S.D. Ohio Reports Circuit Split Re Whether Plan Administrators, as Opposed to the Plan Itself, May be Defendants in ERISA Action

Per Garringer v. Employer Ben. Services of Ohio, Inc., 2008 WL 3822311 (S.D. Ohio Aug 12, 2008):

Although the circuits are split on the issue of whether a plan is the only proper defendant in a suit to recover benefits under section 502(a)(1)(B), in the Sixth Circuit, plan administrators may be properly named as parties in an ERISA action. "[I]n the Sixth Circuit, the proper party defendant in an ERISA action concerning benefits is the party that is shown to control administration of the plan." Little v. UNUM Provident Corp., 196 F.Supp.2d 659, 672 (S.D.Ohio 2002), citing Daniel v. Eaton Corp., 839 F.2d 263, 266 (6th Cir., 1988); see also, Strickrath v. The Hartford Insurance Co., No. C-2-06-1080, 2008 WL 835686 at *6 (S.D.Oh. Mar.28, 2008).