9th Cir.;
15-56394

The court of appeals vacated a judgment and remanded. The court held that the district court erred in applying a de novo standard of review to a plan administrator's denial of benefits under an employer's self-funded short-term disability plan.

The Boeing Company employee Yvette Williby applied for short-term disability payments under Boeing's self-funded disability plan. Williby was initially awarded benefits, but plan administrator Aetna Life Insurance Company later terminated Williby's benefits after determining she was not disabled. Williby brought suit under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), challenging the termination of benefits.