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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Man challenges reduction of disability benefits

Insurance 09

SAN FRANCISCO – A man alleges his disability benefits were wrongfully reduced.

Douglas Habig filed a complaint on Sept. 23 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co. and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. alleging breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, negligence and unfair business practices.

According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on Sept. 15, 2014, he became disabled as a result of severe bipolar disorder and multiple co-morbid conditions. The suit states Reliance approved payment with limitation until March 24, 2017, stating it was going to apply the substance abuse limitation to plaintiff's claim. He alleges he does not have a substance abuse disorder or any history of such, as a result he suffered from worsening of his bipolar disorder from stress and humiliation, lost income, incurred attorney’s fees and costs, and had experienced significant emotional distress and disturbance. 

The plaintiff holds Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co. and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. responsible because the defendants allegedly failed and refused to put plaintiff’s interests ahead of their own, failed to investigate/evaluate plaintiff’s claims fairly, refused to pay claims with the intent of saving itself expenses.

The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment in his favor, receive maximum monthly disability benefits, interest, damages, attorneys’ fees, costs and other relief as the court deems just. He is represented by James P. Keenley and Brian H. Kim of Bolt Keenley Kim LLP in Berkeley and Nina Wasow and Daniel Feinberg of Feinberg, Jackson, Worthman & Wasow LLP in Oakland.

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California Case number 3:16-cv-05462

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