Unum Gets Benefits Claim Judged Under Lenient Review Standard

Unum Life Insurance Co. won the right for ERISA claims from a former Goodwin Proctor LLP attorney to be judged under a more lenient “abuse of discretion” standard of review.

Because Massachusetts law is the “applicable choice of law,” the abuse of discretion standard of review applies to the disability benefits case brought by Brenna Moorhead, Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr. of the US District Court for the Northern District of California said in a Monday order, in which he granted Unum’s motion to establish a standard of review.

• After she became disabled due to a combination of medical conditions, ...