SAN DIEGO — An insured customer is suing Aetna, alleging breach of contract and violation of ERISA.
Brock Ritchey filed a complaint Oct. 16 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California against Aetna Life Insurance Company and Does 1-10, alleging the defendants violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) through non-payment of plan benefits.
According to the complaint, Ritchey, a former employee of Booz Allen Hamilton, has suffered economic damages from Aetna's denial of the plaintiff's disability benefits without reasonable grounds, and despite Ritchey remaining disabled as defined by the plan.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants failed to honor his claim for disability benefits even though he was disabled in accordance with plan provisions.
Ritchey seeks trial by jury, policy benefits, interest, court expenses, attorney fees, reinstatement of disability benefits, costs of suit and all further relief the court deems just. He is represented by attorney John W. Tower of Law Office of John W. Tower in Encinitas.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California case number 17-C-02122