Graeber v. Hewlett Packard Co. Employee Benefits Organization Income Protection Plan

# Graeber v. Hewlett Packard: Long-Term Disability Benefits Case ## What Happened A former Hewlett Packard employee (Graeber) filed a lawsuit after the company's benefits plan stopped paying his long-term disability benefits. Graeber claimed he was totally disabled and should continue receiving payments. The plan administrator disagreed and terminated his benefits, saying he could still work in certain jobs if given accommodations. ## What the Court Decided The court sided with the plan administrator and upheld the decision to cut off Graeber's benefits. The judge found that the administrator didn't abuse its authority in concluding that Graeber could perform some occupations with reasonable accommodations, and therefore didn't meet the plan's strict definition of "total disability." ## Why This Matters for Workers This case shows that courts give plan administrators significant leeway in determining disability benefits. Workers who are denied disability benefits may face an uphill battle challenging that decision in court, even if they believe they cannot work. The ruling emphasizes that disability plans can require workers to show they cannot perform *any* available work with accommodations—a high bar to meet.