The Fourth Circuit has ruled in favor of Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. (MetLife) in a case involving the termination of disability benefits to a former Continental Automotive Inc. employee, Tracy Penland. Penland stopped working for the auto parts supplier in August 2015 due to complications from colon surgery and other health issues he developed after a business trip to Mexico.
MetLife initially approved Penland’s disability benefits but later terminated them in January 2021. This decision was based on the assessments of three external medical consultants: Dr. Joshua Lewis, an internist; Dr. Naveed Natanzi, a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist; and Dr. Marvin Pietruszka, a physician. These experts concluded that Penland had received maximum benefits from his treatment.
The court’s ruling affirmed that MetLife adhered to the terms of its plan when it discontinued Penland’s benefits. This decision underscores the importance of plan administrators following established protocols and consulting relevant medical expertise when making determinations about benefit eligibility.
