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

The case of Mary Midgett v. Washington Group International Long Term Disability Plan, 561 F.3d 887 (8th Cir. 2009) is a reminder that there are discrepancies in how Federal courts apply the law with regard to the weight of credibility to give to an insured’s treating physicians versus the opinions of doctors hired by the insurance carrier to conduct reviews of medical records only.
Continue Reading Broadspire And Aetna Deny Long-Term Disability Benefits To Manager Suffering From Fibromyalgia, Arthritis And Cervical Disc Disease

In, Lona v. Prudential, 2009 WL 801868 (S.D. Cal)., the Court determined that the opinions of three doctors hired by the insurance carrier to review the insured’s medical records did not carry as much weight as the opinions of three other doctors that physically examined the insured.
Continue Reading Judge Orders Prudential To Pay Account Manager $90,416 In Long-Term Disability Benefits

In 2002, Mrs. C was forced to stop working and file a claim for disability benefits under her long-term disability policy provided through her teacher’s association. After reviewing her claim and giving careful consideration to the medical evidence, the disability insurer approved Mrs. C’s claim and began paying total disability benefits.
Continue Reading Teacher Suffering From Sjorgen’s Syndrome, Fibromyalgia And Other Conditions Receives Lump-Sum Buyout Following Denial Of Long-Term Disability Benefits

Cigna attempted to deny lifetime disability benefits for a claimant suffering from a psychiatric organic brain disorder, but the district court of Colorado disagreed. Following a remand from the court of appeals, which ruled the district court had erred by considering evidence outside the “administrative record,” the district court nonetheless reaffirmed its ruling in plaintiff’s favor after carefully considering all of the evidence in the record and analyzing each of the medical opinions presented.
Continue Reading CIGNA’S Attempt To Limit Claimant To A Maximum Of 2 Years Of Long-Term Disability Benefits Limitation For An Organic Brain Disorder Such As Bi-Polar Is Reversed By The District Court

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

Dr. C, a dentist, came to Attorneys Dell & Schaefer in 2006 seeking assistance in submitting applications for long-term disability benefits. In 1999, Dr. C began noticing a slight tremor in his right hand while writing and at times while holding a dental instrument. He immediately sought care from a neurologist, who after examining Dr. C, determined that the tremor was likely stress and anxiety related. Dr. C continued working and operating his dental practice with the hopes that his slight tremor would resolve.
Continue Reading Dentist With Hand Tremor Files Suit And Receives Confidential Settlement For Past Due And Future Long-Term Disability Benefits

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

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.
Continue Reading Former Financial Trader Files Lawsuit Against Connecticut General Life Insurance (Metlife) Seeking Lifetime Long-Term Disability Benefits