A respiratory therapist is fighting for her disability benefits with an Unum lawsuit.

Plaintiff Cathy R. of Illinois alleges that she became disabled to the point that she could no longer work as a respiratory therapist in 2013.

According her Unum bad faith insurance lawsuit, she suffered from several illnesses that contributed to her disability benefits claim.

This encompassed several heart and blood vessel problems, including coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and abnormal blood chemistry. She also asserts that she suffered from diabetes, an ulcer, and psychiatric illness in the form of depression an anxiety.

During the time she worked as a respiratory therapist, she was insured with an Unum disability benefits plan, which was intended to protect her in the event that she suffered from a disabling medical condition or injury. However, her Unum bad faith insurance lawsuit alleges that Unum did not hold up their end of the deal.

According to her Unum bad faith insurance lawsuit, Cathy R. was initially approved for disability insurance benefits through Unum. However, she was allegedly cut off after nine months when Unum asserted she was well enough to work.

Her Unum lawsuit holds that this was an act of “bad faith.” Bad faith is a legal term meaning that one party in a contract is trying to avoid their legal obligations. In the case of insurance, bad faith often means that an insurance company has denied a disability claim when a policyholder has a legitimate disability insurance claim.

The text of her bad faith insurance lawsuit states that Cathy R. worked her way through Unum’s internal appeals process, a critical step required before a person can file an Unum lawsuit.

According the Unum lawsuit, Cathy R.’s personal physician stated that she cannot work as a respiratory therapist, “…or any other job which would require physical activity with long periods of sitting or standing, computer and keyboard work, repetitive motion, and nearly any physical activity without frequent rest.”

This is how she says that her Unum disability benefits policy defines a disability: “1. You are unable to perform the material and substantial duties of your regulator occupation and are not working in your regular occupation or any other occupation or, 2. You are unable to perform one or more of the material and substantial duties of your regular occupation and you have a 20% or more loss in your occupation or any occupation.”

Cathy R.’s Unum bad faith insurance denial lawsuit holds that she has more than met her Unum disability benefits policy’s definition of disabled, with medical documentation, and statements from her physician. Her Unum lawsuit holds that Unum is in breach of her disability insurance policy with them, and that the company is acting in bad faith.

The Unum bad faith insurance lawsuit seeks to recoup allegedly back-owed disability benefits, the cost of the Unum lawsuit in legal fees, and a reinstatement of her disability insurance benefits.

Her Unum Bad Faith Insurance Lawsuit is Case No. 5472, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.