A Charleston, West Virginia judge has ruled that Aetna Life Insurance acted in bad faith when it inexplicably denied long term disability benefits to a man suffering from a number of disabilities and ailments in 2008.
According to the West Virginia Record, Ricky Dickens, a former senior territory business manager for Bristol Myers Squibb, was diagnosed in 2004 with depression, anxiety, and insomnia that led to the development of suicidal tendencies. After submitting a long term disability claim to Aetna, he was awarded four years of benefits.
However, when the four year term expired in 2008, Aetna suddenly terminated Dickens’ benefits, alleging that he was no longer suffering from the illnesses that had qualified him for the benefits. Disagreeing with Aetna’s decision, Dickens sued to restore his benefits and receive an injunction to keep the company from unfairly terminating them again.
After both sides moved for a summary judgment once the case had been moved to a U.S. District Court, District Judge Thomas Johnston ruled on March 28 that Dickens was still considered disabled under relevant laws established by the Social Security Administration. He added that Aetna's decision to deny benefits to Dickens was “arbitrary, unreasonable, and fatally flawed,” according to the Record.
"Aetna's cursory treatment of the SSA decision suggests an unfair decision making process, where it seems the long term disability plan administrator is merely going through the motions rather than appropriately considering the relevant evidence," Johnston wrote in his ruling.
Despite the victory, Dickens’ benefits have not yet been restored, as the ruling was a “purely procedural victory” for him. Dickens was not charged attorney fees for the case.
There are legal actions that you can take if your long term disability claim has been unfairly denied by your insurer. Contact a long term disability lawyer with Sokolove Law to learn your legal rights, and see if you can take your insurer to court and get the benefits you deserve.