White v. Cigna Group Insurance Co.

The Fifth Circuit reversed the district court's judgment in favor of LINA, the insurer and plan administrator of a life insurance policy. Plaintiff, the beneficiary of the policy, was denied benefits because LINA determined that the insured's death was caused in part by intoxication or drug abuse. The court took into account LINA's conflict of interest, its procedural unreasonableness, its denial of a full and fair review, and the counter-balanced nature of the evidence, and held that LINA abused its discretion in denying benefits. The court remanded with instructions to enter judgment for plaintiff and for any further proceedings. View "White v. Cigna Group Insurance Co." on Justia Law