PENSACOLA – A Santa Rosa County resident alleges her claims for disability benefits were wrongfully denied or terminated.
Shanelle A. Newberry filed a complaint on April 4 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division against Life Insurance Co. of North America alleging that the plan administrator violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that she became disabled in April 2016 and applied for short-term disability benefits, which were terminated in August 2016. The suit also states she applied for long-term disability benefits in July 2016 and that was also denied.
The plaintiff holds Life Insurance Co. of North America responsible because the defendant allegedly abused its discretion and derogated plaintiff’s right to disability benefits under the terms of the disability plans.
The plaintiff seeks judgment against the defendant for all plan benefits owing, plus prejudgment interest, attorney’s fees, costs of this action and all other relief deemed just and proper by the court. She is represented by Nick A. Ortiz of Ortiz Law Firm in Pensacola.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division Case number 3:17-cv-00219