Ian Robinson v. American International Group, Inc.
Case Details
- Nature of Suit — the legal category of the dispute
- 791 Labor: E.R.I.S.A.
- Status — whether other courts must follow this ruling
- Unknown
- Procedural Posture — the stage the case had reached
- summary judgment
- State
- California
- Circuit
- Ninth Circuit
Related Laws
No specific laws identified for this ruling.
Claim Types
Outcome
Plaintiff Ian Robinson prevailed in his ERISA benefits dispute against American International Group, Inc., obtaining a judgment of $236,000 for denied accidental death insurance benefits following his stepson's death, plus attorneys' fees and prejudgment interest.
What This Ruling Means
Ian Robinson v. American International Group, Inc.
What Happened
Ian Robinson had accidental death insurance through his employer, American International Group, Inc. When his stepson died, Robinson filed a claim for the death benefits he believed he was entitled to under his insurance plan. The company denied his claim, refusing to pay the promised benefits.
What the Court Decided
Robinson sued, and the court ruled in his favor. The judge found that AIG had wrongfully denied his benefits and ordered the company to pay him $236,000 in damages. The court also required AIG to cover Robinson's attorney fees and additional interest that had accumulated while the case was pending.
Why This Matters for Workers
This case reinforces that employers cannot simply refuse to pay benefits workers are promised. If your employer denies insurance or retirement benefits you believe you're entitled to, you may have grounds to challenge that decision in court. This ruling shows courts will hold companies accountable when they improperly deny legitimate claims, and workers can recover compensation for wrongfully withheld benefits.
This summary was generated to explain the ruling in plain English and is not legal advice.
Similar Rulings
Browse Related
Facing something similar at work?
Court rulings like this one are useful, but every situation is different. Take 3 minutes to see which laws may protect you — it's free, private, and no account is required to start.
This ruling information is sourced from public court records via CourtListener.com. Case outcomes, claim types, and summaries are extracted using AI analysis and may be incomplete or inaccurate. It is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
See something wrong, or named in this ruling and want it corrected or redacted? Request a correction.