LOS ANGELES – A man disabled by an automobile accident alleges his insurer wrongfully terminated his benefits.
Richard Cortes filed a complaint on Aug. 10 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against The Prudential Insurance Co. of America; Johnson & Johnson Long Term Disability Plan and Does 1 to 10 alleging violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that in October 2011, he became disabled due to a low back pain due to a motor vehicle accident and was initially being paid disability benefits until benefits were denied in April 2015. The plaintiff holds The Prudential Insurance Co. of America; Johnson & Johnson Long Term Disability Plan and Does 1 to 10 responsible because the defendant allegedly terminated plaintiff's disability benefits based on the findings of its own medical examiner.
The plaintiff seeks long-term benefits at the rate of $1,600 per month from April 1, 2015, to the present and continuing, interest, all legal fees, order for the defendant to pay plaintiff for as long as he remains disabled and any other relief as the court deems just. He is represented by Kevin M. Zietz of Law Offices of Kevin Zietz in Encino and Todd Krauss of Law Offices of Todd Krauss & Associates in Encino.
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California Case number 2:16-cv-05976-PSG-AGR