LOS ANGELES – A woman is seeking declaration from the court that she is still disabled under the terms of her benefit plan and seeks reinstatement of the benefits.
Melinda Weatherford filed a complaint on July 5 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against Life Insurance Co. of North America alleging violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that she became disabled and was initially approved for benefits by the defendant in 2013. She alleges she received disability benefits until April 9, 2015, when her benefits were denied by the defendant. The suit states benefits were reinstated for a few months in 2015 and then denied again. The plaintiff holds Life Insurance Co. of North America responsible because the defendant allegedly denied plaintiff's rights in receiving disability benefits despite the substantial medical evidence provided by plaintiff.
The plaintiff seeks award all benefits due to plaintiff plus interest, declare that plaintiff is entitled to receive future disability benefits, all legal fees and any other relief as the court deems just. She is represented by Frank N. Darras, Lissa A. Martinez, Susan B. Grabarsky and Philip S. Bather of Darras Law in Ontario.
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California Case number 2:16-cv-04909-PJW