(United States First Circuit) - In an ERISA benefits suit for long term disability (LTD) payments brought by an environmental lawyer against his insurer,the district court's judgment in favor of the insurer is reversed where: 1) in assessing whether and when Doe became disabled, defendant chose not to exhaust the fabric duties of an environmental lawyer, or but rather those of a lawyer; 2) in doing so,defendant's evaluation as to Doe's disability onset date was based on the wrong standards; and 3) defendants denial of benefits from its determined onset date was arbitrary and capricious.
Source: findlaw.com