Mark DeBofsky and William Reynolds will be speaking at the American Bar Association Employee Benefits Committee Midwinter Meeting in Rancho Mirage, California on February 6, 2020.
William Reynolds: TOP TEN EMPLOYEE BENEFITS TOPICS OF 2019 (Thursday, 2/6 at 8:15 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.)
The mile-high view of what happened last year in the benefits world. The top ten highlights in the benefits world regardless of the clients you represent.
Mark DeBofsky: Current Trends in Disability Benefit, Life Insurance Plan, and AD&D Litigation (Thursday, 2/6 at 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.)
This session will explore the key issues in ERISA benefit claims litigation with a particular focus on disability, life insurance, and accidental death and dismemberment claims. The panel will discuss the evolving case law on discovery under the de novo and arbitrary and capricious standards of review; how substantial compliance with the benefit claims regulations impacts or does not impact the litigation proceedings; and how the new disability claims regulations effect the appeal and litigation proceedings. The panel also will discuss what constitutes an accident for purposes of an accidental death claim; how the courts are interpreting criminal acts exclusions; and plan design issues particular to life and accidental death and dismemberment policies.
