Reliance Standard Insurance Company Denials Attorney
When Reliance Standard Gets It Wrong, We Tell Your Story Loud And Clear
If your long term disability benefits were denied, reduced, or terminated by Reliance Standard, you are not alone.
Reliance Standard issues and administers group disability insurance policies nationwide. Many of these policies are governed by the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act, known as ERISA. ERISA significantly limits a claimant’s rights and often gives insurers procedural advantages that do not exist in traditional insurance disputes.
When Reliance Standard denies a claim, the process that follows is technical, deadline driven, and unforgiving. Mistakes made during the internal appeal can permanently damage your case. Eric Buchanan & Associates represents individuals across the country in long term disability and ERISA benefit disputes. We focus our practice on disability insurance litigation and prepare every case with federal court review in mind.
Documented History Of Reliance Standard Claim Practices
Reliance Standard evaluates and pays disability claims under employer sponsored plans. When the same company determines eligibility and pays benefits, a structural conflict of interest may exist.
We frequently see denials based on selective review of medical records, reliance on non examining consulting physicians, discounting subjective symptoms such as pain and fatigue, and concluding a claimant can perform sedentary work without meaningful vocational analysis.
These practices can shift the focus away from the full medical record and place the burden on the claimant to overcome the insurer’s interpretation of the evidence.
Our Successful Cases Against Reliance Standard Insurance Company
Williams v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company
In this ERISA long-term disability case, the court ruled that Reliance Standard Life Insurance acted arbitrarily and capriciously when it terminated the benefits of a former Old Dominion dock supervisor after concluding he could perform full-time sedentary work. The plaintiff successfully argued that Reliance’s denial was unjustified because the insurer operated under a structural conflict of interest as both the administrator and payor of the policy, and it failed to provide a reasoned explanation for adopting the conclusory, one-sentence opinion of its file-reviewing physician over the conflicting, independent examination of the plaintiff’s orthopedic surgeon, who deemed him capable of only part-time sedentary work. Furthermore, the court weighed the insurer’s actions against it because Reliance financially benefited from encouraging the client to secure Social Security disability benefits, yet failed to review the Social Security Administration’s records or explain its differing position before terminating his claim. Consequently, the court remanded the matter to Reliance for a full and fair review.
Experience With ERISA And Long Term Disability Claims
Most Reliance Standard group disability policies are governed by ERISA, a federal law that significantly limits a claimant’s rights compared to traditional insurance litigation.
ERISA cases are typically decided by a judge, not a jury. Discovery is limited. Courts generally review only the evidence that was submitted during the insurer’s internal process. New evidence usually cannot be added after the appeal.
Because of these restrictions, the administrative appeal must be handled strategically from the beginning. Eric Buchanan & Associates focuses exclusively on disability and insurance benefit litigation. We prepare every ERISA claim as if it will be reviewed in federal court.
Reliance Standard’s Claim Practices and Legal History
Federal courts reviewing Reliance Standard disability benefit decisions examine whether the company gave the claimant a full and fair review and whether its denial was supported by a reasoned explanation. In Williams v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co., Eric Buchanan & Associates represented a claimant whose long term disability benefits were terminated after Reliance Standard decided he could perform full time sedentary work. The claimant had been approved for Social Security disability benefits, and Reliance Standard financially benefited from that award because it reduced the amount owed under the long term disability policy.
The court found that Reliance Standard failed to meaningfully address the Social Security disability determination after encouraging the claimant to apply for those benefits and financially benefiting from the award. The court also found that Reliance Standard’s denial was arbitrary and capricious and remanded the claim for a full and fair review.
This case shows why it can be important to appeal a Reliance Standard denial when the company discounts a Social Security disability award, relies on a file review, or fails to explain why it rejected evidence supporting disability.
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Financial Pressure on Claim Decision Makers
In many employer sponsored disability plans, the insurance company both evaluates claims and pays benefits. Courts recognize that this structure creates a conflict of interest.
When reviewing ERISA disability cases, judges consider whether that financial conflict may have influenced the decision, particularly where the record reflects selective review of medical evidence or unsupported conclusions.
Courts give greater weight to this conflict where the record reflects selective review, inconsistent reasoning, or procedural irregularities.
How We Approach Reliance Standard Disability Claims
When handling claims involving Reliance Standard, we begin by identifying the specific reasons given for the denial and analyzing whether those conclusions are supported by the medical and vocational evidence.
We work closely with treating physicians to clarify functional limitations in terms that directly address policy definitions. Where necessary, we obtain supplemental medical opinions, functional capacity evaluations, or vocational assessments to respond to the insurer’s stated rationale.
We also evaluate whether surveillance, file reviews, or vocational reports relied upon by the insurer accurately reflect the claimant’s condition and occupational duties.
Our focus is not simply submitting additional records, but building a clear, organized, and legally supported administrative record that anticipates how a federal court will later review the case.
Our goal is to present a record that clearly addresses the policy’s definition of disability and directly responds to the reasons given for the denial.
Our Role As Advocates
Disability insurance claims can feel overwhelming, especially after a denial. Policy language is technical, deadlines are strict, and the appeal process can determine whether benefits are ever restored.
Our role is to guide clients through that process with clarity and focus. We evaluate the denial letter, identify gaps in the record, and develop a strategy tailored to the specific policy and medical evidence involved.
We communicate directly with physicians, gather targeted documentation, and ensure that functional limitations are clearly defined in a way that aligns with the policy’s requirements. If litigation becomes necessary, we are prepared to present the case in federal court based on a thoroughly developed administrative record.
Throughout the process, our goal is simple: to protect our client’s right to the benefits they have earned under the terms of their policy.
Contact Us Today!
You don’t have to deal with the insurance company alone. If your claim was denied, delayed, or handled unfairly, our team is ready to review your case and help you understand your next steps. Call: (877) 634-2506