The Plaintiff has filed this lawsuit against Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston (Liberty) in Massachusetts Federal Court for the improper denial of short-term and long-term disability benefits.

These benefits were to be provided under the terms of a Plan that the Plaintiff was eligible for due to her employment with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

In Cindy M. vs. Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston, Plaintiff is seeking $33,600 in unpaid disability payments, along with accrued interest and future disability payments as she is entitled to receive under the terms of the Plan.

Facts of the Case Against Liberty

Plaintiff was employed as a Medical Laboratory Assistant with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center up until June 22, 2010. On or about June 22, 2010, Plaintiff became disabled by reason of a severe neurological pain syndrome affecting her lower extremities, which impaired her from performing the usual and essential tasks required on her job as a Medical Laboratory Assistant as it exists in both the national economy and in her specific employment at Beth Israel Deaconess.

Due to her condition and inability to perform the material and substantial duties of her occupation, Plaintiff filed an application for short-term and long-term disability benefits.

Liberty Denies Plaintiff Disability Benefits

Liberty notified Plaintiff on September 3, 2010 that both short-term and long-term disability benefits were denied. The reasons given were that the Plaintiff’s condition was due to a pre-existing condition and that the impairments did not prevent her from doing the light work that was required as a Medical Laboratory Assistant, as defined by the United States Department of Labor.

Plaintiff filed a timely administrative appeal of Liberty’s termination of her disability claims around February 25, 2011 under the ERISA law, and submitted additional medical and vocational evidence in support of the appeal to be included in the claim file.

On April 6, 2011, Liberty denied Plaintiff’s appeal, and declared that this decision was final. The only remedy for the Plaintiff was to file a lawsuit in court, which Plaintiff did with the help of a Massachusetts Disability Lawyer.

Lawsuit Basis Against Liberty

In the lawsuit, it is alleged that Liberty denied Plaintiff’s claim for both short-term and long-term disability benefits based on erroneous findings that Plaintiff’s impairments were based on a pre-existing condition and that such impairments did not preclude her from performing a full range of light work required of her occupation as a Medical Laboratory Assistant.

Plaintiff Requests Following Relief From The Court

  • $33,600 in benefits that are accrued up to the date of the filing of this lawsuit
  • All future benefit amounts during the duration of this lawsuit
  • Judgment against Liberty that its denial of Plaintiff’s benefits was arbitrary and capricious, unreasonable, and unjustifiable based on the medical
    documentation Plaintiff supplied in support of her claim
  • Judgment that Plaintiff receives all other relief that the Court declares to be appropriate and fair