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Insurance & ERISA Litigation Blog
California Court of Appeal Upholds Insurance Coverage for Health Net Finding The “Dishonest Acts” Exclusion Did Not Preclude Coverage
In Health Net, Inc. v. RLI Insurance Company, et al., the California Court of Appeal, Second District, reversed a trial court’s entry of judgment on a Motion for Summary Judgment…
MetLife Pays $40 Million To Settle Allegations That It Failed To Properly Identify And Pay Life Insurance Beneficiaries
The California Department of Insurance, along with five other state insurance departments, reached a settlement with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Inc. (“MetLife”) over allegations that the company failed to properly…
Ninth Circuit Confirms That Plan Language Controls In The Absence of Detrimental Reliance on SPD Language
In Skinner v. Northrop Grumman Retirement Plan B, 673 F.3d 1162 (9th Cir. 2012), the Ninth Circuit applied the Supreme Court’s ruling in CIGNA Corp. v. Amara, 131 S. Ct. 1866…
Court Refuses to Enforce Health Net Arbitration Provision Because It Was Insufficiently Prominent
In the unpublished case of Probst v. Superior Court (Health Net of California, Inc., et al), No. A133742 (March 6, 2012), Division Five of the First Appellate District refused to…
MetLife Cannot Require an IME After Failing to Comply with ERISA Deadlines Following a Remand of Disability Claim
In Kroll v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan Long Term Disability Plan, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 25063 (N.D. Cal. February 10, 2012), the Court refused to require that the plaintiff appear…
Court Approval is Not Needed to Assert a Punitive Damages Claim Against a Health Care Service Plan
In a victory for health insurance policy holders over health insurers/health care service plans, in Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc, v. Superior Court (Rahm, et al, Real Parties), 2012 Cal….
McKennon Law Group Founding Partner Robert McKennon Featured in January 2012 Issue of Forbes Magazine
Los Angeles – Noted Southern California insurance and business litigator Robert J. McKennon was featured in the “Southern California Legal Profiles” section of the January 2012 issue of Forbes Magazine…
In an ERISA Case, What Actions Will Reduce the Level of Discretion Afforded the Claims Administrator/Insurer?
This article continues our series of articles answering basic questions about insurance law and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (commonly referred to as “ERISA”). This one addresses:…
Cause of Action Asserted Against Blue Cross for Violation of Montana’s Unfair Trade Practices Act is Not Preempted by ERISA
In a recent decision, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that ERISA does not preempt causes of action based on unfair insurance practice claims brought under Montana’s Unfair Trade…
California Bans the Inclusion of Policy Provisions Giving Insurance Companies Discretionary Authority to Decide Claims
In a major victory for consumers, Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill that makes discretionary clauses – typically contained in ERISA-governed life, health and disability insurance policies/ERISA plans void and…
