O'Hara v. Nat. Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh
Patricia O'Hara sued National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA, challenging the denial of her disability benefits under an ERISA plan. O'Hara suffered a concussion in 2001 and was later terminated from her employment due to issues stemming from her injury. National Union denied her claim, citing a lack of objective medical evidence for a permanent and total disability that commenced within one year of the accident and prevented her from engaging in any occupation. The court, conducting a de novo review, found that while O'Hara was disabled from her specific administrative assistant role, there was insufficient evidence to prove she was unable to perform any occupation for which she was reasonably qualified, as defined by the plan and interpreted by relevant case law. Consequently, the court granted National Union's motion for summary judgment and dismissed O'Hara's complaint with prejudice.