Keeping disability insurance companies honest & Helping claimants collect LTD or STD benefits
Disability Blog & Cases:
Principal Life denies disability benefits to a physician and then seeks attorney fees after physician’s disability denial is affirmed by Texas Judge
Dr. Bruce Leipzig had been denied long-term disability benefits by Principal Life Insurance Company, and brought his ERISA case before the District Court covering the northern part of Texas.
Disability Disability Insurance Law TV:
10 things to expect when your disability insurance company asks for an IME exam
Almost all disability insurance policies provide a disability insurance company with the right to have the insured examined by a physician of their choice. The disability insurance companies can select any physician and a claimant must…
Attorneys Seek Information In Order to Prove Conflict of Interest Impacted Claim Denial
Another case appeared recently before the United States District Court, Northern District of Indiana, Hammond Division. It sheds light on motions to compel. We will look at the background behind the motion before looking at how the Court evaluated the need for…
The case we will look at here demonstrates once again how reviewing a disability denial under the abuse of discretion standard can favor an insurance company’s disability denial. All the insurance company must prove is that the process used to come to a claims decision was logical and reasonable. As you read the following case…
Dalit Waissman took sued Life Insurance Company of North America (LINA) when the company terminated her long-term disability payments in May 2006. In arguments presented before District Judge Jeremy Fogel of the U.S. District Court’s Northern District of California, San Jose Division on January 20, 2010, Waissman’s disability attorney did his best to show that…
Dalit Waissman, a 53 year old who immigrated to the United States from Israel in 1984, came to her position at SAP, Inc. in 1997 with considerable experience in computer programming and educational consultation and resource coaching. She had spent the previous two years working as an independent contractor providing technical writing services.
SAP hired…
A long-term disability case brought before Lincoln D. Almond, U.S. Magistrate Judge in the District of Rhode Island, brings to light how important it is for a long-term disability attorney to prepare a discovery request carefully and to make every effort to resolve discovery issues without involving the court system. The case we are going…
Linda Chavis filed a complaint against Cigna Group Insurance and Life Insurance Company of North America (LINA) on June 24, 2009, alleging that the insurance company had breached two disability insurance contracts by refusing to pay her claims for short-term disability (STD) insurance and for long-term disability (LTD) insurance.
Continue Reading Court Finds CIGNA Failed To Follow Proper Claim Denial Procedure, Nurse’s Right To Pursue Disability Law Suit Under ERISA Supported
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
Daniel J. Rochow, the former president of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., was insured under Life Insurance Co. of North America’s disability plan. The Sixth Circuit affirmed that a disability insurer’s denial of benefits to a former employee who was terminated because his symptoms prevented him from performing his duties was arbitrary and capricious, even though the employee’s diagnosis was not made until after he stopped working.
Continue Reading Diagnosis of Insured’s Medical Condition After Termination of Employment Does Not Preclude Disability Claim
