Nothing Stops Donahue & Horrow LLP From Relentlessly Pursuing Justice – Doubling Down and Going All the Way to the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to Win  SUMMARY: THE JUDGE RULED PARTIALLY IN FAVOR OF OUR CLIENT AT THE TRIAL COURT LEVEL AWARDING LIMITED PAYMENT OF LONG TERM DISABILITY (LTD) BENEFITS. HOWEVER, THAT WAS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE OUTCOME AS OUR CLIENT SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED FULL PAYMENT. MOST LAWYERS DO NOT APPEAL TO THE HIGHER COURTS ON ERISA CASES.  THIS IS WHERE DONAHUE & HORROW LLP MAKES THE DIFFERENCE.  WHEN A CLIENT DESERVES MORE BENEFITS, MICHAEL HORROW AND ..read more

What happens when, out of nowhere, you are suddenly unable to perform the duties of your occupation? You find yourself disabled from your profession, unable to pay your bills and provide for your family. Hopefully, if the unthinkable happens, you have two things: a disability policy and an insurance company that recognizes that you are unable to work and pays you the benefits they promised to pay when you bought the policy.   Recently, when our client, a dentist who unexpectedly contracted flesh eating bacteria in his thumb, causing pain and preventing him from holding standard denta ..read more

In the event your employer provides disability insurance coverage as a benefit of your employment (unless you worked for the government or a church-based organization) you will most likely be subject to ERISA, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. As with many Federal laws, ERISA was drafted by Congress and is interpreted by the Courts to favor insurance companies like Unum Life Insurance Company, New York Life Insurance Company, and MetLife Insurance Company; but not so favorable to those insured by them, such as yourself. The rules and regulations of ERISA are often used again ..read more

Sutton v MetLife 2 — $30K+ (All Benefits Owed) Plus Fees and Costs Michael Horrow and the team at Donahue & Horrow recently won a second case on behalf of their client in his, seemingly never-ending, fight with MetLife for the long-term disability benefits he is owed under an ERISA plan. After working for almost 40 years, our client first became disabled in May 2018, due to the back pain, the source of which was confirmed by examinations by multiple doctors, as well as a lumbar MRI. Because the pain prevented him from continuing to work, our client filed an ERISA claim with MetLife, seekin ..read more

Software Engineer Denied ERISA Long-Term Disability, Wins In $125k in Mediation Settlement Agreement Regardless of how informed and prepared you are, it can be difficult to achieve a desirable outcome should you find yourself going against one of the nation’s largest insurance companies. Our client, a software engineer forced to stop working due to orthopedic issues, recently discovered this firsthand when she was suddenly denied her ongoing long-term disability plan. This is where Donahue & Horrow LLP stepped in to assist the client in winning a settlement through mediation, allowing the ..read more

Consumers purchase life insurance so that in the unlikely event of their death, their family is taken care of financially. Simply put, life insurance provides both the decedent and the surviving family members peace of mind that they are financially secure should the unthinkable happen. That is what makes the denial of a life insurance claim so devastating. Not only is the family dealing with the untimely loss of a beloved family member, but that loss is now compounded by the refusal of the insurance company to pay the money that the family was relying on. Certain Accidental Death & Dismem ..read more

A dedicated court reporter found herself confronting an unjust obstacle when a major insurance company wrongfully denied her claim for disability benefits after she found herself unable to work due to disability. In her pursuit of justice, she sought the expertise of Michael Horrow and his disability insurance team at Donahue & Horrow LLP. Through the team’s unwavering commitment, a settlement was reached within months of filing, before the court even set a trial date. This speedy resolution allowed the client to spend time recovering and returning to her life, rather than spending valuabl ..read more

A dedicated trauma nurse recently found herself facing an unjust hurdle when MetLife, one of the nation’s largest insurance companies, wrongfully denied her long-term disability benefits. Determined to fight for her rights, she turned to the experienced legal team at Donahue & Horrow LLP to help her navigate complex federal ERISA laws. One of ERISA’s many requirements is that, once a claim is denied, a person cannot simply sue the insurance company. Instead, they must appeal the decision and face in a legal battle the very same, massive corporation that just denied their claim. Additionall ..read more

While the COVID-19 pandemic impacted everyone’s life in one capacity or another, the most tragic outcome was reserved for those who lost family members to the disease. While nothing can ever replace the love and affection of a relative, many families maintain life insurance to ease the financial burden that often accompanies the death of a family member.   Our client was part of one such family, and filed a claim for life insurance benefits following the death of his wife, who had contracted COVID for a second time. Unfortunately, the damage to her lungs was too severe and she succum ..read more

No matter how proactive you might be, facing a massive insurance company on your own is a daunting task, often leading to unfair outcomes. Our recent client, an insurance agent who, thankfully, purchased a long-term care policy when she was young and healthy, learned this when her benefits were abruptly discontinued. This is where Donahue & Horrow LLP stepped into the picture with an arsenal of expertise and dedication to fight for a resolution that allowed this client to focus on her health and wellbeing with a proper award from the insurance company. Our client was compelled to rely on h ..read more