Lilly Beats Benefit Interference Claim Over Credit Card Firing

A Lilly USA LLC employee fired for allegedly misusing a corporate credit card failed to mount a viable claim that he was terminated to interfere with his right to receive severance benefits.

The employee showed that he was fired and denied severance, but not that his termination was motivated by a specific intent to interfere with his benefits, Judge Judge Tanya Walton Pratt said Tuesday. She dismissed his claim for benefit interference under Section 510 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act without considering his pending claim for benefits under Lilly’s severance plan.

Daniel Cella began working for the pharmaceutical ...