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

In a ruling filed on November 17, 2009, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit found that Prudential Insurance Company of America (Prudential) had failed to provide Barbara Brown adequate information with which to appeal their decision to deny her long term disability (LTD) benefits.
Continue Reading Prudential’s Failure To Produce Documents Weighs In Long Term Disability Claimant’s Favor

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals recently rendered a very difficult decision in favor of Hartford Insurance Company dealing with the interpretation of pre-existing condition clauses in long-term disability income policies.
Continue Reading Third Circuit Court of Appeals Upholds Hartford’s Denial Of Long-Term Disability Claim Based on Pre-Existing Condition Defense

In a federal court in Peoria, Illinois, a jury ruled against Unum Company (NYSE: UNM) and awarded more than $300,000 in disability insurance benefits the insurer withheld from a general surgeon it had claimed was capable of conducting major surgeries, despite the surgeon’s difficulty standing for more than one hour at a time.
Continue Reading A General Surgeon And His Legal Team At Attorneys Dell & Schaefer Win Disability Insurance Jury Trial Against Unum

After receiving disability benefits for more than 10 years, the Reliance Standard denied disability benefits. After a 4 year legal battle, the Arizona district court determined that Melisa Gemmel was disabled by fibromyalgia. Melissa Gemmel was employed at Systemhouse, Inc. and covered under her employer’s long-term disability plan, issued by Reliance Standard (NYSE:DFG).
Continue Reading Arizona Court Reverses Reliance Standard And Awards Disability Benefits to Woman Suffering From Fibromyalgia

It is vital that you hire the right long-term disability firm to represent you. Debra Swanson had to learn this the hard way, as a recent ruling in the Fifth Circuit court of Appeals in the Southern District of Texas demonstrates. How did Swanson’s attorney fail her? Her counsel failed to file a proper appeal.
Continue Reading Texas Court Rules That Hartford Wins Long-term Disability Case, Claimant Failed To Exhaust Administrative Remedies

Aside from the fact that many disability insurance companies already have a conflict of interest for being both the administrator of benefits and the entity that decides whether or not an employee qualifies for disability insurance, there are some cases in which it appears that insurance companies simply decide they don’t want to pay disability benefits.
Continue Reading Texas Court Reverses Hartford’s Unreasonable Denial Of Disability Benefits To A Hospital Employee

Alvin Hintz was an employee of CCL Custom Manufacturing, Inc. as Director of Information Systems for more than a decade. The company was purchased prior to Hintz’s termination, by KIK Custom Products, Inc. On August 8, 2005, Hintz was terminated along with eight other employees. In the separation agreement, there was a ‘general release of claims’ that Hintz signed. The long term disability plan was administrated by Prudential.
Continue Reading After Denial Of Long-Term Disability Benefits, Director Disabled By Heart Disease Takes Prudential To Illinois Court

Donna Blake was an employee of Express Scripts, covered under both a long term disability plan and a short term disability plan, when she applied and was denied for short term disability coverage. After internal appeals, Mrs. Blake brought her claim to the United States District Court, Missouri Eastern Division. Upon the settlement of Mrs. Blake’s claim for short term disability, she claimed that she would be prevented from filing for long term benefits, because the denial of her short term disability claim, “prevented her from applying for LTD benefits from the LTD Plan, as she was required to satisfy the applicable period of STD before becoming eligible for LTD benefits.”
Continue Reading MetLife’s Motion To Dismiss Long-Term Disability Claim For Failure to Exhaust Administrative Remedies Is Denied By Missouri Court

When you apply for a disability policy, it is very important to answer all questions as truthfully as you can. The courts generally will not render a summary judgment in favor of the disability insurance company if the company can’t prove that you answered a question with the intent to defraud.
Continue Reading After Claimant Paid Premiums For 15 Years, Northwestern Mutual Rescinds Disability Policy