LOS ANGELES – A former employee of First Bank Inc. alleges her claim for disability benefits was wrongfully denied.
Donna Washington filed a complaint on April 14 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against Life Insurance Co. of North America alleging that the defendant violated the Employment Retirement Income Security Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on Dec. 4, 2015, she became disabled under the terms of the disability plan due to her right knee and back pain and timely submitted a claim to defendant for payment of disability benefits. However, on May 16, 2016, Washington alleges that her long-term disability benefits claim was unreasonably and unlawfully denied.
The plaintiff holds Life Insurance Co. of North America responsible because the defendant allegedly failed to promptly identify the medical consultants who reviewed her file and failed to timely advise plaintiff of what specific documentation it needed from her to perfect her claim.
The plaintiff seeks payment for disability benefits as required by the plan, attorney fees incurred and for such other relief as the court deems just and proper. She is represented by Phillip S. Bather of DarrasLaw in Ontario.
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California Case number 2:17-cv-02860