Diaz v. Prudential Ins. Co. of America, 2007 U.S.App.LEXIS 20067 (7th Cir. 8/23/2007). For the second time, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was called upon to untangle summary judgment rulings issued by the district court in this proceeding. In the first appeal (424 F.3d 635 (7th Cir. 2005)), the court of appeals reversed […]
The plaintiff in today’s case had been in a serious bicycle accident and suffered cognitive impairments as a result. Gammell v. Prudential Ins.Co. of America, 2007 U.S.Dist.LEXIS 36604 (D.Mass. May 17). On account of his injuries, Thomas Gammell received benefits through his employer’s group disability insurer, Prudential, from 1989 through 2002; however, benefits were terminated […]
The saga of this case, which involved a claim of disability due to complications of diabetes, is a long one that began in 2002 when Unum initially denied the claim for benefits and upheld its decision when the plaintiff submitted her pre-suit appeal. The case, Metzger v. Unum Life Ins.Co. of America, 2007 U.S.App.LEXIS 3755, […]
In a short, but highly instructive ruling, U.S. District Judge Gerard Lynch ordered that CIGNA disclose its disability insurance claim manual without a protective order, overruling an objection that the insurer might suffer ”competitive injury” if such information was disclosed. Levy v. INA Life Insur.Co. of N.Y., 2006 U.S.Dist.LEXIS 83060 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 14, 2006). Because […]
The plaintiff, a loan originator, originally became disabled in 1993 due to an ankle injury. Although her ankle improved, she was also involved in a serious car accident, and her benefits were continued until 1996 when Hartford cut off the benefit payments even though she continued to suffer from pain, fatigue, problems with memory and […]
Dennis Paese, a long-time employee and director of labor relations for Sequa Corporation, was severely injured in a car accident. Paese v. Hartford Life and Accident Insur. Co., 2006 U.S.App.LEXIS 13007 (2d U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals May 24,2006).