Brigham v. Sun Life of Canada

**What Happened** Brigham was an employee who received long-term disability benefits from his employer Sun Life of Canada's insurance plan. Sun Life eventually stopped paying these benefits, claiming that Brigham was capable of working in other types of jobs, even if he couldn't return to his original position. Brigham sued, arguing that Sun Life broke their contract and violated federal laws governing employee benefit plans by unfairly cutting off his disability payments. **What the Court Decided** The court sided with Sun Life of Canada. The judge found that the insurance plan's written terms clearly allowed the company to stop disability benefits once an employee could perform any reasonable occupation, not just their previous job. The court determined that Sun Life followed the plan rules properly and didn't break any legal duties to Brigham when they terminated his benefits. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case highlights the importance of carefully reading disability insurance plan documents. Workers should understand that many long-term disability plans use an "any occupation" standard, meaning benefits can be cut off if you're deemed able to work in any suitable job, regardless of whether it matches your previous career or salary level.