Unum, the largest disability income insurance carrier in the U.S., has a well-deserved reputation for stonewalling disability claims to the bitter end. Sometimes the disability income claim denial tactics used by the Unum insurance company and its affiliated companies are highly questionable.  Yet, the refusal to pay disability income claims are most devastating to the insured who in addition to being sick or injured, is earning no monies with which to support himself and his family.

     This type of conduct by Unum is illustrated by a recent opinion of a Nevada Federal District Court judge who unleashed his full fury onto Unum and Paul Revere Life Insurance Company in a disability income insurance case in which he awarded a plaintiff more than $26 million in punitive damages against Unum while permitting another $36 million in punitives, found by a jury, to stand against Paul Revere.

     After what the Nevada Court said was a thorough review of the evidence in the case, Merrick v. Paul Revere Life Insurance Company, et als., No. CV-S-00-0731-JCM-RJJ (U.S.D.C., Nev., Nov. 2008), it found that Unum had engaged in highly reprehensible conduct to augment profits, had targeted the financially vulnerable thereby risking the health and safety of the policyholder and had repeatedly engaged in such conduct as to the insured and many others.

      In a 39-page blow-by-blow discussion of the tactics used by Unum in an effort to duck payments under its disability policy, the Court outlines a corporate scheme to boost profits at the expense of claimants.  To see the full opinion, click here.

     The best protection against such claim denial tactics in a Unum lawsuit is to retain a veteran Unum income insurance claim denial attorney, some one with experience, having gone to the mat with Unum insurance before.  There is no substitute for having "been there", "done that" with an insurance company well  versed in saying "no" to disability income insurance claims.  Our Mike Quiat is just such a lawyer.

      We do not stand alone in making these remarks about Unum tactics. Unum's claims history brought down the wrath of 49 States in 2004. The States participated in a coordinated investigation resulting in a settlement in which Unum paid a $15 million fine and agreed to reconsider 215,000 denied disability claims.

      Among the questionable practices cited by the investigating States were lowballing offers to Unum claimants; claiming the disabling condition was a preexisting condition (see note at bottom of page); claiming to have lost papers and reports submitted by claimants; and requiring claimants to be examined by less than impartial Unum-hired physicians.

     Mike Quiat is that attorney. He has had dozens of cases with Unum companies. He has successfully fought cases involving physical injuries, illnesses, depression and other psychiatric disabilities, fibromyalgia and a host of maladies which were disabling because of the nature of the claimant’s occupation.

     Why not give Mike a call. If he’s in, talk to him right now to see if he can help you with your Unum lawsuit problem?

800-797-5575

     Unum, formerly known as UnumProvident Insurance, has several affiliated companies which also sell disability income polices. Among them are:

* Unum Life Insurance Company of America
* Paul Revere Life Insurance Company
* First Unum Life Insurance Company
* Provident Life and Accident Insurance e Company
* Provident Life and Casualty Insurance Company
* Colonial Companies

New York State Unum policyholders denied for a pre-existing condition
click here for a very important update!