Alicia Perez v. Lincoln National Life Insurance Company

I. INTRODUCTION

This case concerns the termination of plaintiff Alicia Perez’s benefits under the long term disability (“LTD”) and waiver without premium insurance (“WOP”) plans (collectively “Plans”) that defendant Lincoln National Life Insurance Company (“LNL”) administers pursuant to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). Perez applied for LTD benefits on October 2, 2015. See Administrative Record (“AR”) 1633-34. LNL tentatively approved Perez’s claim on March 11, 2016, pending review of Perez’s medical records. AR1360. After that review, LNL denied Perez’s claims by letters dated November 25, 2016 (LTD plan) and November 28, 2016 (WOP plan). AR0978, AR2459. Perez appealed the withdrawal of benefits on May 1, 2017. AR0845. LNL denied Perez’s first appeal on August 27, 2017. AR0681. Perez filed a second appeal on February 19, 2018, AR0404, which LNL again denied on July 17, 2018, AR02102. Perez filed this action pursuant to ERISA, 29 U.S.C. § 1132(e)(2), on August 23, 2018. Complaint, ECF No. 1 (“Compl.”). The parties filed opening trial briefs on July 12, 2019. See Perez’s Opening Trial Br., ECF No. 18 (“Perez Tr. Br.”); LNL’s…