United HealthCare Must Face Accident Victim’s Reimbursement Suit

United HealthCare Insurance Co. must face claims that its subsidiary, Optum Inc., violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act when it collected $25,000 from a policyholder who settled a lawsuit over a traffic accident.

The US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on Tuesday partially reversed a lower court’s dismissal of Eric Patterson’s suit alleging the insurer breached its fiduciary duty.

• After Patterson’s accident, United paid his medical expenses. Optum said it would invoke its reimbursement right if he recovered money for his injuries from the other driver, which he did through a settlement
• After Patterson’s wife was in ...