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FLORIDA RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Woman sues MetLife Insurance for allegedly denying disability benefits

Disability

MIAMI – A Florida woman is suing MetLife Insurance for alleged violation of her employer’s disability benefits plan.

Ana Paz filed a lawsuit Dec. 29 in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida against Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., citing violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

According to the complaint, Paz was at all times material a plan participants under the Verizon Wireless Long Term Disability Plan, also known as the Verizon Wireless Managed Disability Benefits and the Cellco Partnership (LTD Plan). The defendant is the insurer of benefits under the LTD Plan, which is regulated by the ERISA. The plaintiff claims to have been disabled and received benefits under the plan since April 15, 2013.

The plaintiff reportedly received a letter dated Jan. 28, 2014, from the defendant, denying her initial claim for LTD benefits and informing that they would make no further payments. On Sept. 11, 2014, Paz avers that she made a timely appeal to the claims denial, which was upheld in a letter from the defendant dated Feb. 2, 2015. The plaintiff filed a second appeal by way of administration, which was also denied, the suit states. The plaintiff refers to the ERISA as grounds for her reinstatement of LTD benefits.

Paz seeks disability benefits, immediate reinstatement, costs and attorneys’ fees, and pre- and post-judgment interest. She is represented by Alexander A. Palamara and Gregory Michael Dell of the Attorneys Dell and Schaefer, Chartered, in Hollywood, Florida.

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida Case number 0:15-cv-62708-BB

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