An employee of the Houston Chronicle is suing the newspaper’s parent company over the unlawful termination of her disability and health insurance benefits.

Debra Swanson obtained coverage under a long-term disability benefits policy while working for the Hearst Corporation. Swanson received benefits under the policy beginning in January 2002, but on April 4, 2003, Hartford Life Insurance Co. notified her that benefits would terminate because she was cleared to return to work on a full time basis.

Swanson submitted a letter to the insurance company reading “Please accept this letter as notice of Debra Swanson’s intention to appeal your decision terminating her benefits under the above referenced policy. Once we have had adequate time to review and supplement the record, we will notify you in writing to proceed with Debra Swanson’s administrative appeal under the terms of the Plan.”

Hartford did not consider this to be an appeal and closed Swanson’s file. Swanson and Hearst Corp. are now involved in a court battle as she fights for her long-term disability benefits.

If you or someone you love has been denied benefits they deserve, contact the Indiana Long Term Disability Lawyers of Charles D. Hankey Law Office by calling 800-520-3633.