What is contra proferentem? Carlile v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co.[1] is a textbook illustration of the doctrine that construes ambiguities in insurance policies in favor of the insured and against the insurer. In February, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit affirmed a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District […]
It’s estimated that one in four people entering the workforce today will experience a disability lasting a year or more before they reach retirement age. Many of those impacted are eligible for Social Security disability benefits, but Social Security disability insurance has many limitations. First, it typically provides only 50% income […]
If your long-term disability claim has been denied, you should not take “no” as the insurance company’s final answer. In most circumstances, you have the right to submit an appeal challenging the benefit denial; and if the appeal is unsuccessful, a wrongfully denied claim may be litigated in court. What most people don’t realize, though, […]
Most people assume that if they become unable to perform their usual work on account of sickness or injury, that they would qualify to receive benefits under their work-sponsored long-term disability insurance coverage. That may not be the case, though. In Nichols v. Reliance Standard Life Ins. Co., 2019 WL 2223614 (5th Cir. May 23, […]
When used appropriately, social media may sometimes prove to be a valuable tool to investigate personal injury and disability insurance claims. However, when an insurer improperly denies a claim for benefits based on an unjustified reliance on social media postings, the claimant may be able to turn the tables on the insurance company. In Williamson […]
In recent years, there has been greater recognition of post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly referred to as PTSD. Many veterans returning from overseas conflicts experience PTSD, but the condition is not limited to former military. PTSD may occur following a significant injury or psychological shock and results in persistent mental or emotional distress. According to the […]