Unum Defeats Benefits Suit by University Worker With Long Covid

A former University of Virginia employee with long Covid lost his lawsuit seeking benefits from Unum Life Insurance Co. of America after a federal judge determined his disability plan is an ERISA-exempt governmental plan.

Judge Norman K. Moon on Tuesday dismissed the employee’s claim for wrongfully denied benefits under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, saying that UVA and its medical center are “undisputedly” agencies of the Commonwealth of Virginia. This defeats plaintiff Michael Redwine’s claims under the statute, Moon said for the US District Court for the Western District of Virginia.

• Redwine argued Unum should have been required to ...