Conley v. Gibson

Holding that "a complaint should not be dismissed for failure to state a claim unless it appears beyond doubt that the plaintiff can prove no set of facts in support of his claim which would entitle him to relief"

Great-West Life Annuity Ins. Co. v. Knudson

Holding an injunction ordering money funds to be legal relief because it sought to "impo[se] personal liability for the benefits that they conferred upon respondents"

Cigna Corp. v. Amara

Holding that SPDs provide "communication with beneficiaries about the plan, but . . . do not themselves constitute the terms of the plan for purposes of § 502(B)"

Mertens v. Hewitt Assocs

Holding that relief under section 502 is limited to remedies traditionally available in equity, such as injunctions, mandamus, and restitution

Pegram v. Herdrich

Holding that there was "jurisdiction regardless of the correctness of the removal" because the "amended complaint alleged ERISA violations, over which the federal courts have jurisdiction"

In re Burlington Coat Factory

Holding that a court may consider a "document integral to or explicitly relied upon in the complaint" when deciding a motion to dismiss

Morse v. Lower Merion School District

Holding that because "the notion of deliberate indifference contemplates a danger that must at least be foreseeable," defendant cannot be said to have ignored a foreseeable risk or danger if plaintiff has not shown the existence of such a risk

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. v. White Consolidated Industries, Inc.

Holding that, when reviewing a motion to dismiss, courts consider "allegations contained in the complaint, exhibits attached to the complaint and matters of public record"

Sereboff v. Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Inc.

Holding portion of beneficiary's settlement constituted specifically identifiable funds subject to equitable lien

Curtiss-Wright Corp. v. Schoonejongen

Holding that a clause reserving the company's right "at any time to amend the plan" meets the requirements of 29 U.S.C. § 1102(b)

Rule 12 - Defenses and Objections: When and How Presented; Motion for Judgment on the Pleadings; Consolidating Motions; Waiving Defenses; Pretrial Hearing

Granting the court discretion to exclude matters outside the pleadings presented to the court in defense of a motion to dismiss

Section 1331 - Federal question

Finding that in order to invoke federal question jurisdiction, a plaintiff's claims must arise "under the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States."

Section 1132 - Civil enforcement

Holding liable "[a]ny administrator" who fails to provide documents in a timely manner

Section 1001 - Congressional findings and declaration of policy

Noting that ERISA was enacted “to protect ... employee benefit plans and their beneficiaries”

Section 1002 - Definitions

Holding that ERISA is a federal law that sets standards of protection for individuals in most voluntarily established, private-sector retirement plans

Section 1104 - Fiduciary duties

Specifying duties of a "fiduciary . . . with respect to a plan"

Section 1109 - Liability for breach of fiduciary duty

Breaching fiduciary "shall be subject to such other equitable or remedial relief as the court may deem appropriate"

Section 1102 - Establishment of plan

Granting administrator, as “named fiduciary,” the “authority to control and manage the operation and administration of the plan”

Section 6 - Annual and special reports to President and Congress