Geiger v. Zurich Am. Ins. Co.

In this 2023 case, an insurer did not abuse its discretion in denying long-term disability (LTD) benefits to plaintiff under ERISA, as considering the Booth factors and the standard of review, the insurer’s interpretation of plaintiff’s employer’s LTD plan’s terms, purpose and goals was reasonable; the insurer did not abuse its discretion by not obtaining additional vocational evidence, as neither the plan nor case law affirmatively required it to have done so; [2]-Plaintiff’s claim that the insurer failed to consider how the amount of stress involved in his job might impact his cardiac conditions was improper, as the plan defined “disabled” as the inability to perform the material and substantial duties of one’s regular occupation due solely to sickness or injury, and nowhere in the records did any physician opine that plaintiff could not perform the duties of his job because of stress.

Outcome: Judgment affirmed.

If you need assistance navigating your claim for short term or long-term disability benefits under ERISA, or it is time to sue the insurance company, please do not hesitate to give Cody Allison & Associates, PLLC a call (844) LTD-CODY, (615) 234-6000. or send us an e-mail Cody@codyallison.com.  We provide representation nationwide and have successfully sued all the major insurance companies in many states. Our headquarters are located in Nashville, Tennessee.  We offer a free consultation and would love to speak with you.