Aramark Suit Over Aetna’s Health Claims Exempt From Arbitration

A dispute saying Aetna Life Insurance Co. mismanaged health plans sponsored by Aramark Services Inc. will move forward in court after a federal judge rejected the insurer’s effort to have the case sent to arbitration.

The contract between Aetna and Aramark includes a mandatory arbitration clause, but there’s a carve-out for claims seeking equitable relief, the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas said. Aramark’s lawsuit falls under the carve-out because it seeks money damages based on Aetna’s alleged breaches of fiduciary duty under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the court said.

Aetna argued that lawsuits for ...