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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...

This month’s Friday Five covers cases relating to interpretation of ambiguous policy terms, evaluation of claimant’s expert witness, inclusion of law firms as appropriate parties from whom plan administrators may seek equitable relief, transfer of cases from the claimant’s choice of venue, and...

This month’s Friday Five addresses cases considering: (1) whether monetary relief in the amount of lost benefits is an available remedy for breach of fiduciary duty; (2) the validity of an ex-spouse’s beneficiary designation that contradicts a subsequent divorce decree; (3) if waiver of a pre...

See Eidelman on Page 11

This month’s Friday Five covers cases relating to interpretation of regulatory deadlines, the enforceability of discretionary clauses, circuit courts going both ways on appeals from summary judgment rulings in favor of plans, and a benefits award for a former professional football player where the...

Joseph Holmes represents employers in employment litigation, including cases related to harassment, discrimination, retaliation, breach of contract and fraud. His litigation experience ranges from preparing briefs and motions and arguing and defending discovery motions, to participating in oral...

Bill Nussbaum handles complex litigation for colleges, universities and other institutions of learning that are facing sensitive disputes around issues such as racial and gender discrimination and employee misconduct. His skill at managing legal teams to present difficult cases comes from more than...

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...

Henry Platt brings more than three decades of experience to his work representing management nationwide in labor and employment disputes in industries ranging from government contracting to retail sales and higher education. Henry is a skilled trial lawyer who litigates jury and non-jury cases...

Anna María Tejada defends management in labor and employment litigation nationwide and provides counseling and workplace training on related matters affecting their operations. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience, Anna María advises companies, public entities, and nonprofits, on the...

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...

Ira Shepard has practiced labor and employment law, representing management, on a nationwide basis for more than 50 years. He has worked as a counselor, negotiator and litigator in a broad range of industries and now focuses on working with clients in the higher education and advertising industries...

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...

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...