David Rinehart is suing Aetna Life Insurance Co. for breach of contract. Rinehart filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida against Aetna on October 17th. In the complaint, he alleges that Aetna violated ERISA by not paying his long-term disability benefits. Furthermore, the plaintiff states he is entitled to benefits because he meets the applicable definition of total disability under ERISA. Aetna, however, is upholding its decision to not pay Rinehart any benefits.
In addition to seeking payments for disability benefits, Rinehart is also seeking payments for legal fees. According to Rinehart, Aetna failed to uphold its financial obligation by refusing to pay his disability benefits. As a result, he was forced to pay for legal counsel to file the suit against the insurance provider. Rinehart requested a trial by jury for relief in all legal financial obligations and lost benefits. In addition, he is seeking further relief the court may deem justified in his case. Marcus A. Castillo of Haas & Castillo in Clearwater is representing Rinehart in court.