When an Insurer Denies Coverage Without Deciding Disability

In Newsom v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, 26 F.4th 329 (5th Cir. 2022), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit addressed a situation that comes up frequently in long-term disability cases. The issue was not whether the claimant was disabled, but whether the insurance company could avoid making that decision altogether. The claimant had worked for years …

Judge of U.S. Court of Middle District of Louisiana Remands Long-term Disability Case to Insurance Company for Further Review

Published by The Pellegrin Firm September 15, 2020

In a recent case out of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, Judge John W. deGravelles remanded a case to Hartford Life & Accident Insurance Company to reconsider its termination of a truck driver’s long-term disability benefits. Hartford paid two years of benefits, finding the plaintiff could not return to his old job considering the severity of his back condition. However, Hartford terminated benefits after two years, because the policy states that benefits are only payable after two years if the claimant cannot perform the substantial duties of any occupation.