An Oregon woman has filed an Unum disability claim lawsuit accusing Unum of wrongfully denying her long term disability claim.

Plaintiff Jennifer B. was employed by Regions Bank in the position of Business Banking Relationship Manager. Her Unum disability claim lawsuit alleges that she became unable to work on May 28, 2013 as a result of traumatic and degenerative injuries.

Because of these injuries, Jennifer says she suffered from generalized anxiety disorder, major depression, right shoulder arthralgia and cervical radiculitis. A couple weeks later, on June 15, she filed for short-term disability benefits.

Unum granted her short term disability request, according to this Unum disability claim lawsuit.

On Oct. 28, 2013, Jennifer filed for long-term disability benefits. She received a letter on Dec. 23, 2015, informing her that her claim for long term disability benefits was denied. Had her claim been granted, her long term disability insurance plan would have paid her over $6,000 per month.

The letter said that Jennifer had 180 days to appeal this decision. According to this Unum disability claim lawsuit, at the time she was denied benefits, the disability standard that was in effect stated that Jennifer must be considered unable to perform “any occupation.”

Jennifer says she pursued the proper administrative remedies. She appealed the decision within the correct amount of time, and she submitted all the necessary medical records showing that she was totally disabled and unable to work.

Jennifer claims several consultants from Unum reviewed her claims without examining her directly.

In August 2016, Unum informed Jennifer that they were going to stand by their original decision to deny her long term disability benefits. With that denial, Unum informed her that she had exhausted her administrative remedies.

Denial Leads to Unum Disability Claim Lawsuit

Jennifer alleges that Unum discounted the opinions of her own physicians and her documented limitations.

Her medical conditions include both exertional and nonexertional issues. She alleges that she suffers from anxiety, major depression, right shoulder arthralgia, cervical radiculitis, cervical degenerative disc disease, right knee injury, migraine headaches, fluid retention and constipation.

Her doctors have documented chronic back pain and decreased range of motion and weakness. Because of all of these injuries, Jennifer is severely limited in what she can do.

Her pain is so severe, she says, that it impairs her ability to maintain the pace, persistence and concentration that it requires to work on a full time basis. Her medications also limit her ability to work.

Jennifer believes that Unum is operating under a conflict of interest and brings forth the claim of wrongful denial of benefits under ERISA.

This Unum Disability Claim Lawsuit is Case No. 3:17-cv-00245-PK in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Portland Division.