Gross v. Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada

**What Happened** Patricia Gross worked for Sun Life Assurance and applied for disability benefits when she became unable to work due to her medical condition. Sun Life denied her claim, arguing that surveillance footage showed she could still perform work activities. Gross sued the company, claiming they wrongfully terminated her benefits and broke their contract with her. **What the Court Decided** The court ruled in favor of Gross. The appeals court agreed with a lower court's decision that Sun Life should have approved her disability benefits. The judges found that the surveillance evidence Sun Life used was not strong enough to override the medical evidence proving Gross was totally disabled and unable to work. The court sent the case back only to recalculate interest payments and attorney fees. **Why This Matters for Workers** This ruling reinforces that insurance companies cannot simply rely on surveillance footage to deny legitimate disability claims when there is solid medical evidence supporting a worker's inability to work. It shows that courts will protect employees when insurance companies try to avoid paying valid disability benefits, giving workers more confidence that their medical documentation will be taken seriously in disputes.