Disability Insurance Law Group Highlights Recent ERISA Court Rulings
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - September 22, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE - This report, distributed by Disability Insurance Law Group,
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FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – September 22, 2026 – PRESSADVANTAGE –
This report, distributed by Disability Insurance Law Group, examines recent federal court decisions affecting how ERISA-governed disability insurance claims are litigated nationwide.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2024 decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo eliminated so-called Chevron deference, the longstanding practice of courts giving substantial weight to a federal agency’s interpretation of ambiguous statutory language. Because the U.S. Department of Labor is the agency responsible for writing the claims-handling regulations that apply to ERISA-governed disability and life insurance plans, the ruling opened the door to new legal challenges questioning whether those regulations remain valid without the deference courts previously extended to them.
Several federal courts have since ruled on such challenges. A federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia rejected a Loper Bright-based challenge to the Department of Labor’s ERISA claim regulations in September 2025, in a case known as Cogdell v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co. A subsequent ruling reached the same conclusion, with courts noting that ERISA itself does not specify a judicial standard of review for benefit claim disputes, leaving the Department of Labor with broad authority under ERISA Section 503 to define what qualifies as the “full and fair review” the statute requires.
Separately, a federal court in the Central District of California issued a ruling in December 2025 addressing when a disability policy is governed by ERISA at all. In Koo v. Unum Group, the court held that a disability policy issued to an executive through an employer-sponsored arrangement was not part of an ERISA-governed benefit plan, because the employer’s role was limited to administrative tasks such as permitting marketing and payroll deductions, without making eligibility determinations or administering claims. The policy instead remained governed by California state insurance law.
The distinction between ERISA-governed and privately governed disability policies can significantly affect how a claim is litigated. ERISA claims are generally limited to the administrative record compiled during the claims process, are typically decided by a judge rather than a jury, and do not allow for the extra-contractual or punitive damages that may be available under certain state law claims.
Group disability benefit plans offered through an employer are typically governed by ERISA, while individual disability insurance policies purchased directly by a policyholder are generally governed by state law instead. Determining which framework applies to a specific policy can require a detailed review of how the policy was marketed, sold, and administered.
The Supreme Court has separately continued to address other ERISA-related disputes in its current term. The Court agreed to consider two ERISA cases during its January 2026 conference concerning the pleading standard required to bring a claim alleging an imprudent investment decision by a plan fiduciary, reflecting the Court’s continued attention to ERISA litigation more broadly.
Claimants whose long-term disability benefits are terminated after an initial period of approval often face a heightened level of scrutiny during periodic claim reviews, since insurers may request updated medical records or require the claimant to attend an independent medical examination performed by a physician selected by the insurer. Understanding whether a policy is governed by ERISA or by state law can affect what evidence a claimant is able to introduce if a claim denial is later challenged in court.
The court rulings referenced in this release are matters of public record. The information is presented for general public awareness and is not a substitute for individualized legal advice regarding a specific claim or policy.
Disability Insurance Law Group represents policyholders nationwide in disability insurance claims, including both ERISA-governed and privately held policies.
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For more information about Disability Insurance Law Group, contact the company here:
Disability Insurance Law Group
Disability Insurance Law Group Team
+1 954-989-9000
mindy@dilawgroup.com
3201 W Commercial Blvd Ste 227, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309, United States
