Our life insurance dispute law firm would like to share some MetLife life insurance claim denial cases.
Case 1: After Verla Hancock passed away from an unknown cause, her beneficiary Terri Hancock sought accidental death and dismemberment benefits from MetLife. However, MetLife rejected the claim, arguing that there was no proof of an accidental death. Terri Hancock appealed the decision with her own observations and the detective’s report, but to no avail. She then sued MetLife, but the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld MetLife’s decision.
Case 2: Roberta Lee’s husband John Lee claimed the death benefit from MetLife when she died of a heart attack. She had a life insurance policy with MetLife through her employer. MetLife denied the claim, alleging that Roberta Lee had concealed her medical history of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity on her application. John Lee filed a lawsuit against MetLife, but the district court ruled in favor of MetLife. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the ruling, finding that MetLife did not demonstrate that Roberta Lee’s misrepresentations were material and intentional.
Case 3: Patricia McCollum filed a claim for the death benefit from MetLife when her husband James McCollum died of a gunshot wound. He had a life insurance policy with MetLife through his employer. MetLife refused to pay the claim, claiming that James McCollum’s death was a suicide, not an accident. Patricia McCollum challenged MetLife in court, but the district court sided with MetLife. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the district court, finding that MetLife had reasonably based its decision on the police report and the medical examiner’s opinion.
Case 4: Mary Egan claimed the death benefit from MetLife when her son Michael Egan died of a drug overdose. He had a life insurance policy with MetLife through his employer. MetLife turned down the claim, stating that Michael Egan’s death was self-inflicted, not accidental. Mary Egan brought a lawsuit against MetLife, but the district court dismissed it. The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the dismissal, finding that MetLife had disregarded evidence that Michael Egan’s death was accidental and that he did not mean to harm himself.
Case 5: Sandra Glenn sought the death benefit from MetLife when her husband David Glenn died of a heart attack. He had a life insurance policy with MetLife through his employer. MetLife rejected the claim, accusing David Glenn of failing to reveal his medical history of coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol on his application. Sandra Glenn sued MetLife, but the district court granted summary judgment to MetLife. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the summary judgment, finding that MetLife had acted arbitrarily and capriciously in denying the claim and that David Glenn’s misrepresentations were not material.
Case 6: Barbara Loughner applied for the death benefit from MetLife when her husband William Loughner died of a stroke. He had a life insurance policy with MetLife through his employer. MetLife declined to pay the claim, alleging that William Loughner had hidden his medical history of atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, and kidney disease on his application. Barbara Loughner took legal action against MetLife, but the district court ruled against her. The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the ruling, finding that MetLife had reasonably relied on William Loughner’s medical records and that his misrepresentations were material.
Case 7: Susan Schuler filed a claim for the death benefit from MetLife when her husband Richard Schuler died of cancer. He had a life insurance policy with MetLife through his employer. MetLife refused to honor the claim, stating that Richard Schuler had omitted his medical history of melanoma, lung cancer, and brain cancer on his application. Susan Schuler initiated a lawsuit against MetLife, but the district court gave summary judgment to MetLife. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the summary judgment, finding that MetLife had acted in good faith and that Richard Schuler’s misrepresentations were material.
Case 8: Doreen Abatie was the wife of Joseph Abatie, who had a life insurance policy with MetLife through his employer. When he died of liver failure, she claimed the death benefit from MetLife. However, MetLife denied the claim, arguing that Joseph Abatie had named his ex-wife as his beneficiary and that Doreen Abatie had no legal claim to the benefit. Doreen Abatie challenged MetLife in court, but the district court decided in favor of MetLife. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision, finding that MetLife had abused its discretion and that Doreen Abatie was entitled to the benefit as Joseph Abatie’s surviving spouse.
Case 9: Mark Scharf’s wife Deborah Scharf applied for the death benefit from MetLife when he died of a heart attack. He had a life insurance policy with MetLife through his employer. MetLife turned down the claim, accusing Mark Scharf of concealing his medical history of diabetes, hypertension, and coronary artery disease on his application. Deborah Scharf took legal action against MetLife, but the district court ruled against her. The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with the district court, finding that MetLife had acted reasonably and that Mark Scharf’s misrepresentations were material.
Case 10: Thomas Nickerson died of a pulmonary embolism and his wife Linda Nickerson sought the death benefit from MetLife. He had a life insurance policy with MetLife through his employer. MetLife rejected the claim, alleging that Thomas Nickerson had omitted his medical history of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and anticoagulant therapy on his application. Linda Nickerson sued MetLife, but the district court dismissed her case. The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned the dismissal, finding that MetLife had acted arbitrarily and capriciously and that Thomas Nickerson’s misrepresentations were not material.
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