Unum Life Insurance Company of America has been hit with a new lawsuit by a woman alleging that her long term disability benefits were terminated abruptly by the insurance company when they should have continued.

Janice Hannon worked at a hospital in Greenville, North Carolina, as a registered nurse through which she purchased a long term disability plan from Unum. However, in September 2000, she was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

Because of her illness, Hannon could no longer perform her nursing duties and “was forced to stop working in December 2000.”

“Ms. Hannon applied for long term disability benefits under the disability plan offered through her employer. Her claim for benefits was approved, and Unum began paying her monthly disability benefits on April 8, 2001,” the Unum lawsuit explains.

However, 10 years later on, on Nov. 18, 2011, her disability payments were terminated abruptly by Unum “claiming that the current information in Ms. Hannon’s claim file no longer supported a disabling medical condition preventing her from performing the duties of an alternative gainful occupation.”

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On March, 30, 2012, Hannon filed an appeal with Unum asking that her benefits be reinstated. In her claim, she provided “current medical evidence and a statement of support from her primary treating physician, who advised Unum that Ms. Hannon is limited from performing any full time work.”

However, the Unum appeal was denied, which is why she decided to file this lawsuit.

“Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome causes problems with collagen, the material providing strength and structure to the skin, bone, blood vessels, and internal organs,” the complaint states.  “Symptoms include, but are not limited to, early arthritis, joint dislocation, joint pain and vision problems.”

Hannon’s symptoms include ” chronic pain of the back, neck, bilateral knees, bilateral hands and bilateral ankles.”

“Imaging studies have confirmed degenerative disease in her back, knees and hands, and she has undergone surgery on both thumbs and both ankles,” the Unum lawsuit explains further.

“Unum issued the insurance policy to the Pitt County Memorial Hospital, Inc. Group Long Term Disability Plan that agreed to pay long term disability benefits to employees if they are unable to work due to injury or illness,” the lawsuit explains. “Unum processed and terminated Ms. Hannon’s long term disability claim.”

“Unum has a conflict of interest in this claim,” Hannon also alleges.

Not only did Unum deny her disability benefits, but it also terminated the life insurance benefits, which she obtained through Unum.

“On June 1, 2012, Unum notified Ms. Hannon that in addition to the termination of her disability benefits, her life insurance benefits had also been discontinued by Unum’s Benefits Center,” the terminated benefits lawsuit claims. “Unum also denied Ms. Hannon’s appeal for reinstatement of her waiver of premium benefits.”

The former registered nurse is suing Unum for wrongful denial of employee benefits and breach of fiduciary duty.

The case is Janice Hannon v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, Case No. 1:14-cv-00235-WTL-DKL, in the United States District Court Southern District of Indiana Indianapolis Division.