U.S. Supreme Court cases on ERISA

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) governs private sector employee benefit plans. Key Supreme Court cases shape its interpretation. For instance, in *Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. v. Russell* (1985), the Court ruled that participants could sue for benefits but not for damages. In *Aetna Health Inc. v. Davila* (2004), it determined that ERISA preempts state law claims related to benefits. These cases clarify the balance between protecting employee benefits and limiting lawsuits against employers and insurers, ensuring ERISA serves its purpose of securing employee pensions and health plans while maintaining legal boundaries.