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• Pennsylvania Federal Court denies Unum’s attempts to dismiss a physician’s bad faith disability lawsuit

  January 27, 2010 — An opinion issued by the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in November 2009 highlights the challenges an attorney faces when a complaint for denial of disability insurance benefits involves parties... » Click to continue reading

• MetLife’s denial of short-term disability benefits found arbitrary and capricious

  January 25, 2010 — After 18 years of work as a management assistant at Raytheon Company, Dorothy Whitehouse suffered a psychotic episode in the workplace triggered by an experience with her boss and co-workers. The severity of the attack... » Click to continue reading

• Cigna failed to follow proper claim denial procedure, nurse’s right to pursue disability law suit under ERISA supported by district court

  January 7, 2010 — 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... » Click to continue reading

• Prudential’s failure to provide documents weighs in long term disability claimant’s favor

  January 6, 2010 — 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... » Click to continue reading

• Hartford wins long-term disability case based on pre-existing condition defense

  January 5, 2010 — 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.  The three judge panel... » Click to continue reading

• The Standard Insurance Company loses their battle to enforce discretionary clauses in long-term disability policies

  December 10, 2009 — Once again the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has upheld a state’s rights to protect employees that have long-term disability insurance policies issued by their employers. In an opinion filed on October 27, 2009,... » Click to continue reading

• An undiagnosed pre-existing condition will not result in denial of long-term disability benefits

  December 10, 2009 — On November 4, 2009, a ruling was handed down in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals that will surely have insurance companies looking at how they define ”pre-existing condition”. Ruth Mitzel is certainly happy that... » Click to continue reading

• Reliance Standard is ordered by Arizona Court to pay long-term disability benefits to technology consultant with fibromyalgia

  December 9, 2009 — 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... » Click to continue reading

• Hartford wins long-term disability case, court rules that claimant failed to exhaust administrative remedies

  December 9, 2009 — 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... » Click to continue reading

• Hartford’s unreasonable denial of disability benefits to a hospital employee is reversed by Texas Court

  December 7, 2009 — 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... » Click to continue reading

• Director disabled by heart disease takes Prudential to Illinois Court after denial of long-term disability benefits

  December 7, 2009 — 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... » Click to continue reading

• Northwestern Mutual rescinds disability policy after claimant paid premiums for 15 years

  December 4, 2009 — 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... » Click to continue reading

• Missouri Court denies MetLife’s motion to dismiss long-term disability claim for failure to exhaust administrative remedies

  December 4, 2009 — 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... » Click to continue reading

• Federal judge orders Sun Life to re-evaluate long-term disability benefit denial

  December 3, 2009 — When Vickie Costello left work on May 19, 2006, after a stressful encounter with one of her co-workers, she had no idea that her problems were going to get even worse. In order to return... » Click to continue reading

• MetLife denies physician’s long-term disability claim as a result of late application filing

  December 3, 2009 — When Dr. Beatriz Martinez received a letter from MetLife denying her claim for long-term disability insurance, her only remaining option was to file a lawsuit. Unfortunately for her, the court upheld Met Life’s denial for... » Click to continue reading

• Court orders Prudential to re-evaluate long-term disability claim of engineer suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia

  November 20, 2009 — Mrs. Pettigrew was an employee of Pioneer Automotive Technologies, Inc from December 8, 2003 until May 15, 2006.  Her most recent position was that of a senior engineer.  Mrs. Pettigrew had been experiencing increasing pain... » Click to continue reading

• Court upholds Standard Insurance Company’s denial of disability benefits, despite claimant’s approval of social security disability benefits

  November 20, 2009 — For several years, Elizabeth Black was the executive director of Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. (MWF), the organization that governs Summerfest, a music festival in Milwaukee.  Black was covered under the company’s disability insurance plan, underwritten... » Click to continue reading

• Federal judge reverses MetLife’s denial of long-term disability benefits to a senior project manager suffering from back pain

  November 20, 2009 — Mrs. Kaufmann was employed as a senior project manager by Siemens Corporation.  Mrs. Kaufmann was a member of the long term disability plan through MetLife,  who was both the administrator and payor of disability benefits. ... » Click to continue reading

• Jefferson Pilot ordered to pay disability benefits to clinical director suffering from fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and depression

  November 20, 2009 — Annette Engel was employed with Harborcreek Youth Services as a Clinical Director, where she performed duties such as providing leadership and vision, developing proposals, overseeing interviews and recruits of other clinicians, consultation and more.  On... » Click to continue reading

• CIGNA ordered to pay disability benefits to hr administrator diagnosed fibromyalgia

  November 20, 2009 — Mrs. Rebecca Duperry worked as payroll benefits HR administrator for Railroad Friction Products Corporation (RFPC) until April 7, 2006.  Mrs. Duperry suffered from rheumatism, and stopped working in April pursuant to the advice of her... » Click to continue reading

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