Connor, M.D. v. UNUM Life Insurance Company of America
Opinion
Trial Court Opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 5 CAROLINE L. CONNOR, M.D., Case No. 4:19-cv-06552-YGR
Plaintiff, ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR JUDGMENT v.
UNUM LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF Re: Dkt. Nos. 44,
AMERICA,
10 Defendant.
11 Plaintiff Caroline L. Connor, M.D., brings this action against defendant Unum Life Insurance Company of America (“Unum”) under the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, 29 U.S.C. §1001, et seq. (“ERISA”), challenging the denial of benefits under a long- term disability (“LTD”) plan. In short, this matter turns on two issues. First, the interpretation of on one sentence in the underlying LTD plan regarding eligibility; and second, whether Dr. Connor worked at least 30 hours a week to qualify for benefits under the LTD plan. For the reasons set forth more fully below, the Court finds that Dr. Connor qualifies an eligible employee for disability benefits. Accordingly, Dr. Conner’s motion for judgment is GRANTED. I. RELEVANT BACKGROUND1 Dr. Connor was formerly a…