Sun Life Loses Appeal in 2nd Cir. Over $189K Benefit Claim

Sun Life & Health Insurance Co. must pay $188,936 in wrongfully denied benefits to a participant in a long-term disability plan who suffered a back injury at work, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled Jan. 12 (Solnin v. Sun Life & Health Ins. Co., 2d Cir., 15-3921, unpublished 1/12/17).

The case is noteworthy because the Labor Department filed a brief in support of a district court decision that rejected Sun Life’s request to dismiss the participant’s lawsuit on account of her failure to exhaust administrative remedies. The district court denied Sun Life’s motion ...