SAN FRANCISCO – An Antioch man alleges he is disabled because of knee pain and that his disability claim was wrongfully denied.
Lawrence Gonzales filed a complaint on Oct. 5 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against Aetna Life Insurance Co. and Praxair Inc. Short-Term Disability Benefits Plan alleging violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on July 2014, he was unable to continue full-time work and has been granted Social Security disability benefits because of knee problems. The suit states that on May 14, 2015, defendants denied his disability claim.
The plaintiff holds Aetna Life Insurance Co. and Praxair Inc. Short-Term Disability Benefits Plan responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to properly interpret and administer the plan, failed to provide adequate notice specifying their reasons for denial and acted under a conflict of interest in denying plaintiff's claim.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment in his favor, an order for the defendants pay disability benefits, back benefits, declaratory and injunctive relief, costs of suit, attorney's fees, interest and further relief to which he may be entitled. He is represented by Jesse S. Kaplan in Carmichael.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California Case number 3:16-cv-05670