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FLORIDA RECORD

Friday, March 29, 2024

Woman seeks reinstatement of disability benefits she alleges were wrongfully denied

Insurance 09

JACKSONVILLE – A woman alleges her claim for disability benefits was wrongfully denied.

Pamela Ricks filed a complaint on Oct. 11 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division against Liberty Life Assurance Co. of Boston citing the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that at all times she was covered under an employee welfare benefit plan, which provided long-term disability benefits to all its members who met the required specifications under the plan, including plaintiff. However, the suit states the defendant maintains its decision to deny benefits due to plaintiff despite having subjected her to an "unreasonable" claims process.

The plaintiff holds Liberty Life Assurance Co. of Boston responsible because the defendant allegedly failed to come up with an unbiased decision from conflicting duties as insurer and as an ERISA fiduciary and failed to comply with its own internal rules, guidelines and criteria.

The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks relief from the defendant for reinstatement of benefits, interest, costs, attorney's fees and other relief as may be just. She is represented by William S. Coffman Jr. of Coffman Law in Tampa.

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division Case number 3:16-cv-01291

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