Metlife

Subscribe to Metlife via RSS

When Judge Stephen V. Wilson delivered his decision on January 13, 2010, it probably resulted in some mixed feelings for Kelly Lavino. She had hoped for a clear victory in her battle with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLIfe) to have her long-term disability benefits restored. Instead the judge rendered a decision that may put her…

January 13, 2010 was a good day for Kelly Lavino. U.S. District Court, Central District of California Judge  Stephen V. Wilson ruled that Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife) wrongfully denied disability benefits and abused its discretion when it decided to terminate Lavino’s long-term disability benefits. Let’s review what Judge Wilson considered as he made his…

Verla Hancock participated in a group benefit plan sponsored by her employer, Intermountain Healthcare. The plan’s claim fiduciary was Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. (MetLife). Under the plan, Verla obtained basic life insurance, supplemental life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment coverage (AD & D).

The plan stipulated that in order to benefit from the AD…

Another case appeared in the U.S. Court of Appeals that highlights the importance of exhausting all the administrative options available before taking a case to court. Additionally, this case demonstrates the importance of a treating physician responding to all requests from a disability insurance company.
Continue Reading US Court of Appeals Upholds Denial of Disability Benefits By Metlife

Donna Blake was an employee of Express Scripts, covered under both a long term disability plan and a short term disability plan, when she applied and was denied for short term disability coverage. After internal appeals, Mrs. Blake brought her claim to the United States District Court, Missouri Eastern Division. Upon the settlement of Mrs. Blake’s claim for short term disability, she claimed that she would be prevented from filing for long term benefits, because the denial of her short term disability claim, “prevented her from applying for LTD benefits from the LTD Plan, as she was required to satisfy the applicable period of STD before becoming eligible for LTD benefits.”…
Continue Reading MetLife’s Motion To Dismiss Long-Term Disability Claim For Failure to Exhaust Administrative Remedies Is Denied By Missouri Court

When Dr. Beatriz Martinez received a letter from MetLife denying her claim for long-term disability insurance, her only remaining option was to file a lawsuit. Unfortunately for her, the court upheld Met Life’s denial for one primary reason, she filed her claim for disability benefits four months too late. No arguments put forth by her attorneys could change that fact, and in the end, her appeal was denied, and she lost her lawsuit.
Continue Reading Late Application Filing Results In MetLife Denying A Physician’s Long-Term Disability Claim

Mrs. Kaufmann was employed as a senior project manager by Siemens Corporation. Mrs. Kaufmann was a member of the long term disability plan through MetLife who was both the administrator and payor of disability benefits. On May 26, 2006, Mrs. Kaufmann stopped working on advice from her treating physician, Dr. Daniel T. Rubino. Because of an unsuccessful diskectomy and laminectomy, Mrs. Kaufman suffered from severe chronic pain.
Continue Reading MetLife’s Denial Of Long-Term Disability Benefits to a Senior Project Manager Suffering From Back Pain Is Reveresed By A Federal Judge

Graciella Saffon, an employee of Wells Fargo Bank, had suffered from degeneration of her cervical spine for several years. This condition was confirmed by several MRIs, X-rays and other medical information. In 2001, Saffon was in a car accident which aggravated her neck condition, leading her to quit her desk job and apply for long-term disability benefits with MetLife.
Continue Reading Metlife’s Wrongful Denial Of Long-Term Disability Benefits To A Wells Fargo Employee Is Reversed

Donna Scharff was an employee of the Raytheon Company, as well as a participant in both their short-term and long-term disability benefit plans. The plans, privately funded by the Raytheon Company, were administered by MetLife. When Scharff applied for short-term disability benefits and was denied, internal appeals took place before Raytheon gave Scharff their final decision including a statement to refer to the summary plan description for more information on how to file a lawsuit.
Continue Reading Claimant’s Statute of Limitation Non-Compliance Allows MetLife’s Denial Of Disability Benefits To Go Unchallenged