Dipper v. Union Labor Life Insurance

# Union Labor Life Insurance v. Dipper: Court Summary **What Happened** Dipper filed a claim with Union Labor Life Insurance Company for accidental death and dismemberment benefits. The insurance company denied the claim, stating that the policy contained an exclusion—a rule that eliminated coverage—for deaths or injuries involving intoxication. Dipper disagreed and took the case to court. **What the Court Decided** The federal court in New York sided with the insurance company. The judge ruled that the policy's intoxication exclusion was valid and properly applied to Dipper's claim, and therefore the company had the right to deny payment. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case reinforces that insurance companies can use specific exclusions written into policies to deny claims. Workers should carefully read all the fine print in their employer-provided life and disability insurance policies before relying on that coverage. Understanding what situations are excluded—like those involving alcohol or drug use—helps workers know what protection they actually have and plan accordingly.