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).
The plaintiff commenced this action seeking injunctive relief under the ERISA statute after Prudential terminated her benefit claim for the third time. Perkins v. Prudential Insur. Co. of America, 417 F.Supp.2d 1149 (C.D.Cal. March 1, 2006). Perkins initially became disabled in 1997; after Prudential denied her claim, litigation resulted in an award of benefits. Another […]
It is fascinating how far Judge Richard A. Posner has come. Posner wrote the opinion in Rud v. Liberty Life Assur.Co.,438 F.3d 772 (7th Cir. 2006). However, in Van Boxel v. The Journal Co. Employees’ Pension Trust, 836 F.2d 1048, 1052 (7th Cir. 1987), he wrote: