Diabetes: Disability Application Cases Archive

Not everyone suffering from diabetes qualifies for disability application therefore the medical records of each claimant must be reviewed to determine the level of restrictions.

Arizona Court Defines the True Meaning of “Total Disability”

Cynthia Cheney is an Arizona attorney who applied for long-term disability benefits through her insurer, United States Life Insurance Company (“U.S. Life”). She had uncontrolled diabetes and other related health conditions, including limitations due to arthritis.

As her medical conditions worsened, she became unable to focus and concentrate on her legal work, including at trials. She became extremely fatigued, and her conditions made her confuse cases and generally become unable to keep up with the extreme demands of being a medical malpractice trial attorney.

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Appellate Court Finds for Plaintiff and Orders MetLife to Pay Benefits

In Tommy Dowdy and Sharon Morris-Dowdy v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that Tommy Dowdy and his wife were entitled to receive accidental dismemberment benefits under Mrs. Dowdy’s MetLife disability policy she had through her work at Bank of the West. The appellate court remanded the case to the district court for a determination of “the amount of benefits owed.”

It all started in September 2014 when Tommy Dowdy was in a car accident. His left leg was severely injured, almost severing it at the ankle. Attempts to save his leg were unsuccessful due to a wound infection that would not heal. Finally, five months after the accident, the leg was amputated just below the knee.
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California Court Agrees with MetLife’s Denial of Dismemberment Claim

Dowdy v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife) is a sad case for plaintiffs who have a pre-existing condition that contributes to their otherwise qualifying event for collecting insurance benefits. Thomas Dowdy and his wife had purchased an accidental death and dismemberment policy through Mrs. Dowdy’s employment at Bank of the West.
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Prudential Insurance Inc. Sued By Genentech Microbiologist For Denial of Long-Term Disability Benefits Provided By ERISA

A disability lawsuit was recently filed by a California disability attorney in Federal Court against Prudential Insurance Inc. (Prudential) and Genetic Engineering Technology, Inc. The Plaintiff, William C., was employed as a microbiologist at Genentech. Due to his employment, Plaintiff was covered by Genentech’s long-term disability insurance plan, which was administered by Prudential.

In William C. v. Prudential Insurance Inc. and Genetic Engineering Technology, Inc., Plaintiff seeks the long-term disability benefits that should have been provided under the terms of the plan, but were wrongfully denied by Prudential.
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Sleep Apnea Sufferer Sues Reliance Standard Life Insurance For Denied Disability Benefits

A sleep apnea sufferer and her California disability lawyer filed suit against Reliance Standard Life Insurance in the United States District Court Southern District of California under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to try to retrieve her terminated disability benefits.
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