Long Term Disability Law Blog

On August 5, 2009, the Federal District Court in New York City ordered INA Life Insurance Company of New York, a subsidiary of CIGNA, to pay our client $180,466.60 in attorney fees. This award follows a battle for long term disability benefits, where the Court found that CIGNA's denial of long term disability benefits was arbitrary and capricious.

The lawsuit was subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA"). Under ERISA, the Court may in its discretion award the plaintiff with reasonable attorney fees. Fees are usually awarded if the plaintiff prevails and establishes that: the defendant's conduct was culpable; the merits of the lawsuit favored the plaintiff; and the award of fees would deter other defendants from similar action in the future.

In awarding the requested fees in this action, the Court awarded fees at Mr. Riemer's current hourly rate of $560; the associate hourly rate of $340; and the paralegal hourly rate of $180.

Please note that prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

On June 15, 2009, Scott M. Riemer was one of the featured speakers at the 12th National Advanced Forum on Resolving Disability Insurance Claims & Litigation in Boston. The conference was sponsored by the American Conference Institute. The conference included speakers who are leading plaintiff and defense lawyers as well as top medical experts. The topic of Mr. Riemer's discussion was "The Impact of MetLife v. Glenn on the Standard of Review and Discovery." Please take a look at ACI's website for more information, http://www.americanconference.com/Home.htm.

Click here for a copy of the conference brochure:
http://www.americanconference.com/litigation/Litigating_Disability_Insurance_Claims.htm

Last year, Scott M. Riemer spoke at the 11th National Advanced Forum in Boston. The topic of his discussion at that conference was "Standard of Review in ERISA Litigation in Light of MetLife v. Glenn."