No specific laws identified for this ruling.
The court ruled in favor of plaintiff Lori Barnes, finding that Unum wrongfully terminated her long-term disability benefits. The court determined that Unum's decision was arbitrary and capricious, relying on vocational assessments that failed to adequately address the physical demands of travel inherent in Barnes's former position and improperly discounting consistent medical opinions supporting her disability.
Barnes v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America
What Happened
Lori Barnes had long-term disability benefits from her employer's insurance provider, Unum Life Insurance Company of America. Unum terminated her benefits, claiming she was no longer disabled and could work. Barnes disagreed and took the company to court.
What the Court Decided
The court ruled in Barnes's favor. The judge found that Unum wrongfully ended her benefits. Specifically, the court determined that Unum's decision was unreasonable because it relied on job assessments that didn't properly consider the physical demands of her previous position—particularly the travel requirements. The court also found that Unum improperly dismissed medical opinions from her doctors that supported her disability claim.
Why This Matters for Workers
This case shows that insurance companies cannot simply ignore medical evidence when deciding whether to cut off disability benefits. Companies must carefully consider the actual job duties an employee performed, not just theoretical job possibilities. Workers who believe their disability benefits were unfairly terminated have legal recourse if their insurance provider makes careless or arbitrary decisions.
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