Informed by a customer-service representative for an employer health plan that surgery to reduce her acid reflux was approved, Deborah Kenseth went ahead with the procedure. But administrators of the plan ultimately denied coverage. Stuck with $77,000 in bills she didn't expect to pay, Kenseth sued Dean Health Plan, claiming violations of state and federal laws.

This all-too-common workplace scenario gave the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals the opportunity to refer to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in CignaCorp v. Amara.

The Seventh Circuit held that Cigna "substantially changes our understanding of the equitable relief available" under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, and expands judicial options for remedies, including monetary relief.

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