Nestle Waters employee sues Assurant for denial of disability benefits under ERISA
A disability attorney recently filed a Federal lawsuit in Pennsylvania against Assurant, Inc. (Assurant), Assurant Employee Benefits (AEB), and Union Security Insurance Company (Union).
The plaintiff was employed by Nestle Waters North America Holdings, Inc. (Nestle), who contracted with Assurant, AEB, and Union to provide long-term disability benefits to its employees. By virtue of his employment, the plaintiff was covered by Nestle’s Group Long-Term Disability Plan (The Plan).
The plaintiff filed a disability lawsuit under the Employment Retirement Income and Security Act (ERISA) to recover long-term disability benefits that were wrongfully withheld by the aforementioned Defendants.
The Facts of the Case Against Assurant, AEB, and Union
The disability policy issued by Assurant, AEB, and Union to the Plaintiff defines “disability” according to the following terms:
- Disability means that in a specific month, a participant to the Plan satisfies either the Occupation Test or Earnings Test.
- Occupation Test requires participant to have an injury, sickness, or pregnancy during the first 24 months of a period of disability (including qualifying period) that requires participant to be under the regular care and attendance of a doctor and prevents participant from performing at least one of the material duties of his/her original occupation.
- Material duties include sets of skills or tasks that are generally required by his/her employers from those engaged in a particular occupation.
- One material duty refers to the ability of the participant to work for an employer on a full-time basis as defined in the Plan.
Plaintiff has suffered from severe residual affects secondary to displacement of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar discs, resulting in bilateral lower extremity pain and numbness, neck pain, back pain, decreased range of motion, radiculopathy, and myofascial pain syndrome since August 6, 2008.
Defendants approved Plaintiff’s claim on September 3, 2009 for benefits through June 26, 2009.
Payments were made to the Plaintiff from February 3, 2009 to June 26, 2009.
Plaintiff’s medical history is well documented via Dr. Robert Sing’s (Dr. Sing) December 15, 2009 correspondence. He has treated the Plaintiff since March 2009, diagnosing fibromyositis of the cervical, dorsal, and lumbosacral spine that has resulted from the musculo-ligamentus sprain and strain of the cervical, dorsal, and lumbosacral spine, the cervical disc herination at C6-7, post-traumatic myofascial pain syndrome, exacerbation and aggravation of degenerative disc and joint disease of the cervical, dorsal, and lumbosacral spine. Dr. Sing concluded that Plaintiff will continue to have significant pain and muscle spasms on a permanent basis.
On June 25, 2009, Plaintiff underwent a functional capacity evaluation (FCE) under the supervision of Jim Schickling, P.T., at the direction of the insurer. The FCE showed that the Plaintiff could exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, up to 25 pounds of force frequently, and up to 10 pounds of force constantly.
Denial of Nestle’s Group Long-Term Disability Plan
After Defendants concluded Plaintiff could still work for Nestle as a Bakery Driver, Defendants denied Plaintiff long-term disability benefits via a letter on September 3, 2009.
Dr. Sing addressed the results of the June 25, 2009 FCE and stated that “the patient is suffering from pain and this would limit his ability to function in the work place.” Dr. Sing also mentioned that the patient could only lift 10 pounds on occasion, rarely 20 pounds, and never 50 pounds. Dr. Sing also mentioned that Plaintiff’s pain and other symptoms would prevent from concentrating to perform simple tasks.
Plaintiff responded to defendants’ decision to terminate his benefits via a letter sent on or around January 4, 2010, stating that the defendants’ Labor Market Survey was for a driver, not for a Route Salesperson, as he was prior to his injury and present condition, and the opinion of Dr. Sing that the Plaintiff could no longer work effectively due to his present condition.
Defendants upheld their decision to deny long-term benefits via letter to Plaintiff on April 7, 2010, claiming that Plaintiff could handle the occupations of a driver based on the definition of a driver under “Dictionary of Common Occupations.”
Plaintiff submitted final appeal via letter to Defendants on or about April 15, 2010, again stating that the Plaintiff’s former occupation was that of a “Route Salesperson” and not that of a “Driver.” Defendants denied Plaintiff’s final appeal on June 1, 2010.
Disability Lawyer Files Lawsuit Against Assurant, Assurant Employee Benefits, and Union
According to the lawsuit filed, the plaintiff alleged that Assurant, AEB, and Union failed to provide the following to the plaintiff:
- Consideration of the requirements of employment in Plaintiff’s regular occupation as a Route Salesperson, including the “frequent lifting of 65 pounds.”
- Ignored the material duties of Plaintiff’s employment and the nature of Nestle Waters, which included heavy lifting.
- To consider all of the medical evidence submitted by the Plaintiff
- To administer the Plan in accordance with E.R.I.S.A. Claim regulations
Relief Sought By The Plaintiff In The Assurant, Assurant Employee Benefits, and Union Lawsuit
Due to the actions of Assurant, AEB, and Union, Plaintiff seeks the following relief from the Court:
- Render judgment against Defendants for 60% of Plaintiff’s gross monthly salary as per the terms of the Plan until the death of the Plaintiff or the cessation of the Plaintiff’s total disability, as well as accumulated interest associated with this monthly salary.
- An award of attorney’s fees, including litigation expenses and the cost of this action.
- Declaration that the Defendants breached fiduciary duties owed to plaintiff
- Grant other just and proper relief as deemed by the Court
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