Insurance companies are notorious for relying on file reviews when reviewing disability claims and, unlike claims for social security disability benefits, insurance companies are often allowed to rely on file reviews even in spite of conflicting opinions by treating physicians who are arguably in a better position to assess the functional limitations of an individual. However, insurance companies cannot arbitrarily dismiss the opinions of credible treating physicians without providing an explanation and in certain circumstances courts have found that mere file reviews are insufficient to serve as a basis to deny a claim for benefits.
Continue Reading Liberty Life was wrong for relying on a mere psychiatric file review in reviewing mental health claim for disability benefits

In Stupar v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife), plaintiff, an icer with the Kroger Company, received 24 months of long term disability benefits due to her diagnoses of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depression, panic and anxiety disorder. At the end of the two-year period, MetLife terminated her benefits on the grounds that she was limited to 24 months of benefits under the Mental or Nervous Disorders clause of the policy. She objected, exhausted her administrative remedies, then filed this ERISA lawsuit.
Continue Reading MetLife Properly Limited Plaintiff’s Disability Benefits Under the Mental/Nervous Limitations Clause

Unfortunately for employees of AT&T, if you are disabled you will be forced to deal with Sedgwick Claims Management Services Inc. ("Sedgwick"). Sedgwick is a third party administrator that has been hired to administer and make claim decisions on AT&T short term and long term disability claims. The AT&T disability benefit plan is written with

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.
Continue Reading Prudential Reverses Denial on Second Appeal & Pays $260,000 In Past Due Disability Benefits To OBGYN