MetLife Denied Disability

MetLife (Metropolitan Life Insurance Company) faces long term disability lawsuits alleging the company unjustly or improperly denied, delayed, or canceled long term disability benefits. Insurance lawsuits filed against MetLife allege the company has breached its contract with policyholders by cancelling insurance benefits or by unreasonably denying or delaying payment of insurance claims.

Policyholders have filed lawsuits against MetLife alleging they were unfairly denied their long-term disability claim. As with other insurance companies, MetLife faces allegations of not properly investigating claims, contradicting medical opinions by declaring a policyholder not disabled, and breaching its contract by failing to authorize legitimate claims. Policyholders argue that while they appeal their insurance denial they are in a financially vulnerable position and could risk losing their homes or not obtaining vital medical treatment.
  In some cases, insurance companies make honest errors in judgment, based on the evidence they have at the time. In other cases, insurance companies make decisions to protect profits or meet quotas, regardless of any evidence of disability or illness. In such cases, when insurance companies breach their duty of good faith they may be liable for bad faith insurance.
  Whether policyholders have to file an appeal of an insurance denial or can file a lawsuit right away depends on whether the policy is covered by ERISA. If the policy was purchased as part of an employee benefit program, it is covered by ERISA. In such cases, the policyholder must first exhaust an appeals process before filing a lawsuit. If the policy was purchased privately, then a lawsuit can be filed as soon as the claim is denied.

Even in cases involving ERISA, the appeal process can be complex. Evidence submitted in support of an appeal is the only evidence that a judge will see if the claim winds up in court. Policyholders filing appeals of their denial may want to consider speaking with an attorney about their options.
  MetLife faces a lawsuit filed by Derek Williams, who alleges he was wrongly denied long-term disability benefits. According to court documents, MetLife’s decision to deny the benefits - which were filed for post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression - was “arbitrary, illegal, capricious, unreasonable, discriminatory and not made in good faith.” Initially, Williams had been granted short-term disability. That decision was later reversed and the benefits were denied but were ultimately reinstated.

The lawsuit is Williams v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company et al, case number 2:16-cv-01283, in the Southern District of West Virginia.
 

MetLife Denied Long Term Disability Legal Help

If you or a loved one has suffered similar insurance related losses, please click the link below and your complaint will be sent to a Denied Disability lawyer who may evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.

 

Last updated on Oct-14-20