Whether you are suffering from a mental health condition that has rendered you incapable of performing the duties of your occupation (or, perhaps, that has even prevented you from securing gainful alternative employment in another occupation), or are suffering from a disabling physical condition that also has had a significant impact on your overall mental health, there’s a good chance that you’ll be faced with some conflict when engaging your disability insurance carrier. Long-term disability insurers are often incentivized to redefine your disabling condition as a mental health problem so as to minimize their liabilities — some insurance policies include […]
Own Occupation vs. Any Occupation Definitions of Disability
Oct 26, 2018 | Blog | ShareIn the private disability insurance context, disability benefits (and the definitions necessary for qualification) can vary quite substantially from policy-to-policy. Whether the definition of disability is broad or narrow is itself typically an indication of the “premium” nature of the plan. If you have purchased expensive disability insurance coverage, then chances are that it includes a looser definition of disability so that it is easier to qualify for such benefits. Variable Definitions From Plan-to-Plan Generally speaking, there are two definition categories of “disability” for private disability insurance policies: 1) own-occupation, and 2) any-occupation. Own-occupation policies have a narrower definition of […]
Residual Benefits in Private Disability Policies
Oct 26, 2018 | Blog | ShareIf you are suffering from an injury, illness, or other condition that has rendered you incapable of performing the duties of your occupation — even if only partially — then you may be entitled to significant benefits under your private disability insurance policy. Depending on the particularities of your insurance plan, residual or partial benefits may be available. Let’s take a look at how residual benefits work. Recovering Benefits Without a Total Disability Some disability insurance policies include a partial (residual) disability benefits rider, which allows for the recovery of a percentage of your total benefits amount, depending on the […]
Jennifer Danish Honored as 2018 40 Attorneys Under Forty
Oct 4, 2018 | News | ShareThe Chicago Law Bulletin Publishing Company selected Jennifer Danish as one of the 40 Under Forty Attorneys to Watch out of more than 1,500 nominations for attorneys throughout Illinois. Lawyers nominating her cite her hard work and: “What distinguishes Jennifer is her passion and genuine desire to help our clients through the difficult maze of federal and private disability claims.” Digital copy of the publication is available: http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/ODN/LBSpecialSections/
Common Insurer Justifications for the Denial of Private Disability Benefits
Oct 4, 2018 | Blog | ShareIf you are suffering from a disability and have had your benefits claim denied by your private disability insurer, then you may be entitled to bring an action against your insurer — whether your insurance coverage was purchased individually or provided as part of an employer-sponsored plan. Insurers are often quite aggressive in denying private disability benefits. In many cases, the insurer understands that if they deny a “difficult” or “ambiguous” benefits claim for which they can provide a reasonable justification, a number of claimants will simply refrain from any further attempts to secure their rightful benefits. This strategy saves […]
Court Awards Disability Benefits
Oct 3, 2018 | Case News & Notable Orders | ShareUnited States Magistrate Judge David E. Jones of the Eastern District of Wisconsin issued a Decision and Order on September 26, 2018 awarding disability benefits. Attorney of record for Plaintiff is Jennifer Danish. EDWARD PIOTROWSKI, Plaintiff, v. NANCY A. BERRYHILL, Deputy Comm’r of Operations, Soc. Sec. Admin., Defendant., 17-CV-1286, 2018 WL 4616457 (E.D. Wis. Sept. 26, 2018).
Jennifer Danish Successful in Getting Client a New Hearing
Oct 3, 2018 | Case News & Notable Orders | ShareUnited States District Judge Sara Darrow of the Central District of Illinois, Urbana Division, issued an Order on September 21, 2018 granting Plaintiff’s Motion for Summary Judgment in so far as it sought a remand. Campbell v. Berryhill, No. 2:17-cv-02036-SLD-EIL (C.D. Ill. Sept. 21, 2018).
Insured Succeeds Against MetLife Even Under Arbitrary and Capricious Standard of Review in the Seventh Circuit
Oct 3, 2018 | Blog | ShareBy: Stephen A. Jackson Hennen v. Metro. Life Ins. Co., 17-3080, 2018 WL 4376994 (7th Cir. Sept. 14, 2018). Hennen worked as a sales specialist for NCR when she sought treatment for a back injury. She was covered under her employer’s long-term disability plan insured by MetLife. When physical therapy and surgery failed to resolve her injury Hennen applied for LTD benefits under the plan. Acting as the administrator, MetLife agreed Hennen was disabled and paid benefits for two years. However, the plan had a two-year limit for neuromusculoskeletal disorders subject to several exceptions, one applies to radiculopathy. Hennen argued […]
For Court, Seeing is Believing (or not Believing): Video Surveillance and Credibility in Long-Term Disability Claims
Sep 6, 2018 | Blog | ShareBy: Andrew B. Bryant The scenario is familiar: an insurance carrier denies a disability claim based, at least in part, on covert video surveillance of the claimant. A recent decision by the District Court of the Western District of Tennessee displays how video surveillance can be used by a Court not only as substantive evidence to evaluate degree of disability, but also as a n important tool in assessing the credibility of the entire claim. In the case, Plaintiff Gregory Eaton had been receiving Long-Term Disability (LTD) benefits from Defendant Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company due to a back condition […]
“Resolving Insurance Claim Disputes before Trial” Available Now!
Aug 17, 2018 | News | Share“Resolving Insurance Claim Disputes before Trial” published by the American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section is available now. Jennifer Danish co-authored Chapter 7, Health and Disability Benefit or Insurance Claims, with JoAnn Dalrymple. The book can be ordered online at: https://shop.americanbar.org/eBus/Store/ProductDetails.aspx?productId=313723009