Facts

Defendant Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife) terminated plaintiff Daniel A. Davidson's long term disability (LTD) benefits on Feb. 11, 2004. The plaintiff appealed the decision, but MetLife upheld the termination. The plaintiff filed suit on Oct. 4, 2004.

PLAINTIFF CONTENTIONS:
The plaintiff contended that his LTD benefits were wrongfully terminated by MetLife. He contended that MetLife abused its discretion because it relied on a file review (instead of an examination) by a doctor who failed to adequately examine the plaintiff's physical condition before denying his LTD benefits; ignored or discounted the voluminous and credible medical evidence from the plaintiff's various treating physicians; and ignored his long history of surgeries. The means by which MetLife arrived at its ultimate decision were defective and included seven days of video surveillance, showing that the plaintiff's doctors' diagnosis of his physical limitations was correct. DEFENDANT

The plaintiff contended that his LTD benefits were wrongfully terminated by MetLife. He contended that MetLife abused its discretion because it relied on a file review (instead of an examination) by a doctor who failed to adequately examine the plaintiff's physical condition before denying his LTD benefits; ignored or discounted the voluminous and credible medical evidence from the plaintiff's various treating physicians; and ignored his long history of surgeries. The means by which MetLife arrived at its ultimate decision were defective and included seven days of video surveillance, showing that the plaintiff's doctors' diagnosis of his physical limitations was correct. DEFENDANT CONTENTIONS:
MetLife contended that it did not abuse its discretion when terminating the plaintiff's disability benefits and that it did everything that the law entitles it to do.

Settlement Discussions

The defendants offered $20,000.

Damages

The plaintiff sought past benefits of over $100,000, plus reinstatement of future benefits (estimated at $650,000), and attorney's fees and costs.

Result

After a half-day bench trial, the Court ordered reinstatement of the plaintiff's disability benefits, over $100,000 in benefits owed since the termination, plus attorney's fees and costs.