Kathy Dine received long-term disability benefits under an ERISA-governed plan after medical conditions rendered her unable to continue working. Her treating physicians continued to document functional limitations that interfered with sustained, full-time employment. MetLife terminated benefits, asserting that Dine no longer met the plan’s disability definition. MetLife both evaluated claims and paid benefits under the […]
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Mitchell v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.
Michael Mitchell stopped working after developing chronic fatigue syndrome, restless legs syndrome, hemochromatosis, and major depressive disorder. Treating physicians documented profound fatigue, sleep disruption, cognitive impairment, and reduced stamina that prevented sustained work activity. MetLife denied long-term disability benefits by relying on non-examining file reviewers who discounted treating-provider assessments and emphasized the lack of objective […]
Welch v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.
Welch filed suit challenging MetLife’s denial of long-term disability benefits. Approximately six months after litigation began, MetLife paid the claim in full, converting the case into a dispute over attorney’s fees incurred to obtain payment. The district court substantially reduced the fee award, lowering hourly rates and imposing across-the-board reductions based on billing practices. The […]
