Pennsylvania CIGNA Denied Disability Lawsuit Seeks Compensation

Johnstown, PAA CIGNA long term disability lawsuit filed in September has been proposed as a class action on behalf of all persons who may have been adversely affected with regard to the handling of disability benefits by CIGNA Health and Life Insurance Co.

According to the Pennsylvania Record (09/29/17) the lead plaintiffs are Anthony and Amanda Patchell. The Patchells currently live in Michigan but were former residents of Altoona, in the state of Pennsylvania.

Patchell claims in his CIGNA LTD lawsuit that he became disabled in February, of 2010. He didn’t elaborate as to the nature, or extent of his disability, however Patchell nonetheless asserts that CIGNA failed to pay both short-term, and long-term disability benefits in a timely fashion. The plaintiffs also allege in their CIGNA denied long term disability lawsuit that the insurer dropped the ball when it came to payment of interest on past-due benefits.

It is also alleged that CIGNA failed to compensate the plaintiffs for attorneys’ fees and other related costs in contested cases that were subsequently ruled in the plaintiff’s favor.

Patchell’s CIGNA long term disability lawsuit alleges violations against the Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA, as amended 1974) and also names Disability Management Solutions as a co-defendant. The plaintiffs seek all benefits due them, together with unpaid benefits, interest on unpaid and overdue benefits, as well as any relief granted by the Court.

CIGNA is amongst a long list of insurers reputed to drag their heels when it comes time to pay benefits from policies which have been maintained in good faith and in good standing by respective policyholders. Insurers have been known to stonewall a policy holder’s honest efforts to facilitate a legitimate claim, and / or abruptly pull the rug out from under policy holders through the cancellation of either short-term or long-term disability benefits, leaving policyholders little recourse but to litigate.

The Patchell lawsuit is Anthony Patchell and Amanda Patchell et al. v. CIGNA Health and Life Insurance Co., Life Insurance Co. of America, and Disability Management Solutions, Case No. 3:17-cv-00161-KRG filed September 7 of this year in the US District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.