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Ortiz Law Firm | National Disability Law Firm

Ortiz Law Firm is dedicated to helping people recover the disability benefits they deserve. We handle group Long Term Disability (LTD) claims, individual disability insurance policy claims, ERISA disability claims, and Social Security Disability claims.

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Home | Disability Case Summaries | Page 8

Disability Case Summaries

Usztics v. Unum – Court Finds No Evidence To Support Disability

April 6, 2020 // by Nick Ortiz

Susan Usztics (“Usztics”) was employed as a program manager for MSX International, Inc. Through her employment, she held a short-term disability benefits policy which was administered by Unum Life Insurance Company of America (“Unum”). Her last day of work was February 4, 2014, following which she applied for short-term disability benefits …

Read moreUsztics v. Unum – Court Finds No Evidence To Support Disability
Category: Disability Case Summaries
Tags: Unum

Zerangue v. Lincoln – Case Dismissed Because Claimant Did Not Apply For Benefits

April 6, 2020 // by Nick Ortiz

In Zerangue v. Lincoln National, Lena Zerangue (“Zerangue”) filed an ERISA suit against The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company (“Lincoln”) in an attempt to recover long-term disability benefits that she believed she should receive. Because of her employment with Alliance Benefit Partners, Zerangue held policy coverage under both short-term and …

Read moreZerangue v. Lincoln – Case Dismissed Because Claimant Did Not Apply For Benefits
Category: Disability Case Summaries
Tags: Lincoln

Draper v. Aetna – Court Rules That MRI Was Not A Significant Finding

April 6, 2020 // by Nick Ortiz

In this case, Christopher Draper (“Draper”) worked as a truck driver/courier for Federal Express Corporation (“Fed Ex”). His job duties included doing things such as “maneuvering packages of any weight above 75 lbs. with appropriate equipment and/or assistance from another person.” This claim arose from a denial of Draper’s short-term disability …

Read moreDraper v. Aetna – Court Rules That MRI Was Not A Significant Finding
Category: Disability Case Summaries
Tags: Aetna

Burkhead v. LINA – Denial Was Arbitrary And Capricious

April 6, 2020 // by Nick Ortiz

In Burkhead v. Life Insurance Company of North America, the plaintiff filed for short and long-term disability benefits from Life Insurance Company of North America (LINA), the insurer of her ERISA governed plan. In the District Court’s Opinion, the court held that LINA abused its discretion in denying plaintiff benefits under the “own occupation” …

Read moreBurkhead v. LINA – Denial Was Arbitrary And Capricious
Category: Disability Case Summaries
Tags: Life Insurance Company of North America (LINA)

Bowman v. Reliance Standard – Court Rules In Favor Of Reliance

April 6, 2020 // by Nick Ortiz

Anthony Bowman (“Bowman”) was employed as a Maintenance Mechanic which required the ability to do heavy lifting between fifty and sixty pounds. Injuries throughout his life caused him to have a number of surgeries and resulted in chronic neck and back pain. Bowman also had issues with a sleep disorder and pain medication, which led …

Read moreBowman v. Reliance Standard – Court Rules In Favor Of Reliance
Category: Disability Case Summaries
Tags: Reliance Standard

Ampe v. Prudential – Engineer’s Case Remanded For Further Review

April 6, 2020 // by Nick Ortiz

This case involves James Ampe (“Ampe”), a Senior Development and Test Engineer employed by MIT Lincoln Laboratories (“MIT”). Ampe’s job duties included not only traditional electrical engineer work, but also regular client interactions. He was employed by the company from 2008 to January 26, 2015. Around August 2011, Ampe injured himself when he …

Read moreAmpe v. Prudential – Engineer’s Case Remanded For Further Review
Category: Disability Case Summaries
Tags: Prudential

Foster v. Principal – Court Rules Principal Didn’t Commit An Abuse Of Discretion

April 6, 2020 // by Nick Ortiz

In this case, Amanda Foster (“Foster”) worked as an attorney for Sullivan, Stolier & Knight (“Sullivan”) in New Orleans. Her duties involved being able to “review and draft leases and agreements; research and advise clients regarding government laws and regulations; represent clients in administrative appeals; [and] draft compliance plans.” …

Read moreFoster v. Principal – Court Rules Principal Didn’t Commit An Abuse Of Discretion
Category: Disability Case Summaries
Tags: Principal

Charles v. UPS and Aetna – Court Rules Denial Of Benefits Was An Abuse Of Discretion

April 6, 2020 // by Nick Ortiz

Aetna’s decision to deny the plaintiff benefits was unsupported by substantial evidence and was, thereby arbitrary and capricious. Aetna gave great weight to the opinions of its own experts and afforded little, to no, weight to the plaintiff’s own physicians. Under the circumstances, the plaintiff’s physicians—who had been treating him for several …

Read moreCharles v. UPS and Aetna – Court Rules Denial Of Benefits Was An Abuse Of Discretion
Category: Disability Case Summaries
Tags: Aetna

Allen v. Unum – Claim Denial Was Not An Abuse Of Discretion

April 3, 2020 // by Nick Ortiz

The Court determined that Unum came to a reasonable decision after a principled decision-making process. Although the Court may have reached a different conclusion independently, Unum did not abuse its discretion in denying Allen’s claim for long-term disability benefits.

Read moreAllen v. Unum – Claim Denial Was Not An Abuse Of Discretion
Category: Disability Case Summaries
Tags: Unum
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