A litigation associate at Cooley LLP, Rebecca Tarneja, has recently come to a settlement outcome in her lawsuit against Unum Life Insurance Co. America. She claimed that the insurance company unjustly denied her application for disability benefits following a traumatic bicycle accident that left her with a significant brain injury. During the court proceedings, the lawsuit aged to eight months.
The key accusation was that Unum incorrectly established that her cognitive defects and related symptoms did not significantly impede her capacity to perform her professional duties. As a result, the lawsuit alleged that she was unjustifiably denied the disability benefits she was entitled to.
Following an extensive legal dispute, both parties reported the settlement to the US District Court for the Northern District of California through a notice they filed on a Thursday. However, it was made clear that the terms of the settlement are to remain undisclosed, as both sides’ attorneys confirmed.
Despite the confidentiality, it’s crucial to mention that Tarneja is currently capable of returning to work, albeit on a part-time basis. This detail, revealed by the litigator herself, sheds light on her recovery progress since the unfortunate May 2021 accident.
As such, this lawsuit represents not only a personal triumph for Tarneja but also sets a precedent for similar cases where insurance companies might deny rightful disability claims.
Find more about this story at Bloomberg Law.