American Red Cross Worker Sues Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company For Wrongful Termination of Long Term Disability Benefits

In Joanne C. Vs Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, the Plaintiff seeks the reinstatement of her long term disability benefit payments as defined by the terms of the Plan.

The Plaintiff, with the help of her Michigan Disability Attorney, has filed this lawsuit against Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company (Reliance) due to the fact that Reliance failed to provide continuous long term disability benefits to the Plaintiff as promised under the terms of the Plan.

Background

The Plaintiff, a 53-year-old resident of the County of Shiawassee in the State of Michigan, had worked at the American Red Cross in Lansing, Michigan until 2007. The Plaintiff suffers from chronic and intense and severe low back pain, right hip pain, and right leg pain. The Plaintiff had been determined to be disabled by the Social Security Administration and eligible to receive Social Security Disability benefits. The Plan was to entitle her to receive benefits until she reached 65 years of age. Reliance paid long term disability benefit payments through May 30, 2011. (If I am approved for Social Security Disability Benefits, does that mean the disability insurance company must approve my disability claim?)

Reliance Abruptly Terminates Further Long Term Disability Benefit Payments

After May 30, 2011, Reliance stopped paying long term disability benefit payments despite the fact that the Plaintiff’s condition had not improved and she did not yet reach age 65.

Plaintiff filed an appeal of this decision, but Reliance rejected her denial. Plaintiff filed a second appeal of the denial on August 17, 2011, but this appeal was also denied by Reliance, despite the fact that the Plaintiff provided substantial medical evidence that showed she still suffered from severe low back and hip pain. Due to the fact that the Plaintiff had exhausted all administrative remedies, Plaintiff filed this lawsuit against Reliance

Grounds for Lawsuit Filed Against Reliance

Plaintiff had been receiving the amount of $703.00 per month until her benefits were cut off on May 30, 2011. Reliance’s cutting off of Plaintiff’s benefits was arbitrary, capricious and against the great weight of the medical evidence that reaffirmed Plaintiff’s severe low back and hip condition.

Relief Sought By Plaintiff

In this lawsuit, the Plaintiff wants the following relief from Reliance:

• All benefits to which she is owed according to the terms of the Plan
• All interest payments due on the owed benefits from May 30, 2011 to the present date of this lawsuit
• All future benefits to which she is entitled so long as she remains eligible under the terms of the Plan
• All reasonable attorney fees associated with the filing of this lawsuit
• All associated court costs associated with the filing of this lawsuit
• All other relief deemed fair and equitable as determined by the Court