FedEx truck driver sues insurance company, cites ERISA

When an employee receives disability benefits, he or she normally expects to continue to receive them until there is no longer a diagnosis of disability. One California man, a driver for FedEx, has filed a lawsuit against Life Insurance Co. of North America after alleging that the company wrongfully terminated his benefits. His lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

According to the complaint, the man says that the disability benefits were wrongfully terminated under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. The man became disabled back in August 2014. He initially received disability benefits, but those benefits stopped on Oct. 1, 2015. The man alleges that Life Insurance Co. of North America denied him disability benefits even though he was still disabled according to the insurance plan’s terms.

The complaint seeks past and future disability benefits, as well as interest, and any other benefits or relief that the judge deems fair and just.

When insurance companies deny benefits to those who should receive them, it can often place those employees in financial distress. While there are ways to appeal a decision to deny benefits, doing so can be complex and the guidance of an experienced attorney is recommended.

ERISA attorneys in Los Angeles can also be an invaluable source of information about your legal options if an insurance company decides to stop your benefits even though you may still meet the terms of their plan. It can be difficult to decide if you want to pursue your benefits. Do you have a chance of winning in a legal action against a large insurance company? This where your attorney can provide the information you need to make the decision that is right for you.

Source: Northern California Record, “FedEx employee claims LINA wrongfully terminated disability benefits,” Wadi Reformado, Sep. 15, 2016