PITTSBURGH — A man is suing General Electric Company, GE Transportation, GE Disability Benefits Center and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, citing alleged violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.
Bruce Tate of Erie County filed a complaint on May 11 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania against the defendants, alleging that his long-term disability benefits were improperly cut off.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that, from May 30, 2013 through the present date, he has not received benefits under a long-term disability plan, claiming that his benefits were incorrectly terminated on the basis of a determination that he was able to perform his primary occupation. He filed administrative appeals on June 24, 2013, March 26, 2014, and Oct. 15, 2014, but received a final determination of denial on Jan. 22, 2015, he claims. The plaintiff holds the defendants responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to consider the medical evidence and records of his treating physicians and relied only on an independent medical review.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment against the defendants for all benefits he is entitled to under the plan, retroactive to May 30, 2013, plus interest, costs and attorney’s fees and other relief as the court may deem appropriate. He is represented by Stacey K. Baltz of Elderkin Law Firm in Erie.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania Case number 1:05-mc-02025