SAN JOSE – A former Becton Dickenson and Co. employee is suing an insurance firm alleging it wrongfully terminated her long-term disability benefits.
Lori Howe filed a complaint on May 10 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division against Unum Life Insurance Co. of America alleging that the insurance firm denied plaintiff's disability benefits.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that she became disabled as of Jan. 24, 2012. She alleges that she was denied benefits at first, but then the defendant approved them after an appeal in 2013 and paid benefits through February 2015. The suit states the defendant terminated her benefits believing the plaintiff was capable of performing sedentary work. The plaintiff holds Unum Life Insurance Co. of America responsible because the defendant allegedly denied plaintiff's disability benefits without providing any substantial evidence to support it and despite having several reports by physicians who examined plaintiff's condition.
The plaintiff seeks payment of disability benefits of $4,218 per month plus interest, order to pay her future long-term disability benefits, restoration of all benefits which plaintiff is entitled to, all legal fees and any other relief as this court deem just. She is represented by Charles B. Perkins and Susan D. Pelmulder of Flynn, Rose & Perkins in Los Gatos.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division Case number 5:16-cv-02527