Cassaundra Ellena v. Standard Insurance Company, Stancorp Financial Group Inc., The California Department of Insurance, The Commissioner of The California Department of Insurance
Published: Mar. 15, 2014 | Result Date: Feb. 13, 2014 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |Case number: 3:12-cv-05401-SC Verdict – $873,623
Court
USDC Northern
Attorneys
Plaintiff
Stephen M. Murphy
(Law Offices of Stephen M. Murphy)
Defendant
Experts
Plaintiff
Richard T. Zweig
(medical)
Maria Dall'Era
(medical)
Stephen D. Prater
(technical)
Randy Sugarman
(technical)
Defendant
Barbara Mueller
(technical)
Shirley Ingram
(medical)
Facts
Cassaundra Ellena sued Standard Insurance Co., based on a dispute over Ellena's long-term disability benefits.
Contentions
PLAINTIFF'S CONTENTIONS:
On April 16, 2010, Ellena quit her job as a redevelopment manager for the County of Sonoma, claiming she was unable to continue working due to systemic lupus erythematosus. She submitted a claim for long term disability benefits with Standard.
When Standard denied her claim, Ellena sued for breach of contract, bad faith, and punitive damages.
DEFENDANT'S CONTENTIONS:
Standard argued that Ellena was not entitled to long-term disability benefits, because she did not meet certain eligibility requirements. Therefore, Standard argued that Ellena's breach of contract and bad faith claims had to fail.
Result
A jury found that Standard did deny Ellena long-term disability benefits she was due, and awarded her $73,697 for her unpaid benefits, $450,000 for her mental suffering, and $349,925 for her future benefits. The jury denied her punitive damages claim.
Poll
8-0
Length
one day
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