No specific laws identified for this ruling.
Plaintiff Averbeck prevailed in her ERISA suit against Lincoln National Life Insurance Company for wrongful termination of disability and life insurance benefits. Lincoln reinstated her benefits including back benefits; the court awarded her $69,725 in attorney fees (reduced from her requested $180,774).
Tamara Averbeck v. The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company
What Happened
Tamara Averbeck was fired by The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company and subsequently lost her disability and life insurance benefits. She believed the termination was wrongful and that the company had breached its contract obligations to her.
What the Court Decided
The court ruled in Averbeck's favor. The judge found that Lincoln National Life Insurance Company wrongfully terminated her benefits. As a result, the company was ordered to restore her disability and life insurance coverage and pay back benefits she had lost. Additionally, the court awarded Averbeck $69,725 to cover her attorney fees (though she had requested $180,774).
Why This Matters for Workers
This case demonstrates that employees have legal protections when companies cancel benefits without proper justification. Workers cannot simply be denied insurance benefits following termination without cause. The ruling reinforces that employers must honor benefit agreements and may face significant financial consequences—including attorney fees—if they violate these obligations. This provides accountability and financial recourse for employees facing benefit disputes.
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