Shearer v. Sw. Serv. Life Ins., 516 F.3d 276 (5th Cir. 2008). · Go Syfert
Shearer v. Sw. Serv. Life Ins., 516 F.3d 276 (5th Cir. 2008). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
60 citation events (60 in the last 25 years) across 8 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: Jimmy Parker v. Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (ca5, 2014-01-20)
Treatment trajectory · 2009 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
2009 2017 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 44 distinct citers. How cited ↗
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Jimmy Parker v. Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
5th Cir. · 2014 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
f an employer does no more than purchase insurance for its employees and has no further involvement with the collection of premiums, administration of the policy, or submission of claims, the employer has not established an erisa plan.
examined Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Jimmy Parker v. Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
5th Cir. · 2013 · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
f an employer does no more than purchase insurance for its employees and has no further involvement with the collection of premiums, administration of the policy, or submission of claims, the employer has not established an erisa plan.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Gregory A. Landry v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.
W.D. La. · 2026 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir. 2008); Boone v. Citigroup, Inc., 416 F.3d 382, 388 (5th Cir. 2005).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Donald Hall v. Wal-Mart Stores Inc et al
W.D. La. · 2026 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir. 2008); Boone v. Citigroup, Inc., 416 F.3d 382, 388 (5th Cir. 2005).
cited Cited as authority (rule) David M. Hernandez, Matthew Gonzalez v. Amerihome Mortgage Company, LLC, Servicemac, LLC, Auction.com, Clay Golden, Alan King
W.D. Tex. · 2025 · confidence medium
Life Ins., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir. 2008).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Christina Brown et al v. State National Insurance Co Inc et al
W.D. La. · 2025 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir. 2008); Boone v. Citigroup, Inc., 416 F.3d 382, 388 (5th Cir. 2005).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Edwards v. Guardian Life Ins
5th Cir. · 2025 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 279 (5th Cir. 2008).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Soto v. Vazquez
S.D. Tex. · 2025 · confidence medium
Ins., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir. 2008) (citation omitted).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) SNW Operating Company Inc v. Large Operating, LLC
N.D. Tex. · 2025 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir. 2008). “[T]he basis upon which jurisdiction depends must be alleged affirmatively and distinctly and cannot be established argumentatively or by mere inference.” Getty Oil Corp. v. Ins.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Morton v. Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Service, Inc.
D. Nev. · 2024 · confidence medium
(Resp. 4:6–10) (citing Shearer, 516 F.3d 276, 279 (5th Cir. 13 2008)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Fernandez v. Cheyenne Petroleum Company, LP
S.D. Tex. · 2024 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir. 2008).
examined Cited as authority (rule) Preston Hollow Capital LLC v. Truist Bank (3×) also: Cited "see"
N.D. Tex. · 2024 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (Sth Cir. 2008) (citation omitted); see also New Orleans & Gulf Coast Ry.
cited Cited as authority (rule) H&K International Inc v. F&M Installations Corp
N.D. Tex. · 2023 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (Sth Cir. 2008); Blanchard v. Wal-Mart Stores, Tex., L.P., 368 F. Supp. 2d 621, 623 (E.D.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) St. Luke No. 2, LLC v. Hermes Health Alliance, LLC
E.D. La. · 2022 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir. 2008). “[D]oubts regarding whether removal jurisdiction is proper should be resolved against federal jurisdiction.” African Methodist Episcopal Church v. Lucien, 756 F.3d 788, 793 (5th Cir. 2014) (internal quotation marks omitted).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Abraham v. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
W.D. Tex. · 2022 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 279 (5th Cir. 2008) (stating that “the purchase of a policy or multiple policies covering a class of employees offers substantial evidence that a plan, fund, or program has been established”) with Taggart Corp. v. Life & Health Benefits Admin., Inc., 617 F.2d 1208, 1211 (5th Cir. 1980) (holding that evidence of employer’s purchase of insurance for lone employee is insufficient to establish ERISA plan).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Chang v. American Financial Network, Inc.
W.D. Tex. · 2022 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir. 2008).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Kelly v. United States of America
E.D. La. · 2022 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir. 2008). “[D]oubts regarding whether removal jurisdiction is proper should be resolved against federal jurisdiction.” African Methodist Episcopal Church v. Lucien, 756 F.3d 788, 793 (5th Cir. 2014) (internal quotation marks omitted).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Philadelphia Indemnity Insurance Company A/S/O Thayer Point LLC v. Contractor Solutions Group, LLC
W.D. Tex. · 2022 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir. 2008); WMS, LLC v. Allied Prop. & Cas.
cited Cited as authority (rule) JP Morgan Chase Severance Pay Plan Administrator v. Romo
S.D. Tex. · 2021 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 279 (5th Cir. 2008).
cited Cited as authority (rule) JP Morgan Chase Severance Pay Plan Administrator v. Baez
S.D. Tex. · 2021 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 279 (5th Cir. 2008).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) E P S Logistics Co v. Cox Operating L L C
W.D. La. · 2021 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir. 2008); Boone v. Citigroup, Inc., 416 F.3d 382, 388 (5th Cir. 2005). 18 28 U.S.C. § 1447 (c). 19 In re Deepwater Horizon, 745 F.3d 157, 163 (5th Cir. 2014); Barker v. Hercules Offshore, Inc., 713 F.3d 208, 213 (5th Cir. 2013); Amoco Production Co. v. Sea Robin Pipeline Co., 844 F.2d 1202, 1205 (5th Cir. 1988). is broad, covering a “wide range of activity occurring beyond the territorial waters of the states.”20 Cox responded to this Court’s briefing order, arguing that its relationship with the plaintiffs grew out of its offshore operations.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Double S Services, LLC v. Pel-State Bulk Plant, LLC
W.D. Tex. · 2021 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir. 2008); see Miller v. Diamond Shamrock Co., 275 F.3d 414 , 417 (5th Cir. 2001) (“Because the defendants invoked the removal jurisdiction of the district court, they bore the burden of establishing jurisdiction.”).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Atkins v. CB&I
5th Cir. · 2021 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 279 (5th Cir. 2008).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Gonzales v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
E.D. La. · 2020 · confidence medium
Life Ins., 516 F.3d 276, 279 (5th Cir. 2008).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Barnes v. Provident Life and Accident Insurance Company
E.D. Tex. · 2020 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 279 (5th Cir. 2008).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Jones v. National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PADo Not Docket.This Case has been remanded to the 149th Judicial District Court of Brazoria County, Texas.
S.D. Tex. · 2020 · confidence medium
Ins., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir. 2008).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Recruiting Force, LLC v. Mainthia Technologies, Inc.
W.D. Tex. · 2020 · confidence medium
Ins., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir. 2008).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Boney v. Lowe's Home Centers LLC
N.D. Tex. · 2019 · confidence medium
Ins., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (Sth Cir, 2008).
cited Cited as authority (rule) SkyGlass Inc v. Freight Star Inc
N.D. Tex. · 2019 · confidence medium
Ins., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (Sth Cir. 2008).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Porter v. Lafayette General Surgical Hospital L L C
W.D. La. · 2019 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir. 2008); Boone v. Citigroup, Inc., 416 F.3d 382, 388 (5th Cir. 2005); Manguno v. Prudential Property and Cas.
cited Cited as authority (rule) WMS, LLC v. Allied Property & Casualty Insurance Co.
W.D. Tex. · 2017 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir. 2008).
examined Cited as authority (rule) Sarah Martin v. Trend Personnel Services, e (4×) also: Cited "see"
5th Cir. · 2016 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir. 2008).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Reynolds v. Personal Representative of the Estate of Johnson
W.D. Tex. · 2015 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir.2008).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Caldwell ex rel. Louisiana v. Bristol Myers Squibb Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Holding Partnership
unknown court · 2015 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir.2008). .
cited Cited as authority (rule) Barragan v. General Motors LLC
W.D. Tex. · 2015 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir.2008).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Redus v. University of the Incarnate Word
W.D. Tex. · 2014 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir.2008).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Jimmy Parker v. Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
5th Cir. · 2014 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 279 (5th Cir.2008) ("[I]f an employer does no more than purchase insurance for its employees and has no further involvement with the collection of premiums, administration of tire policy, or submission of claims, the employer has not established an ERISA plan.”). 7 .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Antonio Jimenez, III v. Sun Life Assurance Company
5th Cir. · 2012 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 279 (5th Cir.2008) (“We have stated that ‘the purchase [of insurance] is evidence of the establishment of a plan, fund, or program’ and that ‘the purchase of a policy or multiple policies covering a class of employees offers substantial evidence that a plan, fund, or program has been established.’” (alteration in original) (citation omitted)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Flesner v. Flesner
S.D. Tex. · 2012 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 279 (5th Cir.2008) (quoting Peace v. Am.
cited Cited as authority (rule) Marsh v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
N.D. Tex. · 2011 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir. 2008).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Boos v. AT & T, Inc.
W.D. Tex. · 2010 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 279 (5th Cir.2008). 12 .
cited Cited as authority (rule) Graham v. Metropolitan Life Insurance
5th Cir. · 2009 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 279 (5th Cir.2008).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Altimari v. Sun Life Assur. Co. of Canada
E.D. Tex. · 2009 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir.2008).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Cantor v. WACHOVIA MORTGAGE, FSB
N.D. Tex. · 2009 · confidence medium
Co., 516 F.3d 276, 278 (5th Cir.2008) (citing Boone v. Citigroup, Inc., 416 F.3d 382, 388 (5th Cir.2005)); Frank v. Bear Stearns & Co., 128 F.3d at 922 ("The removing party bears the burden of proving subject matter jurisdiction.”); De Aguilar v. Boeing Co., 47 F.3d 1404, 1408 (5th Cir.1995). 13 .
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Lance SHEARER, Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
SOUTHWEST SERVICE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY; Virginia Surety Life Insurance Company; Richard Sanders, Defendants-Appellees
07-20646.
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Feb 1, 2008.
516 F.3d 276
Edwin King Nelson, IV, Houston, TX, for Shearer., David Henry Martin, Malesovas & Martin, Waco, TX, for Southwest Serv. Life Ins. Co., Dana Lynn Minissale, Gerstle, Minis-sale, Snelson, Dallas, TX, for Sanders.
Jolly, Prado, Southwick.
Cited by 43 opinions  |  Published
PRADO, Circuit Judge:

Following the dismissal of his lawsuit by the district court, Plaintiff-Appellant Lance Shearer (“Shearer”) filed this appeal and argues that the district court lacked subject matter jurisdiction over the case. At issue is whether the insurance policy underlying this suit is covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. §§ 1001-1461. Because Shearer’s employer did no more than pay the premiums on the policy and ERISA does not regulate the “bare purchase of insurance,” Shearer’s claims are not preempted by ERISA, and the district court lacked jurisdiction over the case. Therefore, we VACATE the judgment of the district court and REMAND the case for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Shearer is the 50% owner of Intercontinental Materials Management, Inc. (“IMMI”), as well as an employee of the company. His mother, Christal Shearer (“Ms. Shearer”) owns the other 50% of IMMI. On June 10, 2004, Shearer applied for health insurance for himself and his family from Defendant-Appellee Southwest Service Life Insurance Company (“SWSL”). The premiums for the policy were paid by IMMI. Shearer and his mother both stated in their affidavits that this was done for bookkeeping purposes. Some time later, Shearer’s son suffered an injury requiring hospitalization and surgery, and Shearer submitted a claim under his policy to SWSL. Although SWSL paid[*278] for a portion of the claim, Shearer contends that the policy required SWSL to pay for the entire amount.

Shearer filed suit against SWSL and its agent, Defendant-Appellee Richard Sanders (“Sanders”), in Texas state court on March 2, 2007, bringing state law claims of misrepresentation, breach of contract, unfair and deceptive trade practices, and unfair claim settlement practices. [1] SWSL, with Sanders’s consent, removed the case on April 6, 2007. Defendants claimed that the insurance policy at issue was covered by ERISA and thus Shearer’s claims were preempted by ERISA and removable pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1331.

Shortly after removal, the district court struck Sanders as a defendant. Shearer then filed a motion to remand, arguing that his insurance policy was not an ERISA plan. The district court denied the motion without comment. The district court then granted SWSL’s motion for summary judgment, ruling that Shearer’s claims failed to meet the ERISA standard for relief. Shearer now appeals and contends that the district court lacked jurisdiction over the case because the insurance policy was not an ERISA plan. We have jurisdiction to hear his appeal, as a final judgment has been entered. See 28 U.S.C. § 1291.

II. DISCUSSION

As the party removing the case, SWSL bears the burden of establishing jurisdiction. See Boone v. Citigroup, Inc., 416 F.3d 382, 388 (5th Cir.2005). In this case, SWSL asserts that federal question jurisdiction exists because ERISA preempts Shearer’s state law claims. SWSL bases this argument on its assertion that the insurance policy at issue is an “employee benefit plan” under ERISA, and ERISA preempts “any and all State laws insofar as they may now or hereafter relate to any employee benefit plan .... ” 29 U.S.C. § 1144(a); Peace v. Am. Gen. Life Ins. Co., 462 F.3d 437, 442 (5th Cir.2006). Thus, we must determine whether Shearer’s insurance policy is an employee benefit plan as defined by ERISA.

Typically, the existence of an ERISA plan is a question of fact that we review only for clear error. Reliable Home Health Care, Inc. v. Union Cent. Ins. Co., 295 F.3d 505, 510 (5th Cir.2002). However, when the facts are undisputed, we treat the issue as one of law and review it de novo. See House v. Am. United Life Ins. Co., 499 F.3d 443, 448-49 (5th Cir.2007), petition for cert. filed, (U.S. Jan. 2, 2008)(No. 07-895). Here, there are no factual disputes with respect to the insurance policy or its purchase. Consequently, we review the matter de novo.

Pursuant to ERISA, an “employee benefit plan” includes an “employee welfare benefit plan.” 29 U.S.C. § 1002(3). ERISA defines an “employee welfare benefit plan” as

any plan, fund, or program which was ... established or maintained by an employer ... to the extent that such plan, fund, or program was established or is maintained for the purpose of providing for its participants or their beneficiaries, through the purchase of insurance or otherwise, (A) medical, surgical, or hospital care or benefits, or benefits in the event of sickness, accident, disability, death or unemployment ....

Id. § 1002(1). SWSL contends that Shearer’s insurance policy fits within this definition.

[*279] This court uses a three-prong test to determine whether an employee benefit arrangement meets the definition of an employee welfare benefit plan and, thus, is an ERISA plan. Peace, 462 F.3d at 439. To be an ERISA plan, the arrangement must be (1) a plan, (2) not excluded from ERISA coverage by the safe-harbor provisions established by the Department of Labor, and (3) established or maintained by the employer with the intent to benefit employees. See id. (citing Meredith v. Time Ins. Co., 980 F.2d 352, 355 (5th Cir.1993)). Here, Shearer concedes that, under this court’s precedent, his insurance policy constitutes a plan and does not fall within the safe-harbor provisions of the Department of Labor. However, Shearer asserts that his insurance policy fails the third element of the test because it was not established or maintained by IMMI with the intent to benefit employees. See MDPhysicians & Assocs., Inc. v. State Bd. of Ins., 957 F.2d 178, 183 (5th Cir.1992) (noting that simply because a plan exists does not mean that the plan is an ERISA plan).

In the past, we have broken down the third step of our analysis into two elements—(1) whether the employer established or maintained the plan, and (2) whether the employer intended to provide benefits to its employees. Meredith, 980 F.2d at 355. “To determine whether an employer ‘established or maintained’ an employee benefit plan, ‘the court should [focus] on the employer ... and [its] involvement with the administration of the plan.’” Hansen v. Cont’l Ins. Co., 940 F.2d 971, 978 (5th Cir.1991). We have stated that “the purchase [of insurance] is evidence of the establishment of a plan, fund, or program” and that “the purchase of a policy or multiple policies covering a class of employees offers substantial evidence that a plan, fund, or program has been established.” Mem’l Hosp. Sys. v. Northbrook Life Ins. Co., 904 F.2d 236, 242 (5th Cir.1990) (internal quotation marks omitted). However, we have consistently held that if an employer does no more than purchase insurance for its employees and has no further involvement with the collection of premiums, administration of the policy, or submission of claims, the employer has not established an ERISA plan. Hansen, 940 F.2d at 978.

In Taggart Corp. v. Life & Health Benefits Administration, Inc., we held that a company’s purchase of insurance for its lone employee was insufficient to establish an ERISA plan. 617 F.2d 1208, 1211 (5th Cir.1980) (noting that “[t]he corporation did no more than make payments to a purveyor of insurance, patently for tax reasons”). We reached a different result in Memorial Hospital, in which an employer purchased insurance for all of its employees, finding that to be sufficient evidence of an intent to establish and maintain an ERISA plan. 904 F.2d at 242-43. Relying on Memorial Hospital, we held in Kidder v. H & B Marine, Inc., 932 F.2d 347, 353 (5th Cir.1991), that an employee benefit plan purchased by the employer for all of its employees was an ERISA plan. In Hansen, we reaffirmed our rule that the purchase of insurance alone is insufficient to demonstrate an ERISA plan, but held that other evidence in that case, such as the employment of a benefits administrator and the issuance of a booklet regarding the plan endorsed by the employer, satisfied the burden of demonstrating the employer’s intent to establish an ERISA plan. 940 F.2d at 978.

Here, the evidence before the district court demonstrated that IMMI paid the premiums on Shearer’s policy and that IMMI paid the premiums on a separate policy from a different insurance company for Ms. Shearer. IMMI, however, did not[*280] pay for insurance for any of IMMI’s other employees. [2] The facts of this case, therefore, fall somewhere between Taggart and the other cases described above. Considering all of the facts and our precedent, we conclude that IMMI’s payment of premiums on two separate policies for two different employees, while not providing insurance for any other employees, is not sufficient evidence of IMMI’s intent to establish or maintain an ERISA plan. The plans in Memorial Hospital and Kidder were purchased for all of the company’s employees, which lends greater support to the argument that a plan existed. Here, however, the alleged plan covered Shearer, with a different policy covering his mother. This is not sufficient to demonstrate that IMMI intended to establish and maintain a plan to benefit its employees. Consequently, there was no ERISA plan at issue, and the district court lacked jurisdiction over this case.

Defendants incorrectly assert that Provident Life & Accident Insurance Co. v. Sharpless, 364 F.3d 634 (5th Cir.2004), is binding in this situation. The issue in Sharpless was not whether the employer established or maintained an ERISA plan. Instead, the court in Sharpless was concerned with whether shareholding doctors could be considered “employees” for purposes of establishing and maintaining an ERISA plan “for the benefit of employees.” Id. at 638. The court held that the shareholders could be considered employees. Id. at 639. In this case, Shearer does not dispute that he may be considered an employee under ERISA, despite owning 50% of IMMI. Therefore, Sharp-less is not dispositive of the issues in this case.

III. CONCLUSION

Because IMMI’s payment of premiums alone is insufficient to create an ERISA plan, the district court lacked jurisdiction over the case. We therefore VACATE the judgment of the district court and REMAND for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

VACATED and REMANDED.

1

. Shearer also named Virginia Surety Life Insurance Company as defendant; however, Shearer never served Virginia Surety, so it is not a party to this case or appeal.

2

. During the time at issue, IMMI had between three and seven employees.