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 you apply for a disability policy, it is very important to answer all questions as truthfully as you can. The courts generally will not render a summary judgment in favor of the disability insurance company if the company can’t prove that you answered a question with the intent to defraud.
Continue Reading After Claimant Paid Premiums For 15 Years, Northwestern Mutual Rescinds Disability Policy

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. Pettigrew was an employee of Pioneer Automotive Technologies, Inc from December 8, 2003 until May 15, 2006. Her most recent position was that of a senior engineer. Mrs. Pettigrew had been experiencing increasing pain and symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Fibromyalgia and Radiculopathy. Because of the increasing problems Mrs. Pettigrew was facing, she was finally forced to stop working.
Continue Reading Prudential Ordered To Re-evaluate Long-Term Disability Claim of Engineer Suffering From Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia By Court

For several years, Elizabeth Black was the executive director of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. (MWF), the organization that governs Summerfest, a music festival in Milwaukee. Black was covered under the company’s disability insurance plan, underwritten and administered by Standard Insurance Company. Black was diagnosed with multiple aortic aneurysms, bulging and weak areas in the aorta.
Continue Reading Standard Insurance Company’s Denial Of Disability Benefits Is Upheld By Court, Despite Claimant’s Approval Of Social Security Disability Benefits

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

Annette Engel was employed with Harborcreek Youth Services as a Clinical Director, where she performed duties such as providing leadership and vision, developing proposals, overseeing interviews and recruits of other clinicians, consultation and more. On September 5, 2007, Mrs. Engel applied for long term disability benefits under her employer’s plan with Jefferson Pilot (aka Lincoln National), claiming fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, stress, and depression resulting from working long hours.
Continue Reading Disability Benefits Ordered To Paid By Jefferson Pilot To A Clinical Director Suffering From Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue And Depression

Mrs. Rebecca Duperry worked as payroll benefits HR administrator for Railroad Friction Products Corporation (RFPC) until April 7, 2006. Mrs. Duperry suffered from rheumatism, and stopped working in April pursuant to the advice of her rheumatologist. The rheumatologist told Duperry to ‘slow her work down’ and that cutting hours was a good idea, although working from home would be an even better idea.
Continue Reading Disability Benefits Ordered To Be Paid By CIGNA To HR Administrator Diagnosed Fibromyalgia

Walter Pettway was employed with ADP (NASDAQ: ADP), as a principal consultant, beginning in 1994. Mr. Pettway’s job required him to travel the United States helping large corporations with computer processes. In the 1970’s, Mr. Pettway had undergone a cervical fusion at the C6-7 level and at the C5-6 level in 1999. In the summer of 2002, Mr. Pettway suffered a fall which aggravated his condition, so that he experienced issues with his neck, lower back, left arm, right and left leg weakness and numbness in his fingers.
Continue Reading Mississippi Court Orders Prudential To Pay Long-Term Disability Benefits To A Computer Consultant