"The Honorable William Acker, sitting in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, was not shy in letting his opinion be known, when he lambasted the entire ERISA benefits review process -- from the fiduciary's administrative claims handling to the 11th Circuit's unique six-step methodology in reviewing the fiduciary's decision -- even while ruling in favor of the defendants.... Judge Acker gave Plaintiff the 'unsolicited advice' to forego an appeal, citing insurmountable odds. Nevertheless, Judge Acker made it known that, in the event Plaintiff appealed, 'his feelings would not be hurt' if he were reversed."

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