Our Victories

Precedent-Setting Cases Won by
DeBofsky Law

Disability Insurance

Ward v. Reliance

DeBofsky Law achieved a favorable ruling where the court found that Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company abused its discretion in terminating long-term disability benefits for COVID syndrome. The court determined that the insurer failed to properly consider comprehensive medical evidence of cognitive impairments. Consequently, the case was remanded for further proceedings to ensure a thorough review of the disability claim.

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Disability Insurance

Robinson v. Aetna Life Insurance Co.

In an appeal,  the court determined that the denial of benefits was arbitrary and capricious because Aetna’s interpretation of the SSDI requirement provision in the plan was unreasonable because Robinson was awarded SSDI benefits retroactively, in turn meaning that she effectively began receiving SSDI benefits before the policy’s 24-month deadline. The court also found that Aetna’s refusal to toll its review of Robinson’s LTD claim was problematic, because when the SSA would render a decision was completely outside of her control.

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Disability Insurance

Scanlon v. LINA

A system analyst with spinal pain and a sleep disorder won his appeal with the help of DeBofsky Law. The court ruled that the district court erred in its assessment, failing to properly consider the claimant’s functional capacity and inability to earn 80% of his income due to his condition. The ruling emphasizes the need for accurate evaluations in long-term disability cases.

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Disability Insurance

Sherrell v. Sun Life

DeBofsky Law won an appeal for a cancer research coordinator who was denied long-term disability benefits by Sun Life. The insurer’s decision was overturned, with the court criticizing Sun Life’s use of a medical consultant who never examined the claimant. This ruling underscores the need for insurers to conduct proper evaluations and consider all relevant evidence in disability cases.

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Health Insurance

Day v. Humana Insurance Co.

In this health insurance ruling obtained by DeBofsky Law, the district court allowed a lawsuit to proceed against Humana and the plaintiff’s employer over their refusal to cover proton beam radiation therapy treatment for a patient suffering from brain stem cancer.

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Standard of Review

Hampton v. National Union Fire Ins. Co. of Pittsburgh, PA

This matter involved a claim for accidental death insurance, but before addressing the merits, the court first needed to determine the applicable standard of review.  The court accepted the arguments of DeBofsky Law that the more favorable de novo standard applied.

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Fontaine v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company

DeBofsky Law won a landmark decision in Fontaine v. Metro. Life Ins. Co., 800 F.3d 883 (7th Cir. 2015), which upheld a challenge to the Illinois Insurance Regulation barring health and disability insurance companies from incorporating provisions in their policies that would trigger an “arbitrary and capricious” standard of court review – 50 Ill. Admin. Code § 2001.3.

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Health Insurance

Dominic W. v. N. Trust Co. Emp. Welfare Benefit Plan et al.

DeBofsky Law prevailed in a healthcare case, Dominic W. on behalf of Sofia W. v. N. Tr. Co. Employee Welfare Benefit Plan, 392 F. Supp. 3d 907 (N.D. Ill. 2019), involving the denial of residential psychiatric treatment.

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Disability insurance

Hennen v. Metro Life Insurance

DeBofsky Law recently won a remand from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Hennen v. Metro. Life Ins. Co., 904 F.3d 532 (7th Cir. 2018). Susan Hennen suffered from chronic low back pain radiating into her legs, despite having undergone three back surgeries…

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Fibromyalgia 

Cathleen Kennedy v. Eli Lilly & Co.

DeBofsky Law, along with Bridget O’Ryan and O’Ryan Law Offices, won a victory in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Kennedy v. Lilly Extended Disability Plan, 856 F.3d 1136 (7th Cir. 2017), a case involving the denial of disability benefits to a claimant with fibromyalgia.

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Accidental Death 

Prather v. Sun Life

On December 13, 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit issued a ruling in the case of Prather v. Sun Life & Health Ins. Co. (U.S.), 843 F.3d 733 (7th Cir. 2016). The case, which involved a claim for accidental death insurance benefits, overturned a lower court ruling denying Lee Ann Prather’s claim and ordered Sun Life to pay the full amount…

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Court Testimonials

See what the courts have to say about us:

“I can’t thank you enough for ending the nightmare and securing my future.​” 

“I knew after researching you and your law firm, talking with other attorneys about you, that not only were you the best choice but the only choice. Martina did fantastic work on the review of my claim file, please extend my gratitude to her, I was so relieved the day she called, after discussing the case with you and offering your services to take my case. It was very unnerving suddenly not knowing what my financial future was going to look like at my age. I can’t thank you enough for ending the nightmare and securing my future.” 

Client

Disability Insurance

Berg v. New York Life Ins. Co.

On July 27, 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit handed down a decision in the case of Berg v. New York Life Ins. Co., 831 F.3d 426 (7th Cir. 2016), reversing an adverse judgment in the district court against DeBofsky Law’s client, Eric Berg.

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Disability Insurance

Diaz v. Prudential Insurance Co. of America

499 F.3d 640 (7th Cir. 2007) and 422 F.3d 635 (7th Cir. 2005). This case was heard twice by the court of appeals; and in both rulings, the court overturned a lower court’s finding in favor of Prudential. The opinions, collectively, put to rest the notion that deferential review is due merely because the insurance policy requires proof of disability satisfactory to the insurer. Also, the Seventh Circuit recognized that subjective symptoms such as pain cannot be discounted simply because they are not “medical” or “neurologic” evidence. 

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Disability Insurance

Holmstrom v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co.

615 F.3d 758 (7th Cir. 2010). In Holmstrom, the plaintiff, Lanette Holmstrom, was successful in her appeal against Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and convinced the court of appeals to overturn a lower court finding in favor of the insurance company and award past-due disability benefits and order the continuation of benefit payments.

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Disability Insurance

Lacko v. United of Omaha Life Ins. Co.

DeBofsky Law won a decisive ruling from the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Lacko v. United of Omaha Life Ins. Co., 926 F.3d 432 (7th Cir. 2019), a case involving disability benefits and vocational issues.

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Discretionary Clauses

Herzberger v. Standard Insurance Company

205 F.3d 327 (7th Cir. 2000). The Herzberger ruling was a landmark ERISA case that determined what language in an insurance policy is adequate to trigger a deferential standard of court review.

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I know this would not have happened without your advocacy.​”

“Mark, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! I know this would not have happened without your advocacy. I thank God for you and your firm and may blessings be poured upon all of you. I needed a warrior of the most excellent and greatest kind and I found one in you.”

Client

Discretionary Clauses

Defending the Illinois Ban on Discretionary Clauses in the District Court

DeBofsky Law has also secured numerous lower court rulings that have found that a regulation issued by the Illinois Department of Insurance, 50 Ill. Admin. Code § 2001.3, bars insurance companies from incorporating language in their policies that would trigger an arbitrary and capricious standard of review.

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Disability Insurance

Feibusch v. Sun Life

463 F.3d 880 (9th Cir. 2006). In this ruling, the court of appeals reversed a judgment for Sun Life entered by a lower court, ruling that policy language requiring that a claimant submit “satisfactory proof” of disability was insufficient to alter the ERISA standard of review from the default de novo standard.

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Disability Insurance

Raybourne v. CIGNA Life Insurance

700 F.3d 1076 (7 th Cir. 2012). In this ruling against CIGNA, the U.S. Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling finding that CIGNA had improperly terminated Edward Raybourne’s disability benefits.

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Disability Insurance

Ruttenberg v. U.S. Life

413 F.3d 652 (7th Cir. 2005). This was a successful appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals, where the court recognized that U.S. Life improperly denied benefits and misconstrued its policy.

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Disability Insurance

Seitz v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.

433 F.3d 647 (8th Cir. 2006). DeBofsky Law secured a victory in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in a case involving vocational issues.

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“Thank you for believing in me.​”

“It has been an absolute pleasure doing business with you. I can’t thank you enough for everything you have done for me. More than just successfully winning this appeal, but for having the confidence in me to proceed. For the moral support to help me continue to fight and for believing in my illness. I will continue to tell everyone about the excellent work. You have no idea what your support has meant to me. Thank you for believing in me.”

Client

Disability Insurance

Tate v. Long Term Disability Plan for Salaried Employees of Champion International Corporation

545 F.3d 555 (7th Cir. 2008). This case involved a chronically ill individual whose disability benefits were summarily terminated without just cause.

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Disability Insurance

Stephan v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of America

697 F.3d 917 (9th Cir. 2012). The U.S. Court of Appeals overturned a lower court ruling that favored Unum. Stephan was the first circuit court decision to recognize the applicability of the fiduciary exception to attorney-client privilege in the context of a fully-insured ERISA plan.

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