http://www.lexisnexis.com/mealeys/news.aspx Headline Disability Insurance Legal News from LexisNexis® en-us http://www.lexisnexis.com/mealeys/images/lexismealeyslogo.gif 130 29 http://www.lexisnexis.com/mealeys/news.aspx Copyright 2020 http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-8%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%201%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' ATLANTA - A district court did not err in entering summary judgment in favor of a disability claimant because the evidence supports a finding that the claimant is disabled from practicing as a dentist, the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals said Jan. 31 (Kia Kaviani, D.M.D. v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co., No. 19-11798, 11th Cir., 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 3006). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-8%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%202%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' CHICAGO - The Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Feb. 3 affirmed a district court's ruling in favor of a disability insurer after determining that the lower court did not abuse its discretion by limiting its review of a long-term disability (LTD) benefits claim to the administrative record before the court (Stephanie Dorris v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, No. 19-1701, 7th Cir., 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 3206). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-8%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%203%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' SAN FRANCISCO - A disability insurer did not abuse its discretion in terminating a claimant's long-term disability (LTD) benefits because the evidence supports the insurer's finding that the claimant was not totally disabled from performing the duties of any occupation, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals said Jan. 16 (Dyel O. Talbot v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co., et al., No. 18-15375, 9th Cir., 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 1657). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-8%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%204%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' AKRON, Ohio - An Ohio federal magistrate judge on Jan. 31 granted a disability claimant's motion for judgment on the administrative record and remanded the long-term disability (LTD) benefits claim to the plan administrator after determining that the plan administrator failed to consider the opinions of two of the claimant's treating physicians (Ann M. Geraci v. Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Co., No. 18-2367, N.D. Ohio, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16142). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-8%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%205%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' COLUMBUS, Ohio - An Ohio federal judge on Feb. 4 granted a disability insurer's motion for judgment on the administrative record after determining that the evidence clearly supported the insurer's decision to terminate a claimant's long-term disability benefits (Farron Russell Creed v. Hartford Life & Accident Co., No. 19-1072, S.D. Ohio, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17613). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-8%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%206%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' CINCINNATI - The Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeal on Jan. 23 reversed a district court's ruling in favor of a disability plan after determining that the disability claimant proved by a preponderance of the evidence that he was disabled from performing the duties of his regular occupation and that he was under the regular care of a physician for his disabling conditions (Jesse Bruton v. American United Life Insurance Corp., No. 19-3466, 6th Cir., 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 2498). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-8%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%207%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' PHOENIX - An Arizona federal judge on Feb. 3 determined that questions of fact exist as to whether a disability claimant is able to perform the material duties of a clinical anesthesiologist and whether the disability insurer's handling of the disability claim constitutes bad faith (Thomas Scott Wood v. Provident Life and Accident Insurance Co., No. 17-2330, D. Ariz., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19057). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-8%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%208%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' NEW ORLEANS - A disability insurer wrongfully denied a claim for long-term disability (LTD) benefits based on the plan's pre-existing condition exclusion because the back injury the claimant sustained while working was not caused by the claimant's pre-existing degenerative back condition, a Louisiana federal judge said Jan. 13 in awarding the claimant past and future LTD benefits (Karl Meche v, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., No. 18-3995, E.D. La., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5200). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-8%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%209%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' BOSTON - The First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Jan. 27 affirmed a district court's ruling in favor of a disability insurer after determining the lower court did not err in finding that the disability insurer properly offset disability benefits payable under its policy by disability benefits received by the claimant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (Marco Martinez v. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, No. 18-2127, 1st Cir., 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 2507). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-8%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2010%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. - A New York federal magistrate judge on Jan. 8 recommended granting a disability insurer's motion for summary judgment after determining that the insurer's calculation of monthly disability benefits was not unreasonable (Jason Brand v. Narco Freedom Inc., et al., No. 15-5021, E.D. N.Y., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3813). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-8%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2011%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' SCRANTON, Pa. - A Pennsylvania federal judge on Jan. 13 denied a disability income insurer's motion for partial summary judgment on a bad faith claim because the insured provided sufficient evidence from which a jury could find that the insurer acted in bad faith in denying the claim for disability income benefits (Joseph D. Dileo v. Federated Life Insurance Co., No. 18-628, M.D. Pa., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5003). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-8%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2012%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' SAN FRANCISCO - The Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Jan. 15 denied a disability claimant's motion for rehearing en banc, refusing to reconsider its ruling that a district court did not err in applying an abuse-of-discretion standard of review in a disability suit because the plan administrator's conduct did not rise to the level of requiring a de novo review of the plan's denial of benefits (Olga Gorbacheva v. Abbott Laboratories Extended Disability Plan, et al., Nos. 18-15400, 18-16178, 9th Cir., 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 1376). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-8%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2013%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' MOBILE, Ala. - A de novo standard of review must be applied in a disability benefits dispute because the disability insurer failed to provide the claimant with a full and fair review as required by the Department of Labor regulations governing disability claims, an Alabama federal judge said Jan. 21 in granting a disability claimant's motion for partial summary judgment (Brian McConnell v. American General Life Insurance Co., No. 19-0174, S.D. Ala., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9605). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-8%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2014%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - A Florida federal judge on Jan. 27 dismissed a disability insurer's counterclaims for fraud and negligent misrepresentation in a disability and life insurance dispute because the counterclaims are barred by the economic loss rule (ELR), which prohibits tort claims in a contractual dispute (Douglas Kuber v. Berkshire Life Insurance Company of America, No. 19-80211, S.D. Fla., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14121). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-8%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2015%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' NEW ORLEANS - A disability claimant's complaint must be dismissed because the claimant failed to file suit against the disability insurer within three years as required by the disability plan's applicable and enforceable contractual limitation period, a Louisiana federal judge said Jan. 24 (Gregory Scott Sr. v. The Prudential Insurance Company of America, No. 19-9294, E.D. La., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 12299). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-8%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2016%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' NEW YORK - A trial court erred in denying a disability insurer's motion to dismiss a claim alleging violation of New Jersey's Consumer Fraud Act (NJCFA) because a wrongful denial of benefits claim is not actionable under the NJCFA and the claimant failed to allege any deceitful conduct related to the procurement or issuance of the disability policy, the First Department of the New York Supreme Appellate Division said Jan. 23 (Yochanan Bulka v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., No. 657560/17, N.Y. Sup., App. Div., 1st Dept., 2020 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 470). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-8%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2017%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A disability claimant's allegations against Kentucky's insurance commissioner and the Kentucky Department of Insurance (DOI) must be dismissed, a Kentucky federal judge said Jan. 9 after determining that the claimant failed to exhaust all administrative remedies with the commissioner and the DOI (Charles A. Knoppe v. Lincoln National Life Insurance Co., et al., No. 18-264, W.D. Ky., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3612). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-8%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2018%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' KANSAS CITY, Kan. - A Kansas federal judge on Jan. 23 remanded a disability benefits dispute to Kansas state court after determining that the only federal claim asserted by the claimant must be dismissed for failure to state a claim (Sheila Hunnell Villines v. Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Co., No. 19-2581, D. Kan., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11053). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-7%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%201%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' SAN FRANCISCO - The Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Jan. 7 vacated and remanded a disability claimant's suit seeking long-term disability benefits after determining that a district court erred in failing to consider letters from the claimant's treating physicians who were not provided with the opportunity to rebut the opinion of one of the insurer's examining physicians (Lea Wagenstein v. Cigna Life Insurance Co., et al., No. 18-55955, 9th Cir., 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 482). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-7%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%202%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' NEW ORLEANS - The Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Dec. 6 affirmed a district court's ruling that a disability insurer did not abuse its discretion in finding that a claimant was not disabled from performing the duties of her own occupation as an attorney because the objective medical evidence clearly supports the insurer's finding (Anne Wittmann v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, No. 19-30254, 5th Cir., 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 36311). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-7%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%203%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' CINCINNATI - The Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Dec. 11 dismissed a disability plan's appeal for lack of jurisdiction after determining that the district court's ruling was not a final decision because the merits of the disability claim have yet to be resolved (Sherry Laake v. Benefits Committee, Western & Southern Financial Group Company Flexible Benefits Plan, et al., No. 19-3233, 6th Cir., 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 36634). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-7%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%204%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' BALTIMORE - A federal judge in Maryland on Dec. 4 granted a disability claimant's motion for summary judgment and reinstated the claimant's benefits after determining that the disability insurer's termination of long-term disability (LTD) benefits was not based on substantial evidence (Dana Krysztofiak v. Boston Mutual Life Insurance Co., No. 19-0879, D. Md., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 209452). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-7%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%205%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' TACOMA, Wash. - A disability insurer did not wrongfully deny a claim for short-term disability benefits because the disability claimant failed to prove that he was disabled from performing the duties of his own occupation prior to his termination, a Washington federal judge said Dec. 16 (James M. Kollar v. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, No. 19-5180, W.D. Wash., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 215947). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-7%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%206%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' NEW YORK - A New York federal judge on Jan. 3 granted a disability insurer's motion for summary judgment and denied a disability claimant's motion for summary judgment after determining that an orthopedic surgeon is not entitled to total disability benefits for the periods in which he returned to work because he was still able to complete the majority of his responsibilities as an orthopedic surgeon even though he was unable to perform surgeries (Richard Sternberg v. Paul Revere Life Insurance Co., No. 17-8523, S.D. N.Y., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1718). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-7%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%207%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' SAN FRANCISCO - A district court did not err in applying an abuse-of-discretion standard of review in a disability suit because the plan administrator's conduct did not rise to the level of requiring a de novo review of the plan's denial of benefits, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals said Dec. 10 in affirming the lower court's finding that the plan did not abuse its discretion in terminating the disability claimant's benefits (Olga Gorbacheva v. Abbott Laboratories Extended Disability Plan, et al., Nos. 18-15400, 18-16178, 9th Cir., 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 36542). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-7%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%208%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' NEW YORK - A disability claimant is not entitled to benefits under his former employer's disability plan because the claimant failed to show that he sustained a 20 percent or more reduction in income as a result of a disability or that there was a causal connection between his disability and the termination of his employment, the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed Dec. 13 (Joseph Sevely v. The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation Long Term Disability Plan, et al., No. 18-3247, 2nd Cir., 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 36854). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-7%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%209%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' SAN JOSE, Calif. - A California federal judge on Jan. 3 dismissed a former National Football League (NFL) player's complaint seeking additional disability benefits because the complaint fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted and because the issue of the denial of benefits was litigated in a previous suit filed by the former player (Delvin Williams v. The NFL Player Supplemental Disability Plan et al., No. 19-4236, N.D. Calif., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1551). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-7%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2010%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' ANN ARBOR, Mich. - A disability claimant is entitled to short-term disability and long-term disability benefits because the claimant proved by a preponderance of the evidence that she met all four conditions listed in the disability plan to qualify for benefits, a Michigan federal judge said Dec. 17 (Brenda Counts v. United of Omaha Life Insurance Co., No. 18-12312, E.D. Mich., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 216274). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-7%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2011%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' ST. LOUIS - A district court properly entered judgment for a disability insurer because the insurer did not wrongfully terminate a claimant's long-term disability benefits based on its determination that the claimant's mental illness was not caused by a physical disability, the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals said Dec. 16 (Diane Miller v. Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Co., No. 19-1096, 8th Cir., 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 37168). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-7%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2012%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' NEW ORLEANS - A Louisiana federal judge on Dec. 13 dismissed a disability claimant's complaint after determining that the disability insurers did not breach their insurance policies by limiting the claimant's benefits to 24 months under the policies' 24-month limitation provision for mental disorders (Allan Cougle v. Berkshire Life Insurance Company of America, et al., No. 19-9257, E.D. La., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 215019). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-7%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2013%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' CHICAGO - An Illinois federal judge on Dec. 10 granted a disability claimant's motion for summary judgment after determining that the disability insurer incorrectly calculated the claimant's first day of disability and the salary on which his long-term disability (LTD) benefits should be based (Harlan Ten Pas v. The Lincoln National Life Insurance Co., No. 18-3694, N.D. Ill., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 212284). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-7%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2014%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' ST. LOUIS - The Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Dec. 23 affirmed a district court's ruling that the denial of a claim for short-term disability (STD) benefits was not unreasonable after determining that the claimant failed to present a valid basis for reversal (Jacqueline E. Presi v. Ascension Health Alliance, doing business as Ascension, et al., No. 19-1792, 8th Cir., 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 38198). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-7%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2015%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' MINNEAPOLIS - A Minnesota federal judge on Jan. 3 granted a disability insurer's motion for partial summary judgment after determining that a disability claimant failed to prove that the insurer's termination of disability benefits caused the claimant to sustain consequential damages in the form of lost employer-provided health and life insurance (Matthew J. Christoff v. Paul Revere Life Insurance Co., No. 17-3515, D. Minn., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 808). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-7%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2016%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A Kentucky federal judge on Dec. 31 granted a disability insurer's motion for summary judgment on a claimant's bad faith claim after determining that the bad faith claim cannot proceed without the breach of contract claim, which was dismissed in a prior ruling by the court (James H. Pogue v. Principal Life Insurance Co., No. 14-599, W.D. Ky., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 222947). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-7%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2017%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' OKLAHOMA CITY - An Oklahoma federal judge on Dec. 6 denied a disability claimant's motion to conduct discovery outside of the administrative record after determining that the claimant failed to carry his burden of proving that the disability insurer's conflict of interest as both claims administrator and claims payer warrants the requested discovery (John Williamson v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, No. 19-481, W.D. Okla., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 210631). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-7%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2018%20(2020)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' LEXINGTON, Ky. - A Kentucky federal judge on Dec. 13 partially granted a disability claimant's motion to compel supplementary responses regarding information related to the supervision of the claimant's disability benefits investigation but denied the claimant's motion to compel the deposition of a claims analyst because the claimant failed to meet the court's scheduling deadline for deposition requests (Jennifer Lee Smith v. Hartford Life & Accident Insurance Co., No. 19-61, E.D. Ky., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 215084). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%201%20(2019)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' SAN FRANCISCO - A California federal judge on Nov. 27 granted a disability claimant's motion for judgment on the administrative record after determining that the claimant met his burden of proving that he remained disabled from performing the duties of his sedentary occupation as a project manager (Steven S. Garretson v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., No. 17-7052, N.D. Calif., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 206700). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%202%20(2019)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' ATLANTA - A disability insurer's denial of long-term disability benefits was not wrong because the disability claimant failed to prove that he was disabled from his own occupation throughout the entire elimination period as required by the disability policy, the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals said Nov. 22 in affirming a district court's judgment in favor of the insurer (Keyton Benson v. Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Co., No. 18-14835, 11th Cir., 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 34810). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%203%20(2019)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' COLUMBUS, Ohio - A disability insurer's denial of long-term disability (LTD) benefits was not arbitrary and capricious because the insurer considered the opinions of the claimant's treating physicians in addition to the insurer's independent reviewers, an Ohio federal judge said Nov. 15 in denying the claimant's motion for judgment on the administrative record (Daniel M. Wehner v. Standard Insurance Co., No. 18-982, S.D. Ohio, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 198660). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%204%20(2019)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' LAFAYETTE, La. - The termination of a disability plan participant's long-term disability benefits was not arbitrary and capricious, a Louisiana federal judge said Nov. 12, because the decision to terminate benefits was supported by substantial evidence (Jerry Courville v. Life Insurance Company of North America et al., No. 18-1133, W.D. La., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 197469). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%205%20(2019)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' COLUMBIA, Tenn. - A Tennessee federal judge on Nov. 22 adopted a magistrate judge's recommendation that a disability plan's motion for judgment on the administrative record be granted because the disability plan administrator's termination of long-term disability (LTD) benefits was not arbitrary and capricious (Danny J. Sexton v. Ohio Valley Electric Corp. et al. No. 18-35, M.D. Tenn., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 203323). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%206%20(2019)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A disability claimant failed to prove that a disability insurer breached its contract or acted in bad faith in denying any-occupation disability benefits, a California federal judge said Nov. 21 in granting summary judgment in favor of the insurer (Loretta Bruce v. Hartford Life & Accident Insurance Co., No. 17-2201, E.D. Calif., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 202511). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%207%20(2019)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A disability claimant filed suit Nov. 13 in Virginia federal court seeking a declaration that she is entitled to past and future long-term disability (LTD) benefits under a plan issued by her employer (Amanda Taylor v. Life Insurance Company of North America, No. 19-1443, E.D. Va.). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%208%20(2019)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A California federal judge on Nov. 8 dismissed a long-term disability plan from a disability claimant's suit seeking long-term disability benefits based on a stipulation submitted to the court by the parties (Lydia Kahler v. Hartford Life & Accident Insurance Co., et al., No. 19-1913, E.D. Calif., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 195381). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%209%20(2019)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' PASADENA, Calif. - The Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Nov. 19 remanded a long-term disability (LTD) benefits claim to the plan administrator after determining that the plan administrator abused its discretion in denying benefits based on the one-week waiting period required by the plan (Michael Alves v. Hewlett-Packard Comprehensive Welfare Benefits Plan, et al., No. 18-55819, 9th Cir., 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 34362). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2010%20(2019)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' TAMPA, Fla. - A Florida federal judge on Nov. 12 dismissed a former National Football League player's equitable estoppel claim in a suit seeking additional disability benefits after determining that the player failed to prove that the equitable estoppel claim falls into a limited circumstance under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act as set forth by the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals (Tyrone Keys v. Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle NFL Player Retirement Plan, et al., No. 18-2098, M.D. Fla., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 195505). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2011%20(2019)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' COLUMBUS, Ohio - An Ohio federal magistrate judge on Nov. 25 granted a disability insurer's request to file a plan participant's claim file under seal because the nondisclosure of the plan participant's private health information outweighs any public interest in the breach of contract and bad faith suit filed against the disability insurer (Barbara Cluck v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, No. 18-56, S.D. Ohio, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 203849). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2012%20(2019)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' OAKLAND, Calif. - A California federal judge on Nov. 25 denied a disability claimant's request to conduct discovery after determining that the claimant failed to prove that additional evidence is necessary to conduct an adequate de novo review (Natalya Vigdorchik v. Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston, et al., No. 19-3891, N.D. Calif., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 204512). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2013%20(2019)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' SAN FRANCISCO - A California federal magistrate judge on Nov. 15 remanded a disability claimant's suit after determining that diversity of jurisdiction does not exist because a negligence claim asserted against the insurance agency that sold the disability policies to the claimant may not be time-barred under California law (Mark Bennett, D.D.S. v. Ohio National Life Assurance Corp., et al., No. 19-5774, N.D. Calif., 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 198719). http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?canceldest=form&keyenum=25271&keytnum=0&searchtype=get&search=20-6%20Mealey%27s%20Litig.%20Rep.%20Disab.%20Ins.%2014%20(2019)&view=full&ORIGINATION_CODE=00144 target='_blank' SALT LAKE CITY - A Utah federal judge on Nov. 21 awarded a disability claimant attorney fees after determining that the claimant's success on the merits of a long-term disability (LTD) benefits claim warrants the award of attorney fees (Don Foust v. Lincoln National Life Insurance Co., No. 17-1208, D. Utah, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 202915).