No specific laws identified for this ruling.
Plaintiff's long-term disability benefits were reinstated by the defendant insurer following an administrative appeal. The court denied plaintiff's subsequent motion for attorneys' fees and costs, but the reinstatement of benefits constitutes a material win on the underlying ERISA claim.
Desharnais v. UNUM Life Insurance Company of America
What Happened
A worker had their long-term disability benefits cut off by UNUM Life Insurance Company. The employee filed a complaint, arguing the insurance company wrongfully terminated these benefits that they depended on for financial support.
The Court's Decision
The court sided with the employee. UNUM was ordered to reinstate the worker's long-term disability benefits. However, the judge did not award the employee money to cover their legal costs and attorney fees from fighting the case.
Why This Matters
This case shows that workers have legal protections when insurers deny or stop disability benefits. Even though the employee didn't recover attorney fees, winning reinstatement of benefits is the main goal—it means they received the financial support they were entitled to. Workers who believe their disability benefits were wrongfully denied have the right to challenge that decision in court, and companies like UNUM can be required to restore those benefits if they acted improperly.
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