The Plaintiff, Anthony B., has filed a lawsuit against the Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company (Reliance) for the wrongful termination of ERISA welfare benefits. This was done through his Alabama disability lawyer in the United States District Court of Alabama.
In Anthony B. vs. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, the Plaintiff is suing Reliance to recover the ERISA welfare benefits that were wrongfully terminated by Reliance.
How Plaintiff Was Wronged By Reliance
Plaintiff worked at CRH as a maintenance mechanic; he was responsible for maintaining and building production equipment, which was used in the manufacturing of component parts for car seats. Due to his employment, Plaintiff was a participant in the CRH Long Term Disability Plan. In the event that a participant became disabled, the participant would receive disability income payments.
Plaintiff became disabled prior to his last day of work with CRH and at a time when he was eligible for participation in the Plan. His disability due to an injury required lumbar interbody fusion back surgery on or about November 14, 2008. This was the third back surgery that the Plaintiff underwent. The Plaintiff also suffers from idiopathic hypersomnia and obstructive sleep apnea. The Plaintiff is totally disabled and unable to perform the material duties of his occupation.
Plaintiff Applies For Benefits
Plaintiff applied for benefits as promised under the Plan. Reliance approved the claim and began paying his long term disability benefits as of February 12, 2009. Reliance paid these benefits for a period of 24 months.
Reliance Terminates Those Benefits
Reliance terminated those long term disability benefits on or about February 12, 2011. Plaintiff appealed the denial of benefits on or about February 21, 2011, but Reliance denied the appeal on July 28, 2011.
Plaintiff has been and continues to be disabled as defined by the terms of the Plan. Reliance has failed to provide the benefits as provided by the Plan despite the fact that a proper claim had been submitted in a timely fashion. Reliance’s decision to terminate benefits was wrongfully arrived at. Plaintiff has exhausted all administrative remedies, thus forcing him to file this lawsuit against Reliance.
Reasons Plaintiff Filed Lawsuit Against Reliance
Plaintiff filed this lawsuit against Reliance because his long-term disability benefits were wrongfully denied under the terms of the Plan. Plaintiff is eligible for and entitled to the payment of his long-term disability costs. Plaintiff contends that Reliance abused any discretion of determining his claim for long term disability benefits.
Plaintiff Seeks Following From Reliance
In this lawsuit, Plaintiff seeks the following relief from Reliance:
- All actual and compensatory damages
- All injunctive relief
- All appropriate attorney’s fees
- All other relief as deemed appropriate and just by this Court