Gregory HAYES, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. The HARTFORD LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, d.b.a. Benefit Management Services, Defendant-Appellee, 255 F. App'x 436

PER CURIAM: Gregory Hayes (“Hayes”), appeals from the district court’s grant of

summary judgment in favor of The Hartford Life Insurance Company (“Hartford”). We review the district court’s rulings on motion for

summary judgment de novo, applying the same legal standards that governed the district court. Williams v. BellSouth Telecomms. Inc., 373 F.3d 1132, 1134 (11th Cir.2004). This is an ERISA case. Hartford, the insurer and plan administrator, denied Hayes long-term disability benefits because Hartford concluded that Hayes was capable of working in a “light to sedentary range” occupation. The district court found, and the parties agree, that the framework for reviewing Hartford’s decision is the heightened arbitrary and capricious standard. Williams, 373 F.3d at 1137-38.

The first prong of this standard is to conduct de novo review “to determine whether the claim administrator’s benefits-denial decision is ‘wrong’ (ie., the court disagrees with the administrator’s decision); if it is not, then end the inquiry and affirm the decision.” Id. at 1138 (footnote omitted). Here, we do not proceed past the first prong.

Hartford concedes that Hayes has the physical ability to perform sedentary to light occupations, but only contends that Hayes, who was a commercially-licensed truck driver for ten years, does not have the intellectual ability for any occupation within the sedentary to light occupation range. Hartford produced evidence that Hayes had the education, training, or experience to perform various occupations within the sedentary to light occupational range, such as a loading inspector, truck safety inspector, or perishable-freight inspector.

Upon a thorough consideration of the record, we agree with the district court; the evidence indicates that Hayes has the intellectual capacity to perform work in the sedentary to light occupational range. Accordingly, we affirm. AFFIRMED.