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ERISA, Life, Health & Disability

There are many nuances to ERISA laws and regulations, and life, health and disability employee benefits. Lane Powell has you covered. Whether you need to develop an ERISA plan, amend an existing one, or if you face litigation involving plan terms, decisions or benefits, our breadth of experience, collaborative approach and extensive resources enables us to do so consistently, efficiently and effectively.  

Our team of attorneys is at the forefront of ERISA law developments, including a Best Lawyers designated “ERISA Litigation Lawyer of the Year” in 2012, 2015, 2017,  2018 and 2020. Since 2013, the U.S. News – Best Lawyers® annual “Best Law Firms” survey has ranked us for our national level practice in ERISA litigation and employee benefits law. We keep clients updated with our Life, Health, Disability and ERISA law blog:  BOOM: The ERISA blog.

We know that life, health and disability insurers face challenging and complex issues. Lane Powell has more than 40 years of related experience teaming with large and small companies with plan development, administration and litigation. We represent the insurance industry and self-funded plans and work with plans, insurers, employers, fiduciaries and third-party administrators, underwriters, claims personnel, insurance agents and contract drafters. This experience, developing the plan, and years of experience litigating these issues provides us a unique understanding of our clients’ legal challenges and a strong working knowledge of their respective businesses.

Our ERISA, Life, Health & Disability Team provides the outstanding resources expected of a large law firm, with the individualized service of a smaller local or regional firm.

We know you want cost-effective solutions to complex cases. We proactively approach cases for early resolution through early case assessments and risk analysis. We have broad and diverse experience representing clients in all phases of litigation. When early resolution is not possible, our extensive experience enables us to efficiently handle your case in litigation.

  • Breach of fiduciary duty
  • First-party bad faith claims
  • Agent misconduct and compensation disputes
  • Trademark infringement
  • 419 welfare benefit plans
  • 412i defined benefit plans
  • Employment issues
  • All facets of claims under ERISA
  • ERISA penalty claims under 29 U.S.C. § 1132(c)(1)
  • Stranger-owned/investor-owned life insurance (STOLI/IOLI)
  • Stop loss
  • Health provider pricing

We have defended cases involving wrongful termination of disability benefits, wrongful denial of accidental death and dismemberment benefits, claims for denial of severance and pension benefits, fraud and life insurance rescission and claims issues, wrongful discharge under ERISA, eligibility for ERISA medical benefits and medical provider insurance fraud. We also advise ERISA fiduciary matters and assist clients to address preemption, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and misrepresentation, reporting and disclosure, and potential financial exposure issues.  

  • Boom: The ERISA Law Blog
  • Awards_Best Law Firms 2023

Contacts

  • D. Michael Reilly
    D.206.223.7051
    reillym@lanepowell.com
  • Stephania Camp Denton
    D.206.223.7016
    dentons@lanepowell.com

Related Practices & Industries

  • Class Actions
  • Insurance
  • Labor, Employment & Benefits
  • Litigation

boomerisablog.com

Get to Know Us

Experience

  • Carr v. United Healthcare Services Inc.
    Case No. 2:15-cv-01105U.S. District Court, Western District of WashingtonSeattle, Washington
    Defended United HealthCare Services, Inc. (UHC) in a large complex class action lawsuit concerning all of UHC’s self-funded plans nationwide and claims related to the Federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.
  • Abou-Zaki (Armani) v. Aetna Life Insurance Company et al.
    Case No. 2:2012-cv-01688U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
    Obtained a complete defense verdict for Aetna Life Insurance Company, following a bench trial, in the case of a plaintiff who sought long-term disability benefits under ERISA.
  • Cronick v. Custom Disability Solutions et al.
    Case No. 3:13-cv-00161U.S. District Court, District of Alaska
    Represented Custom Disability Solutions against an ERISA claim seeking long-term disability benefits.
  • Nielsen v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, et al
    Case No. 2:13cv1717U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
    Defended Unum Group against claims that its administration of Catholic Health Initiatives’s employee benefit plan was actually a “church plan” and not governed by ERISA.
  • Bryant v. Policy for Basic Life
    U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
    Summary dismissal of all ERISA disability claims, applying de novo review.
  • Stamp v. Fortis Financial Group
    Case No. WL 35616048
    Summary dismissal of ERISA benefit claim.
  • Teplick v. Boeing Employee Welfare Benefit Plan
    U.S. District Court, District of Oregon
    Summary dismissal of all ERISA disability claims, applying de novo review.
  • Grossnickle v. Stryker
    Trial team in consolidated pain pump cases, including cross-claim by surgeon. 

Our Insights

  • November 3, 2022News
    US News – Best Lawyers® Ranks Lane Powell Among Nation’s Top Law Firms for 2023
    Awards & Honors
  • October 6 - December 8, 2021Event / CLE
    'Best Practices for Best Employers™' Webinar Series
    Lane Powell | Virtual
  • December 1, 2021Event / CLE
    COVID-19 and Employee Benefits Plans: Making Sense of the New Legislation and Guidance
    Lane Powell 'Best Practices For Best Employers™' Webinar Series | Virtual
  • November 17, 2021Event / CLE
    New Strategies for Managing Remote Workers During the Pandemic Era (Part Two)
    Lane Powell 'Best Practices For Best Employers™' Webinar Series | Virtual
  • August 19, 2021News
    The Best Lawyers in America© 2022 Recognizes 90 Lane Powell Attorneys
    Awards & Honors
  • November 5, 2020News
    US News – Best Lawyers® Ranks Lane Powell Among Nation’s Top Law Firms for 2021
    Awards & Honors
  • August 15, 2019News
    The Best Lawyers in America© 2020 Recognizes 63 Lane Powell Attorneys
    Awards & Honors
  • July 29, 2019News
    Cushing Joins the Labor, Employment & Benefits Team
    Firm Announcement
  • June 4, 2019News
    Lane Powell Announces New Leaders, Reinforcing Focus on Innovation & Talent
    Firm Announcement
  • May 1, 2019Event / CLE
    36th Annual ‘Best Practices for Best Employers™’ Labor & Employment Seminar
    Lane Powell Seminar | Portland, Oregon
  • November 1, 2018News
    US News – Best Lawyers® Ranks Lane Powell Among Nation’s Top Law Firms for 2019
    Awards & Honors
  • June 21, 2018News
    M. Reilly Named Among ‘Top 100 Most Powerful Employment Attorneys in the Nation’
    Awards & Honors
  • November 1, 2017News
    U.S. News and Best Lawyers Ranks Lane Powell Among the Nation’s Top Law Firms for 2018
    Awards & Honors
  • August 15, 2017News
    Fifty-nine Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers® in America 2018
    Awards & Honors
  • July 26, 2017News
    M. Reilly Only One in Puget Sound Named Among ‘Top 100 Most Powerful Employment Attorneys in the Nation’
    Awards & Honors
  • May 23, 2017Event / CLE
    The Requirements of Participation — What You Need to Know Now
    Washington Health Care Association | Tacoma, Washington
  • March 6, 2017News
    Denton Admitted to the U.S. Supreme Court
    Awards & Honors
  • August 17, 2016News
    Fifty-one Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017
    Awards & Honors
  • May 17, 2016Event / CLE
    Resident Sexuality and Consent in Long Term Care; Modern Technology in Long Term Care: Uses and Regulatory Implications
    Washington Health Care Association | Spokane, Washington
  • April 17, 2016Event / CLE
    Long Term Care: The Mystery of Repayment
    Health Care Compliance Association | Las Vegas, Nevada
  • November 4, 2015News
    Duffy Reappointed as Chair of the American Health Care Association Legal Committee
    Awards & Honors
  • September 17, 2015Event / CLE
    The Interactive Process and the Interplay of the ADA, FMLA and Worker’s Compensation
    Equal Employment Opportunity Commission | Bellevue, Washington
  • September 15, 2015Event / CLE
    Marijuana Legalization and Long Term Care in Oregon: Policies and Procedures for Resident Rights and Resident Safety
    Oregon Health Care Association | Portland, Oregon
  • August 24, 2015News
    Jamieson Interviewed by Alaska Public Radio Network Regarding Anti-Medicaid Lawsuit
    In the News
  • August 17, 2015News
    Forty-eight Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America® 2016
    Awards & Honors
  • July 16, 2015Publication
    Proceed With Caution: Does HIPAA Apply to Your Business?
    Oregon Business
  • April 1, 2015Event / CLE
    Accommodating Psychiatric Disabilities in the Workplace
    Alaska Bar Association | Anchorage, Alaska
  • December 4, 2014Event / CLE
    How AHCA’s Legal Committee Serves State Affiliates
    American Health Care Association | Dallas, Texas
  • November 21, 2014Event / CLE
    Advanced Psychiatric Disabilities and Leave Issues: Accommodations Beyond Leave
    Washington State Bar Association | Seattle
  • November 4, 2014News
    U.S. News and Best Lawyers Ranks Lane Powell Among the Nation’s Top Law Firms
  • August 18, 2014News
    Fifty-One Lane Powell Attorneys Named in The Best Lawyers in America® 2015
    Awards & Honors
  • July 9, 2014News
    Fifteen Lane Powell Attorneys Named ‘Oregon Super Lawyers’ and Five Named as ‘Oregon Rising Stars’
    Awards & Honors
  • July 20, 2010News
    58 Lane Powell Attorneys Listed as Top Lawyers in Seattle Metropolitan Magazine
    Awards & Honors

Before proceeding, please note:  If you are not a current client of Lane Powell PC, please do not include any information in this email that you or someone else considers to be confidential or secret in nature.  Prior to the establishment of a lawyer-client relationship, unsolicited emails from non-clients containing confidential or secret information cannot be protected from disclosure.

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