Roberts Disability Law Blog

Latest from Roberts Disability Law Blog

In Liggett v. Principal Financial Group, No. 22-CV-11183, 2025 WL 275119 (E.D. Mich. Jan. 23, 2025), Michigan Eastern District Judge Sean F. Cox conducted a nuanced exploration of the standards and processes required in disability claims adjudication, particularly focusing on the arbitrary and capricious standard of review, and ultimately granted judgment to Plaintiff on his

In Berg v. The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, No. 2:24-CV-00097-SAB, 2025 WL 252481 (E.D. Wash. Jan. 21, 2025), Washington Eastern District Judge Stanley A. Bastian granted judgment to Plaintiff Barbara Berg, a former Walmart employee, against The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company (“Lincoln”). In reviewing Lincoln’s denial of Berg’s long-term disability (LTD) benefits

In Frederick v. Life Insurance Company of North America, No. 4:24-CV-00367-SRC, 2025 WL 71864 (E.D. Mo. Jan. 10, 2025), Missouri Eastern District Chief Judge Stephen R. Clark examined the contentious exhaustion of remedies issue in Plaintiff’s claim for long-term disability (“LTD”) benefits under a plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). The

In Higgins v. Lincoln Electric Company, Inc., No. 23-5862, 2025 WL 213846 (6th Cir. Jan. 16, 2025), the court addressed an ERISA-estoppel claim, focusing on the discrepancy between the long-term disability (LTD) benefits promised to Plaintiff-Appellant Jerry Higgins and the benefits he ultimately received based on a cap in the governing disability plan document.

In an unpublished decision, Isbell v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, No. 23-1351, 2025 WL 40379 (10th Cir. Jan. 7, 2025), the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Unum Life Insurance Company of America’s decision to terminate ERISA-governed long-term disability (LTD) benefits for Plaintiff-Appellant Isbell, a former store manager for Yankee Candle. Unum

In Przybyla v. The Prudential Insurance Company of America, No. 3:24-CV-01090-JSC, 2025 WL 28446 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 3, 2025), on Rule 52 cross-motions for judgment, California Northern District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley granted judgment in favor of Plaintiff finding that she had satisfied her burden of demonstrating “total disability” under her employer-sponsored ERISA long-term

In Diederichs v. FCA US LLC, No. 23-CV-11287, 2024 WL 5168087 (E.D. Mich. Dec. 19, 2024), Michigan Eastern District Judge Robert J. White adopted the Magistrate Judge’s report and recommendations granting Defendant’s motion to dismiss Plaintiff’s action seeking disability benefits under the employer’s Disability Assistance Program (“DAP”) followed by long-term disability (“LTD”) benefits, and