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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RECORD

Friday, March 29, 2024

Woman seeks reinstatement of long-term disability benefits

Insurance 11

SAN FRANCISCO – A woman alleges she is disabled due to a neuromuscular disease and that her disability benefits were wrongfully terminated.

Sarah Yow filed a complaint on Dec. 23 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against The Lincoln National Life Insurance Co. alleging violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on Feb. 1, 2011, she commenced employment as administrative assistant and became an active participant in her employer's ERISA benefit plans. On July 17, 2013, the suit states plaintiff was diagnosed with Myasthenia gravis, a chronic neuromuscular disease, and was declared disabled and not able to perform the physical demands of her occupation, in which she became entitled to benefits of the Long Term Disability (LTD) Plan under ERISA. However, the defendant allegedly discontinued her disability benefits, effective April 1, 2014, despite proof, declaration, evaluation and expert opinion of her treating doctors, colleagues, relatives, friends and the Center for Career Evaluations.

The plaintiff holds The Lincoln National Life Insurance Co. responsible because the defendant allegedly violated plaintiff's rights to long-term disability benefits by denial of her rightful claims, failed to consider plaintiff's medical records and clear opinions of her physicians, and failed to discharge its duties in respect to claims processing in her interests.

The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against defendant, ayment of long-term disability benefits, interest, attorneys’ fees, costs of suit, and other relief as the court deems just. She is represented by Cassie Springer Ayeni of Springer Ayeni APLC in Oakland.

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California Case number 16-cv-07310

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