Our disability insurance lawyers discuss a federal appellate court decision involving a long-term disability claim against Unum. The claimant, a personal injury trial attorney, had received disability benefits for 18 years due to severe depression that prevented him from performing the highly stressful duties of litigation. After many years of paying benefits, the insurer reviewed updated medical records, concluded that the attorney had improved, and terminated his benefits. The insurer even attempted to recover the benefits it had paid over the previous 18 years, claiming he had misrepresented his ability to work.
Although a lower federal court initially sided with the insurance company, the claimant appealed to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The appellate court overturned the lower court’s decision, ruling that the insurer could not simply rely on signs of improvement outside the work environment to conclude that the claimant could return to his profession. The court emphasized that the attorney’s depression was closely linked to the extreme stress of litigation, and returning him to that environment would likely trigger a relapse and make him disabled again.
The attorneys discussing the case highlight its importance for disability claimants. The decision reinforces that improvement in everyday life does not necessarily mean someone can safely return to a demanding job, particularly when the work itself contributed to the condition. Because the ruling comes from a federal appellate court, it carries significant legal weight and may influence similar disability cases in the future, offering stronger support for claimants facing benefit terminations after long periods of receiving disability payments.