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Recently, the California Department of Insurance settled with LINA, a daughter company of CIGNA to the tune of $600,000. What was this penalty for? According to California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, LINA was apparently ignoring certain claims that might have been valid disability claims.
Continue Reading CIGNA/LINA Penalized By The California Department Of Insurance

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

Our client, a pharmaceutical sales representative, was recently denied benefits by her carrier, Cigna, despite clear medical documentation of several severe medical problems that prevent her from performing the duties of her occupation.
Continue Reading Attorneys Dell & Schaefer Files Lawsuit Against Cigna In Hawaii On Behalf Of Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

Our client was a successful, independent financial advisor who owned her own business. On December 21, 2008, while stopped at a red light, her car was struck from the rear by a cement mixer. Within days of the accident she was beginning to experience pain in her neck and lower back. MRI reports indicated multiple herniations of her cervical and lumbar spine.
Continue Reading Lincoln National approves long-term disability benefits for financial advisor injured in car accident

In 1989, The US Supreme Court declared that if ERISA plans contain language giving plan fiduciaries discretion to interpret the terms of the plans and to make benefit determinations, courts will generally yield to that discretion.
Continue Reading Insurance Industry Loses Lawsuit Challenging the Abolishment of Discretionary Clauses In ERISA Long-Term Disability Policies

Our client, a breast cancer survivor, was a senior property manager for a large property management company for nearly fifteen years. As a senior property manager, our client was responsible for planning, controlling and directing the day to day operation of multiple properties. Year after year she received numerous recognitions for the quality of her work.
Continue Reading Prudential Denies Long-Term Disability Benefits To A Breast Cancer Survivor And Attorneys Dell & Schaefer Submit An Appeal

More than sixteen years ago, shortly after starting his dental practice, Dr. Johnson (name has been changed for privacy purposes) bought a disability insurance policy to protect his income in case of an illness or injury that prevented him from completely or partially working in his chosen profession. Over the years, Dr. Johnson’s practice grew substantially…

Nancy Mikrut, a pediatric nurse practitioner for Danbury Health Systems, was insured under the company’s group disability plan administered by Unum Life Insurance Company of America. In 1999, Ms. Mikrut was injured in an automobile accident and was unable to return to work due to severe back pain.
Continue Reading Unum’s Denial of Pediatric Nurse is Overturned on Appeal

Rosa Wood had carpel tunnel syndrome and left work in 1999 because of it. After receiving short term disability benefits and undergoing back surgery, Ms. Wood applied for long term benefits. Initially, Ms. Wood’s claim for benefits was denied however her plan eventually agreed to pay benefits for the first phase of long term disability.
Continue Reading California Federal Court Rejects Prudential’s Attempt to Limit Claim