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

Resolved Cases:
Cigna Approves Disability Claim Following Multiple Denials
Following three denials for short term disability, Cigna approves a claim for long term disability after application submitted by Dell & Schaefer.

Disability Insurance News:
Rheumatoid Arthritis And The Cognitive Dysfunction Connection In Disability Insurance Claims
Debilitating pain is not the only symptom of rheumatoid arthritis that leads to a potential claim for disability insurance benefits.

Disability Insurance News:
Lincoln Financial Insurance Company to Buy Liberty Life Disability Insurance and Group Benefits Division
Disability Insurance Attorneys Dell & Schaefer believe the merger between Lincoln Financial and Liberty Mutual will be good for long term disability claimants.

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.

Disability Insurance News:
Hartford Long Term Disability Benefit Denial Reversed by Minnesota Federal Judge
Nationwide disability insurance attorneys Alex Palamara and Gregory Dell discuss the importance of strong medical support and proper medical documentation.

Disability Insurance News:
Hartford Disability Company Field Interview Request and Video Surveillance
Hartford Disability Company, and other disability insurers, use video surveillance and field interviews as a technique to deny claims. A recent federal court case found that Hartford correctly terminated long term disability benefits for a claimant who was caught on video surveillance engaging in activities which she had claimed she could not do.

Resolved Cases:
Lincoln Financial Reinstates Disability Benefits To School Teacher
Following an Appeal submitted by Dell & Schaefer, Lincoln approves disability benefits under the any occupation definition to a school teacher with cognitive issues.

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.

In this video, Attorneys Gregory Dell & Rachel Alters discuss a recent court ruling in which Reliance Standard failed to reasonably evaluate the cognitive aspects of the plaintiff’s requirements to do her job as an attorney. Unfortunately for the policy holder, the court remanded the claim back to Reliance Standard for further evaluation of benefits.
Continue Reading Reliance Standard Denial of Disability Benefits for an Attorney Reversed by Kansas Judge

FAQ: Disability Companies:
If I Sue Unum for a Disability Insurance Denial, What Should I Anticipate?
Disability insurance Attorneys Gregory Dell and Stephen Jessup discuss the numerous issues that a long term disability claimant should expect when filing an ERISA disability lawsuit against UNUM.

FAQ: Social Security Disability Benefits:
Does Social Security Approval Mean Disability Insurance Benefits Will Be Paid?
The answer to this question is NO and a recent case brought by a FEDEX employee against Aetna insurance company is an example of an SSDI approval and a long term disability denial.

Disability News:
Liberty Wrongfully Denies Long Term Disability Benefit Depression Claim Based on Filed Review
Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression are two of the most common causes of disability. In a recent case against Liberty Mutual, a pediatrician claimed he was unable to work due to anxiety and depression.

Prior to her disability Hadar Meiri was Vice President, Human Experience Strategy Director for MediaVest USA, earning an annual salary of $165,000. In July 2014 she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer for which she underwent a total thyroidectomy. She had also had a history of Hashimoto’s Thyroditis and Hypothroidism. Following her surgery she continued experiencing fatigue and weakness. She also developed symptoms of brain fog, poor memory, fatigue, and poor focus.
Continue Reading US District Court Judge Orders Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company to Pay Long-term Disability Benefits to Disabled Executive After It Denied Thyroid Cancer Claim