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Aramark Services v. Aetna Life Ins — 5th Cir. (Sep 24, 2026)

No. 24-40323 Argued September 24, 2026 Published September 27, 2026

Aramark funded employee health plans and hired Aetna to handle medical claims. Aramark alleges that Aetna paid improper claims and collected fees it should not have received. Aetna wants the dispute in arbitration, but their contract excludes claims for equitable relief. A Texas judge declined to halt the lawsuit for arbitration. The Fifth Circuit is now hearing the case en banc, after vacating an earlier three-judge opinion. The judges must decide who applies the contract's exception, and whether the money Aramark seeks is an equitable remedy or ordinary damages. Charles McCloud will argue for Aetna that the claim belongs in arbitration.

Aramark Services v. Aetna Life Ins (No. 24-40323) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, argued September 24, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — Fifth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OralArgRecordings/24/24-40323_9-24-2026.mp3
Argument listing — Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/oral-argument-recordings
Argument calendar — Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/court-calendars/sitting?d=2026-09-24
Original complaint — Aramark v. Aetna:https://www.millerchevalier.com/sites/default/files/resources/General_Alerts/2023-12-22_Aramark-v-Aetna.pdf
District-court arbitration order:https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/texas/txedce/2:2023cv00446/225222/43/
Vacated panel opinion — Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/24/24-40323-CV0.pdf
En banc vacatur order — Fifth Circuit:https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/docs/default-source/cm-ecf/24-40323.pdf
ERISA § 502, 29 U.S.C. § 1132 — U.S. Code:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:29%20section:1132%20edition:prelim)
CIGNA Corp. v. Amara — Supreme Court opinion:https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USREPORTS-563/USREPORTS-563-421/context
Dicta — Cornell Legal Information Institute:https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/Dicta
Charles Fowler biography — McKool Smith:https://www.mckoolsmith.com/professionals-Charles_Fowler
Labor Department leadership:https://www.dol.gov/general/contact/leadership-team
Jonathan Berry biography — Labor Department:https://beta.dol.gov/about/leadership/jonathan-berry

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