Louisiana Long-Term Disability Lawyer

Long-term disability insurance is often offered as part of an employee benefit package. Some people purchase long-term disability coverage directly from insurance companies or through an insurance broker. Long-term disability policies sponsored by a private employer are governed by a federal law called the Employee Retirment Income Security Act (“ERISA”). If a policy issued in Louisiana is purchased by an …

US Court of Appeal for the Eleventh Circuit Finds Unum Abused Discretion By Discounting a Beneficiary’s Cognitive Deficits from Medication in an ERISA Long-Term Disability Case

The U.S. Court of Appeal for the Eleventh Circuit recently reversed the decision of a federal district court affirming Unum Life Insurance Company of America’s (“Unum”) decision to terminate a former pharmacist’s long-term disability benefits. The plaintiff beneficiary in the case was employed as a pharmacist from 1996 until 2016, when she suffered an accident at work that injured her …

How Should I Appeal a Long-Term Disability Denial?

It is extremely frustrating and stress-inducing to receive a letter in the mail terminating or denying long-term disability benefits. People with long-term disability insurance, either through an employer-provided policy or a privately purchased policy, rely on funds being available if they are hurt and cannot work. The important thing to know is that insurance companies do sometimes change their minds …

Federal Judge in Western District of Louisiana Finds Claimant Disabled Due to Anxiety, Orders Insurer to Pay Benefits

In a recent case, Trahan v. United of Omaha Life Insurance Co., No. 2:21-CV-02281, 2022 WL 710436 (W.D. La. Mar. 9, 2022), the plaintiff alleged that he was disabled due to high blood pressure and anxiety. He filed a claim with his employer’s disability insurer only to have the claim denied. The plaintiff alleged that his high blood pressure and …

Federal Court in Kentucky Awards Woman Disability Benefits Due to Parkinson’s, Chronic Pain, and Cervical Disk Degeneration

Published by The Pellegrin Firm May 18, 2021

In a recent decision, a federal district court in Kentucky found that United of Omaha erred in denying short-term disability (“STD”) and long-term disability (“LTD”) benefits to a worker disabled by Parkinson’s disease, chronic pain, and disk degeneration.

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.

U.S. District Court Judge in New Orleans Rules Against Unum in Dispute Over Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Benefits

Published by The Pellegrin Firm June 8, 2020

On May 20, 2020, Judge Eldon Fallon of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana in New Orleans ruled in a case challenging the denial of short-term and long-term disability benefits.

Federal Court Rejects Long-Term Disability Insurer’s Irresponsible Denial of Benefits to Medical Provider Addicted to Fentanyl

Published by The Pellegrin Firm, L.L.C. March 10, 2020

All too often, long-term disability insurers look for reasons to deny payment to disabled insureds. This is just as true of insureds with addiction and mental health issues as it is of insureds with physical limitations. In a recent case out of Missouri, a federal judge rejected an insurance company’s denial of benefits to an impaired nurse anesthetist.

In Unpublished Decision, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Discusses Meaning of “Regular Care” Provision in a Long-Term Disability Policy, Finds for Claimant

Published by The Pellegrin Firm February 5, 2020

In a recent decision, a panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit discussed the meaning of a “regular care” provision in a long-term disability policy.