A Kansas widower has filed a wrongful insurance benefits denial lawsuit against Unum Life Insurance Company, alleging the company wrongfully denied life insurance coverage.

In November 2012, plaintiff Harrison P. lost his wife, LeAnne. Harrison is the designated beneficiary of LeAnne’s Unum policy and has since become well acquainted with the unfair practices Unum has been alleged to employ against its consumers. These instances of alleged wrongful benefits denial also serves as the foundation for the growing number of bad faith insurance lawsuits being filed against Unum Insurance across the nation. Harrison filed his own Unum bad faith insurance lawsuit on Feb. 2, 2015.

According the Unum Lawsuit, LeAnne was provided a group life insurance policy through her employer CVS Pharmacy Inc. with approved dependent spouse life insurance benefits in the amount of $100,000. On April 8, 2014, LeAnne passed away from natural causes and Harrison, as the primary beneficiary under the Unum life insurance policy, was entitled to receive benefits payable after his wife’s death.

The basis for the Unum insurance benefit denial lawsuit is that even though Harrison submitted a timely claim for life insurance benefits under the policy, Unum wrongfully denied his claim for life insurance benefits without providing a reason for the denial. Harrison appealed Unum’s decision but Unum has continued to uphold its decision to deny his claim, thus prompting Harrison to file a Unum bad faith insurance lawsuit.

Unum Bad Faith Insurance Practices

The unscrupulous practice of putting profit over human health is has long been associated with Unum, the world’s largest insurance provider. A 2004 investigation determined Unum’s bad faith insurance practice allegedly began as early as 1994. A CBS “60 Minutes” report revealed the company established a quota for denied claims and actually offered incentives to employees who denied valid claims from policyholders.

Although the Department of Labor in 2005 mandated that Unum resolve its bad faith insurance practices, many insured parties have since experienced grievous losses as a result of Unum’s illegal practices.

Bad Faith Insurance Lawsuits

Companies like Unum have a history of denying policyholders the benefits they deserve unless a settlement or verdict forces them to do so. According to legal experts, insurance companies often act in bad faith when they wrongfully deny valid insurance claims. Consumers can sue insurance companies when this happens and may be entitled to recover the unpaid disability benefits or insurance benefits, as well as collect on damages that they may have incurred.

Harrison brought this civil action to recover the full amount of life insurance benefits under the issued Unum policy, with pre-judgment interests as well as attorney’s fees and cost. He has also demanded a jury trial for this case.

The Unum Bad Faith Insurance Lawsuit is Case No. 2:15-cv-02317-CM-GLR, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.