Articles Posted in ERISA Disability

The National Trial Lawyers has chosen Partners Elizabeth Thornsbury and Bartley Hagerman to the “Top 40 Under 40” National Trial Lawyers for 2025! Elizabeth’s National Trial Lawyers profile can be viewed here. Bartley’s National Trial Lawyers profile can be viewed here. Partner Philip Fairbanks is also a Top 100 National Trial Lawyer! Philip’s National Trial…

Congratulations to Mehr Fairbanks’ Partner, Elizabeth Thornsbury, on being selected to the 2024 Kentucky Rising Stars List by Super Lawyers! Elizabeth is listed as a top rated Employee Benefits attorney in Lexington, Kentucky. Selections are determined on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement on an annual, state-by-state basis. Being named to the Rising…

It is common for employees to obtain long-term disability coverage through their employment as an employee benefit. These policies are typically governed by a federal law called ERISA (this stands for the Employee Retirement Income Security Act). Having access to this coverage should provide comfort to employees in case the unthinkable happens: some life altering…

The federal District Courts are beginning to adjust their views on how to best handle ERISA denial-of-benefits cases. Some courts use a modified summary judgment standard unique to ERISA denial-of-benefits cases that are based exclusively on an administrative record and the non-moving party is generally not entitled to the usual inferences in its favor (unlike…

Disability insurance is a unique type of insurance that protects a person’s ability to earn a paycheck if that person experiences a serious injury or illness. Disability insurance is meant to provide employees with a way to receive a portion of their expected income if they later become unable to work. Disability insurance is often…

Simply put: Yes, but with limitations. It is important to speak to an attorney to know your rights and to ensure that you do not miss any deadlines related to your specific claim. To our current clients and to those seeking our services for short-term and long-term disability claims and appeals, we are still here…

Recently, a federal judge in Texas court ruled in favor of retired NFL player, Michael Cloud, determining that the administrators of The Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle NFL Player Retirement Plan (“Plan”) violated their fiduciary duties under ERISA in denying Cloud a full and fair application review. Cloud’s appeal concerned his eligibility for the highest level of…

A federal court in Pennsylvania recently certified a class of Plaintiffs under Defendant Aetna Life Insurance Co.’s disability benefits plan (“Plan”). The Plaintiffs alleged that the Defendants forced beneficiaries who had received payments for personal injury claims to send the payments back to the company in violation of ERISA. The named Plaintiff, Joanne Wolff, first…

Recently, a federal judge in Texas court ruled in favor of retired NFL player, Michael Cloud, determining that the administrators of The Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle NFL Player Retirement Plan (“Plan”) violated their fiduciary duties under ERISA in denying Cloud a full and fair application review. Cloud’s appeal concerned his eligibility for the highest level of…

Recently, the Boston Children’s Hospital asked a judge in federal court to dismiss a case brought by former employees that alleged the charging of “exorbitant” fees relating to the management of ERISA retirement plans. The Hospital argues that fees associated with the plans were not exorbitant and no damage was sustained by plan members under…