Attorneys Dell & Schaefer has filed a long-term disability breach of contract lawsuit in federal court against Conneticut General Life Insurance Company (“Connecticut General”) seeking lifetime disability benefits. Our client, a former floor trader on the American Stock Exchange, was disabled due to bipolar disorder, a sickness, from March 1995 until April 2006. In 2004, while our client was totally disabled due to his bipolar disorder, he suffered a hernia injury while carrying a television to his car. Our client ‘s disability policy has been administered by MetLife insurance company, which means that MetLife made the decision to deny his benefits as of age 65.

→ Click here to continue reading Former Financial Trader Files Lawsuit Against Connecticut General Life Insurance (Metlife) Seeking Lifetime Long-Term Disability Benefits

Our client, a chiropractor, fractured his arm and tore his rotator cuff as a result of a skiing accident in March 2008. Despite his injuries our client attempted to return to full-time chiropractic performing manual spinal adjustments. His treating physicians advised him that he should cut back on the number of patients he was treating pre-accident and see if he can handle a limited patient load. This client came to Dell & Schaefer for guidance and help in filing his disability claim.

→ Click here to continue reading National Life (UNUM) Agrees To Pay Long-Term Disability Benefits To A Chiropractor Following A Skiing Accident

Our client was an executive assistant for a leasing company who became disabled after developing fibromyalgia. In April 2007, she filed a claim with USAA Life, with whom she had taken out a personal long-term disability policy in 1995.

→ Click here to continue reading Executive Assistant Recieves Confidential Settlement From USAA Life For Long-Term Disability Policy

Our client, a Texas resident, contacted Attorneys Dell & Schaefer following her initial application denial and first appeal of her disability denial by a prior law firm. This woman, suffering from chronic neck and back problems, a stroke, depression, headaches, and memory loss, had been a quality control manager for a large corporation. The client was unable to perform an work and was seeking total disability benefits.

→ Click here to continue reading Jefferson Pilot’s Denial of Long-Term Disability Benefits To A Quality Control Manager Is Reversed

A federal jury in Boston found that Unum, the nation’s largest disability insurer, had committed fraud in some cases by requiring customers to apply for Social Security benefits even though it knew they were not eligible.

But the verdict, based on a sample of six claims, contained enough ambiguity to leave both sides declaring victory in the case, filed on behalf of the Social Security Administration. In a verdict returned Wednesday, the jury found that two of the disability claims had been fraudulent and two others had showed no evidence of fraud. The jury was unable to reach a decision on the other two cases.

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Our client, a window coverings salesman, began developing significant vision loss in November 2006 and approached Attorneys Dell & Schaefer for assistance in applying for long-term disability benefits with Unum. His policies stated that he would be entitled to benefits for the rest of his life if he were totally disabled prior to his 65th birthday or if he qualified as totally disabled under the “Presumptive Total Disability” provisions of his polices. The policy defined total disability as “inability to perform the substantial and material duties of your occupation.” Through the efforts of Attorneys Dell & Schaefer, our client will now receive total disability benefits for the rest of his life.

→ Click here to continue reading Unum Challenges The Long Term Disability Claim Of A Blind Salesman

Robin Doyle was a registered nurse working for ChoicePoint Services, and filed a claim for short-term disability benefits on January 30, 2004. She based her disability on a number of conditions, including anal fissure, enlarged internal hemorrhoids, and external anal skin tags. She underwent surgery on February 10, 2004, in an effort to solve these health problems.

→ Click here to continue reading Nurse Wins Opportunity For Reassessment Of Claim With Liberty Life For Long-term Disability Benefits Based On Her Fibromyalgia

Medical Condition and Occupational Duties

Our Client, an OBGYN (hereinafter referred to as “Dr. OBGYN”), was employed by a hospital when he began to experience anxiety and depression following the filing of a malpractice lawsuit. Our client began drinking alcohol on a daily basis and was subsequently hospitalized for three months as a result of alcoholism, anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. Prior to claiming disability Dr. OBGYN’s substantial and material duties involved the delivery of babies, gynecological surgeries and on-call requirements.

→ Click here to continue reading Prudential Reverses Denial on Second Appeal & Pays $260,000 In Past Due Disability Benefits To OBGYN

On June 19, 2008, the Supreme Court of the United States finally issued their opinion in the case of Wanda Glen v. Met Life. In a 6 to 3 decision announced Thursday, the US Supreme Court ruled that benefit denials by such companies must be examined with caution when circumstances suggest a high likelihood that financial considerations affected a benefits decision. While Ms. Glenn won her case and Met Life was ordered to pay long-term disability benefits, the Supreme Court did not make any significant findings that will change the way that Federal courts must interpret disability benefit denials.  The Supreme Court had an opportunity to modify the standard of review to "de novo" (complete review)  in all conflict of interest disability claim denials, however they did nothing to give employees a better chance of securing disability benefits that have been denied.

→ Click here to continue reading US Supreme Court Attempts To Clarify The Standard Of Review In Denial Of Long-term Disability Benefits