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This month’s Friday Five explores two recent decisions that discuss limitations on benefits when both physical disability and disability arising from mental illness are alleged, whether remand of a claim by the court constitutes a new appeal or a continuation of the previous appeal, whether an order...

In It for the Long Haul: Covid, Long Covid, and Covid-Adjacent Claims Issues Caitlin Strauss will be speaking on a panel during the 2023 DRI Life, Health, Disability, and ERISA Seminar in New Orleans, Louisiana. Joining Caitlin on the panel is Lisa E. Montelongo-Connor, Unum and Joni Sobocinski, New...

This month’s Friday Five explores recent decisions that reflect the precise nature of rules and definitions in the context of ERISA claims. For example, effective dates of CFR code provisions and contractually defined limitation periods can draw specific points on the timeline of a case. Similarly...

This month's Friday Five covers cases relating to issue preclusion, coverage where the policy terms are inconsistent with the parties’ behavior, application of the abuse of discretion standard of review, applicability of a waiver of premium provision and compliance with a mandatory appeals process...

This month’s Friday Five covers cases relating to potential impacts of COVID-19, full and fair review of the claim file, an attempt to use an insurer’s internal policy against itself, and a “second bite at the apple” by amending a complaint for denial of benefits to include a claim for breach of...

This month’s Friday Five covers cases relating to discovery in ERISA benefits cases, an appellate court strictly interpreting ERISA regulatory deadlines, a district court authorizing an ERISA breach of fiduciary duty claim based on alleged misrepresentations from an employer, another district court...

This month’s Friday Five explores recent decisions that illustrate the importance of the administrative record built by a claims administrator, and the impact that the depth and thoroughness of the record will have on litigation over claims decisions. Whether reviewing claims under the de novo...

This month’s Friday Five covers cases relating to augmentation of the administrative record following new rationales, attempted alternative ERISA causes of action, untimely ERISA claims, plans governed by ERISA even in the absence of a written plan document, and the limited weight given to residual...

This month’s Friday Five covers cases relating to the interpretation of time periods for claims under life insurance and disability plans, a situation where three separate administrators handled a disability benefits claim (but came to different decisions), the Eleventh Circuit’s parsing of...

John P. Englert has almost 40 years of diverse environmental experience. Since 1994 John has practiced environmental law and before that he was an environmental consultant. In both capacities, he has served national and international companies in the energy, environmental and manufacturing sectors...

Greg Rapisarda is a passionate and prudent advocate who helps clients with legal advice on business and real estate development goals. Clients rely on Greg for day-to-day general counsel, specific advice on real estate development and land use legal matters, and problem solving to resolve disputes...

Michael Joyce assists clients with litigation, including a wide variety of commercial disputes and insurance matters. His commercial litigation experience includes high-stakes contractual disputes, intellectual property and software cases, trade secret misappropriation and other injunction matters...

Government is growing every day. Regardless of which political party is in power, the scope of government regulation at the state, county and local levels, and the impact of government on all types of business has regularly increased. Regardless of your type of business – manufacturing or finance...

Franklin Zemel focuses on cybersecurity and privacy law, First Amendment and civil rights litigation, complex business litigation, and appellate law. Franklin represents large and small businesses, manufacturers, and religious entities in South Florida and has several significant reported cases.

Counsel on Claims, Litigation, Transactions, Opinions and Compliance The legal landscape affecting the insurance industry is constantly changing. Whether the result of technological advances and corresponding risk exposures, ever-evolving case law affecting coverage and bad faith standards, or...

Zachary Berk focuses his practice on complex civil litigation matters, with concentrations in business and real estate litigation. His experience also includes representing clients in consumer financial services, intellectual property, employment and trade secret related matters. Zach regularly...

Amy Kline is a commercial litigator whose practice is focused on the representation of insurers and reinsurers in complex civil litigation. She is co-chair of the firm's Insurance Group and a member of the Executive Committee. Amy has extensive trial and appellate experience in federal and state...

Caitlin Piccarello Strauss is a commercial litigator who represents companies in disputes involving insurance, employee benefits and ERISA, real estate, and restrictive covenants. As a leader of the Firm's Employee Benefits and ERISA Litigation team, she regularly defends insurers in life, health...