Zurich Claims Subdural Hematoma Not Caused by Fall.
Our client’s husband died as a result of a subdural hematoma (bleeding on the brain). Subdural hematomas are typically caused by trauma to the head. Our client found her husband unconscious on the bedroom floor upon returning from church. He died several days later in the hospital. Zurich, who provided Accidental Death Coverage, claimed that the subdural hematoma was caused by a spontaneous bleed due to the use of Coumadin (a blood thinner), and not by the fall. Zurich pointed to the lack of evidence of external trauma to the head and medical literature supporting the potential for spontaneous bleeds [...]
District Court Finds That A Formal Functional Capacity Evaluation is Compelling Evidence of Disability
Stennett & Casino filed a complaint in San Diego Federal District Court against United of Omaha Life Ins. Co. for terminating its client's long-term disability (LTD) benefits. United of Omaha initially paid LTD benefits due to disability related to the client's low back pain following two surgeries. Omaha, however terminated benefits after one year concluding that the surgeries had resolved client's low back problems. Stennett & Casino had their client undergo functional capacity testing and submitted the findings of that testing to Omaha during the administrative appeal process. The Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) found that the client had a maximum sitting [...]
MetLife Denies Accidental Death Benefits Under Exclusion For Death Caused Or Contributed To By Illness Or Sickness.
We are seeing more and more claims for Accidental Death benefits denied under an exclusion for “loss” caused by “illness or the treatment thereof.” Whenever an insured involved in an accident is taking prescription medication, the insurer argues that the accident was, in part, caused by the medication side effects. Likewise, when an insured has an illness that weakens his/her ability to recover from a physical trauma, the insurer argues that the illness contributes to the death and thus is excluded under the policy. These arguments taken to their extreme would result in almost all Accidental Death Claims being [...]
Disability Insurance Claim: County of San Diego (SDCERA)
Denial of Disability Retirement Reversed Stennett & Casino's client was employed by the County of San Diego for over 10 years in a clerical position. She had to stop work because of an injury to her knee resulting from continued banging against a desk when she was placed in an awkward work station. Despite the fact that she underwent 4 unsuccessful knee surgeries that left her with severe standing and walking limitations and severe pain with extended sitting, the County asserted that it could accommodate her limitations and continue to provide her a sedentary position. The County denied the client's [...]
Serious Injury Claim: Mortuary Negligence
Our client was 4-1/2 months into her first pregnancy when she was admitted to the hospital in labor and her first child was stillborn.
Accidental Death Claim: Drug Overdose Death
Our client’s son died as a result of an accidental drug overdose. The father was the beneficiary on the accidental death insurance policy. Insurance company refused to pay the benefits claiming that the death was not “accidental.” The question came down to whether it was reasonably foreseeable that one would die as a result of taking illegal drugs (in this case heroin). […]