Abou-Zaki (Armani) v. Aetna Life Insurance Company et al.Case No. 2:2012-cv-01688U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington We 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 the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Under the de novo standard of review, the district court found that the plaintiff failed to meet her burden of demonstrating that she was totally disabled under the terms of the ERISA Plan at issue. The key evidence highlighted by the defense team at trial included multiple independent medical exams failing to confirm the plaintiff’s alleged disability, as well as several days of surveillance video contradicting the plaintiff’s alleged restrictions and limitations. |