Plaintiff Debra M. recently joined the increasing number of policyholders filing a disability insurance lawsuit against Unum Life over unfair denial.

According to the disability insurance lawsuit, Debra was working a successful and fulfilling career as a top producing real estate agent for 23 years.

During the recent recession, Debra says that it became increasingly hard for her to make the same or less money. It brought on her a psychological and financial burden, the disability insurance lawsuit explains.

Debra states that although she survived the recession, the stress of all the burden she was carrying eventually led her to become psychologically paralyzed in December 2015.

According to the disability insurance lawsuit, Debra began “suffering from heart palpitations, panic attacks, and insomnia.” This forced her to consider a leave of absence.

After seeking help from her primary care physician in January 2016, her physician chaaracterized her as “psychologically paralyzed” and “on the verge of a psychological breakdown.”

According to the disability insurance lawsuit, other diagnoses such as major depressive disorder also began affecting Debra’s ability to work and manage stress.

In December 2016, Debra suffered severe atrial fibrillation and was admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit at St. Charles Medical Center. On Jul. 24, 2017, she agreed to remain on an official leave of absence from work.

According to the disability insurance lawsuit, although Unum recognized Debra’s qualification for disability as early as Feb. 24, 2016, her benefits were denied on Jun. 1, 2016.

The disability insurance lawsuit alleges that Unum placed a burden on Debra to “justify her eligibility” for disability and that they also failed to obtain information that would validate Debra’s work restrictions and limitations.

Unum Life Insurance Company

A growing number of consumers are filing a disability insurance lawsuit against Unum, accusing the company of unfairly denying their benefits. Debra’s disability insurance lawsuit is not a solitary occurrence.

Unum, as a Fortune 500 insurance company based in Chattanooga, Tenn., has a multitude of allegations currently lodged against them. Some accusations include the company placing profit over patient health and safety by unfairly denying consumers’ disability benefits, unreasonable delays in claim processing, and underpayment of insurance benefits.

In fact, Unum entered into an agreement with 48 states known as the Regulatory Settlement Agreement in 2004 due to their allegedly wrongful handling of long-term disability benefits. The settlement resolved issues exposed during an NBC Dateline and 60 Minutes segment regarding Unum’s unfair denial of benefits.

In 2005, Unum also entered an agreement with the California Department of Insurance regarding their wrongful handling of long-term disability benefits.

The 60 Minutes segment included interviews from former employees, including physicians of the company. The segment featured a former physician having been fired for refusing to cooperate with the company and deny rightful disability insurance benefits to consumers. Former employees were also shown claiming that Unum’s work environment came with “intense” pressure to deny claims.

The Disability Insurance Lawsuit is Case No. 3:17-cv-01860-PK, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, Portland Division.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The bad faith insurance attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual lawsuit or Unum class action lawsuit is best for you. [In general, Unum bad faith lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.] Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

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