Dental Hygienist Awarded $12K + Back Benefit for Denied Disability Claim
When a disability insurer failed to fully approve our client’s claim and pay her the total insurance benefit she was owed, Michael Horrow and the team at Donahue & Horrow LLP were able to quickly resolve the dispute. Our client will receive her back benefit as well as a disability benefit check each month into the future without having to deal with protracted litigation.
Our client was a dental hygienist who purchased an individual disability insurance policy from a large insurer. After dutifully making premium payments for 15 years, our client was forced to file a disability claim after years of repetitive work, hunched over a patient and using small tools, resulted in chronic pain and tendonitis in her fingers and elbows. The insurance company approved the claim for a limited period of time, but then refused to pay our client all of the benefits that she was owed.
A lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging that the insurer breached the insurance contract by failing to pay all of the benefits due, and did so in bad faith and with conscious disregard for our client’s rights. The insurance company removed the matter to Federal Court, specifically the Central District of California which has jurisdiction over claims originating in seven counties: Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Ventura County, Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County.
Donahue & Horrow LLP moved quickly on behalf of our client, and when presented with evidence that its claim decision was improper, the insurance company agreed to a settlement to resolve the dispute over unpaid benefits. Our client also qualifies for monthly payments as long as she remains unable to return to work as a dental hygienist. Our client can rest assured that Donahue & Horrow LLP are only a phone call away if the insurance company ever again tries to refuse to pay our client the disability insurance benefits she is rightfully owed.
If you need to file a lawsuit because an insurance company improperly denied your claim for disability insurance benefits, call Donahue & Horrow LLP at (877) 664-5407 for a free consultation.