Disability Insurance Cases Nationwide

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The case of Dawna Lane v. Prudential Insurance Company is limited to a discussion by the Utah Federal District Court about whether or not Plaintiff’s ERISA lawsuit for long term disability benefits should be dismissed on the grounds of judicial estoppel. Although a reference is made to her suffering from “severe psychological conditions,” there is no discussion of her actual disability or conditions of employment.
Continue Reading Court Dismisses Plaintiff’s Disability Claim Against Prudential

Resolved Cases:
LTD Claim Approved by Lincoln for Former Biomet, Inc. Employee suffering from Meniere’s Disease
Project Manager for Biomet, Inc. gets LTD Claim approved after Attorney Alexander Palamara appeals to Lincoln Financial.

Disability Insurance News:
California Court Reverses Sunlife Disability Denial for Woman with Fibromyalgia
In this video, disability insurance attorneys Rachel Alters and Gregory Dell discuss a California Federal Court decision in which a Sunlife disability insurance denial was reversed.

Disability Insurance News:
New Department of Labor Regulations for ERISA Disability Claims
The Department of Labor’s changes to regulations regarding ERISA Disability Claims take effect April 1, 2018.

Resolved Cases:
After appeal filed by Attorney Jay Symonds, Sun Life overturned its previous denial of long term disability benefits for Florida ICU Nurse
Disabled Nurse that was denied LTD benefits under Any Occupation definition by Sun Life is on claim after Dell & Schaefer Appeal.

Disability Insurance News:
Is the Hartford Disability Purchase of Aetna Bad for Aetna LTD Policy Holders?
In this video nationwide long term disability insurance attorneys Gregory Dell and Stephen Jessup discuss what impact they believe this sale will have on Aetna long term disability policy holders.

Resolved Cases:
Disabled Vessel Captain for Marine Services Corporation Wins Long-term Disability Appeal With CIGNA
Congestive heart failure, peripheral artery disease, uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes type 2, bilateral lower extremity neuropathy and other health issues had taken their toll on Chance, causing him to file for disability through his employer’s long-term disability plan with CIGNA.

Resolved Cases:
Standard Overturns Decision to Deny Disabled Project Manager Long-term Disability Insurance Benefits After First Appeal
Standard Terminates Long-term Disability Claim After 24 Months Claiming that the Disability was Due, In Part, to a Mental Disorder.

In Vicki Young v. Sun Life and Health Insurance Company, plaintiff Young, a mortgage broker, was initially granted disability benefits in September 2010 based on her diagnosis of fibromyalgia. The initial two years of her disability were based on her inability to perform the essentially duties of her own occupation.

After two years, Sun Life continued her long term disability (LTD) benefits on the grounds that she did not have the ability to perform the job duties of any occupation for which she was qualified. Suddenly, in 2015, Sun Life terminated her benefits, stating she was no longer disabled under the “any occupation” standard. Young’s administrative appeal was denied and she filed this ERISA lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.
Continue Reading Court Reinstates Disability Benefits Erroneously Terminated by Sun Life

In Riley v. MetLife, a case decided in March 2014 in the United States Court of Appeal for the First Circuit, Plaintiff Riley first made a claim for LTD benefits in 2000 when he was employed as an associate general manager. He received LTD benefits, but returned to work in 2001 in a non-managerial position where he earned substantially less. In 2002, Riley left work once again and made another claim for LTD benefits. Riley’s LTD claim was eventually approved in 2005, and he received his first LTD benefit check in April of 2005 for an amount based on his non-managerial salary, which was substantially less than he would have received based on his managerial salary. Since Riley disputed the amount of his lower LTD benefits based on his non-managerial salary, he refused to cash the checks and threatened to file suit.
Continue Reading If You Are Aware of an Underpayment or Miscalculation of Your LTD Benefits Don’t Wait to Hire an Attorney because Your Time to File a Lawsuit May be Running Out

In Micha v. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada and Group Disability Benefits Plan (Sun Life v. Group Disability), plaintiff John Paul Micha, M.D., was covered by a disability benefit policy through Sun Life which had been purchased by Group Disability, an employee welfare plan maintained to provide disability benefits to the employees of the medical group of which Micha was a part.
Continue Reading Court Orders Sun Life Assurance Company to Pay Appellate Attorney’s Fees

Disability Insurance News:
Colorado District Court overturns denial of benefits by Life Insurance Company of North America
Court finds LINA’s challenge on claimant’s credibility unfounded.

Disability Insurance News:
Court Remands Finding That Reliance Arbitrarily Denied Disability Benefits
Kansas Court remands after finding Reliance Standard Life acted arbitrarily and capriciously in denying plaintiff long term disability benefits.

Disability Insurance News:
Court Orders Principal Life to Reinstate Long Term Disability Benefits
Washington Court ordered Principal Life Insurance to reinstate long term disability benefits for claimant when Principal used the wrong definition for “gainful occupation” when terminating benefits.

In this video, Attorneys Gregory Dell and Rachel Alters discuss a recent court decision in which Principal Life attempted to ignore an income qualifier in an “any occupation” definition as a technique to deny benefits. The court determined the policy language to be ambiguous and provided an interpretation in favor of the claimant. If you have been denied by Principal Life, or any disability insurance company, call Attorneys Dell & Schaefer for a Free Consultation.

Disability Insurance News:
Principal Life Disability Denial of Truck Driver Reversed by Washington Federal Judge
Principal Life Insurance long term disability benefit denial is ruled unreasonable by a Washington Federal Judge.

Resolved Cases:
Another Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Deputy’s Long Term Disability Claim is Reinstated Following Appeal by Disability Attorney Alexander Palamara
Sheriff’s Deputy suffering from back issues, knee issues and migraines gets re-approved for LTD benefits after Appeal by Dell & Schaefer.

FAQ: Interview With Disability Company:
What Should I expect if Metlife wants to send someone to Interview me?
Our disability lawyers have helped hundreds of claimants nationwide to prepare and get through a MetLife investigator interview. If Metlife has requested an interview always seek representation from a disability lawyer.