without controlling significance beyond question relief write separately outline believe proper approach courts take construing erisa provisions emphasize issues left open today decision fiduciary duties claims administration language opinion might read suggesting fiduciary duties imposed erisa plan administrators part run plan opposed individual beneficiaries see ante apparently thinks might significance fact administrator fiduciary duties described part title act whereas statutory provisions relating claim procedures found part ante accordingly seems believe duties remedies associated claims processing might restricted explicitly spelled ante extent suggests administrators might fully subject strict fiduciary duties participants beneficiaries processing claims traditional remedies breaches duties strongly disagree acknowledges ante sets forth governing standard fiduciary shall discharge duties respect plan solely interest participants beneficiaries exclusive purpose providing benefits participants beneficiaries section also provides carrying duties fiduciary shall exercise care skill prudence diligence prudent man acting like capacity legislative history demonstrates congress intended incorporate fiduciary standards trust law erisa trust law fiduciaries owe strict duties running directly beneficiaries administration payment trust benefits legislative history also shows congress intended fiduciary standards govern erisa process moreover suggestion concerning distinction parts title thoroughly unconvincing section authorizes award appropriate equitable relief directly participant beneficiary redress act practice violates provision title terms plan section standards appear title entitled protection employee benefit rights beneficiary therefore may obtain appropriate equitable relief whenever administrator breaches fiduciary duties set forth accordingly administrator duties beneficiary corresponding remedies necessarily limited terms light narrow holding see ante consideration important issues remains open another day disposition controversy might really turn judicial construction erisa russell argues private right action beneficiaries participants read concluded congress intent erisa overall structure restrict scope recovery behalf plan ante private right squarely barred standards set forth cort ash disposing relatively straightforward issue makes observations role courts generally construing enforcing erisa suggests example congress crafted erisa carefully integrated remedies create interlocking interrelated interdependent remedial scheme courts tamper ante discussion say respectfully unnecessary extent completely erroneous may may correct general matter respect implying private rights action erisa respondent sought implied right course purport resolve question many contexts might arise statute moreover remarks constrictive judicial role enforcing erisa remedial scheme inaccurate insofar congress provided beneficiaries recover addition remedies explicitly set forth section appropriate equitable relief redress erisa violations congress already instructed beneficiaries recover benefits obtain broad injunctive declaratory relief personal benefit benefit plans secure attorney fees additional provision read precisely authorizing federal courts erisa remedial scheme thus may well courts generally may find implied private remedies erisa remarks little bearing courts go construing private remedy congress explicitly provided legislative history demonstrates congress intended federal courts develop federal common law fashioning additional appropriate equitable relief presenting conference report full senate example senator javits ranking minority member senate committee labor public welfare one two principal senate sponsors erisa stated also intended body federal substantive law developed courts deal issues involving rights obligations private welfare pension plans senator williams committee chairman act principal senate sponsor similarly emphasized suits involving beneficiaries rights regarded arising laws similar fashion brought section labor management relations act section course authorizes federal courts fashion body federal law context agreements derived looking policy legislation fashioning remedy effectuate policy textile workers lincoln mills erisa legislative history also demonstrates beyond question congress intended engraft principles onto enforcement scheme see supra fundamental concept trust law courts give beneficiaries trust remedies necessary protection interests thus erisa carefully integrated crafted preclude judicial delineation appropriate rights remedies far barring process statute explicitly directs courts shall undertake today expressly reserves question whether extracontractual damages might one form appropriate relief ante believe resolving questions concerning appropriate relief erisa courts begin ascertaining extent trust pension law developed state federal courts provide recovery beneficiary beyond benefits withheld logical first step given congress intended incorporate trust law erisa equitable remedies requested form additional relief available state trust law courts next consider whether allowance relief significantly conflict aspect erisa scheme addition courts must always bear mind ultimate consideration whether allowance disallowance particular relief best effectuate underlying purposes erisa enforcement strict fiduciary standards care administration aspects pension plans promotion best interests participants beneficiaries see supra concur judgment section stat provides full civil action may brought participant beneficiary relief provided subsection section recover benefits due terms plan enforce rights terms plan clarify rights future benefits terms plan secretary participant beneficiary fiduciary appropriate relief section participant beneficiary fiduciary enjoin act practice violates provision title terms plan obtain appropriate equitable relief redress violations ii enforce provisions title terms plan secretary participant beneficiary appropriate relief case violation section except otherwise provided subsection secretary enjoin act practice violates provision title obtain appropriate equitable relief redress violation ii enforce provision title secretary collect civil penalty subsection section stat provides person fiduciary respect plan breaches responsibilities obligations duties imposed upon fiduciaries title shall personally liable make good plan losses plan resulting breach restore plan profits fiduciary made use assets plan fiduciary shall subject equitable remedial relief may deem appropriate including removal fiduciary fiduciary may also removed violation section act fiduciary shall liable respect breach fiduciary duty title breach committed became fiduciary ceased fiduciary see ante granted certiorari review compensatory punitive components appeals holding authorizes recovery extracontractual damages ante ante find express authority award extracontractual damages beneficiary ante see ante section stat amended stat provides relevant part fiduciary shall discharge duties respect plan solely interest participants beneficiaries exclusive purpose providing benefits participants beneficiaries ii defraying reasonable expenses administering plan care skill prudence diligence circumstances prevailing prudent man acting like capacity familiar matters use conduct enterprise like character like aims diversifying investments plan minimize risk large losses unless circumstances clearly prudent accordance documents instruments governing plan insofar documents instruments consistent provisions title title iv see fiduciary responsibility section essence codifies makes applicable fiduciaries certain principles developed evolution law trusts principles fiduciary conduct adopted existing trust law modifications appropriate employee benefit plans salient principles place twofold duty every fiduciary act relationship plan fund prudent man similar situation like conditions act act consistently principles administering trust exclusive purposes previously enumerated accordance documents instruments governing fund unless inconsistent fiduciary principles section see also pp conf assets employee benefit plan held exclusive benefit participants beneficiaries cong rec remarks williams central pension fund central transport congress invoked common law trusts define general scope fiduciary authority responsibility nlrb amax coal congress uses terms accumulated settled meaning either equity common law must infer unless statute otherwise dictates congress means incorporate established meaning terms leigh engle donovan mazzola sinai hospital baltimore national benefit fund hospital health care employees donovan bierwirth cert denied see restatement second trusts bogert bogert law trusts see cong rec remarks williams emphasis added erisa imposes strict fiduciary obligations upon exercise management control assets administration employee pension welfare plan conf procedures delegating fiduciary duties including allocation delegation duties respect payment benefits conference report emphasized participants beneficiaries entitled recover benefits due plan clarify rights receive future benefits plan also obtain relief breach fiduciary duty see also cong rec remarks williams beneficiaries entitled recover benefits well obtain redress fiduciary violations remedies equitable nature include provision monetary damages see bogert bogert law trusts trustees ed hereinafter bogert bogert trusts trustees restatement second trusts thus given form monetary relief may unavailable erisa reasons see infra withheld simply beneficiary remedies erisa denominated equitable see also restatement second torts comment violation fiduciary duty although remedy beneficiary defaulting negligent trustee ordinarily equity beneficiary entitled redress harm caused breach duty arising relation implied action personal recovery specifically barred second third factors set forth cort ash indication legislative intent explicit implicit either create remedy deny one consistent underlying purposes legislative scheme imply remedy plaintiff section specifically allows beneficiaries sue section however even private right action participants beneficiaries read section brief respondent see also cong rec see also cong actions federal state courts regarded arising laws similar fashion brought section relations act see also national society professional engineers omitted congress intend text sherman act delineate full meaning statute application concrete situations legislative history makes perfectly clear expected courts give shape statute broad mandate drawing tradition rule reason origins precedents long antedating sherman act served purpose seems erisa incorporation trust law deserves similarly generous flexible construction scott law trusts see also restatement second trusts comment beneficiary entitled remedy put position trustee committed breach trust bogert bogert trusts trustees absence relief traditional trust law necessarily dispositive however enacting erisa congress made exacting requirements common law trusts relating employee benefit trust funds donovan mazzola emphasis added see also sinai hospital baltimore national benefit fund hospital health care employees courts required fashion federal rule decision source law must federal uniform yet state law compatible national policy may resorted adopted federal rule decision course little federal law may turn guidance state regulation insurance pensions programs however provides source experience experiment area yet federal inexperience much thus far developed particularly insurance field statutory certain areas public concern state legislatures quite active enacting comprehensive regulatory schemes state statutory sources law doubt play major role development federal common law erisa particularly defining rights employee benefit plans wayne chemical columbus agency service supp nd ind modified 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