SAN FRANCISCO — An Arizona woman is suing Liberty Life, alleging breach of an insurance contract.
Debbie Coats filed a complaint Aug. 8 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston, alleging wrongful denial of the plaintiff's claim for disability benefits under the Employee Retirement Insurance Security Act (ERISA).
According to the complaint, Coats became disabled at age 52 due to severe medical impairments including a degenerative disc and joint disease. The suit says she was initially approved for disability benefits until it was terminated by Liberty Life.
The plaintiff alleges Liberty Life wrongly upheld its decision to deny Coats' claim for benefits based on the biased opinion of its reviewing physician.
Coats seeks all past due benefits, interest, all legal fees, and all other relief the court deems just. She is represented by attorney Cassie Springere Ayeni of Springer Ayeni PLC in Oakland, and by Mark DeBofsky and Marie Casciari of Debovsky, Sherman & Casciari PC in Chicago.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California case number 3:17-cv-04500-VC