MIAMI — A man has filed suit against Liberty Life Assurance Co. of Boston for allegedly denying his claim for long-term disability payments.
Bradley Barnes filed a complaint on Aug. 11 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida against Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston, alleging that the plan administrator violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and breached the long-term disability plan.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that on March 31, 2015, he was considered to be disabled under the terms of the long-term disability plan. When he filed a claim to the defendant for disability benefits, he alleges he was denied and the defendant said he was not disabled. The plaintiff claims to have complied with all conditions precedent and was unable to perform the duties of his own occupation. He claims to have been under the regular care of a doctor.
The plaintiff holds Liberty Life Assurance Co. of Boston responsible because the defendant allegedly failed to properly investigate the merits of the plaintiff’s disability claim, failed to provide a prompt and reasonable explanation and failed to pay long-term disability benefit payments.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks payment of disability benefits, costs of suit, attorneys’ fees, interest and further relief as the court deems appropriate. He is represented by Alexander A. Palamara and Gregory Michael Dell of Attorneys Dell and Schaefer in Hollywood.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida case number 16-cv-23466