MetLife, Depressed Programmer Move Forward With Benefits Battle

Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. won a round in a case over denied disability benefits, despite failing to convince a federal judge that it was entitled to a favorable judicial review standard.

The Barclays Bank PLC computer programmer who sued MetLife for benefits didn’t initially prove that his depression rendered him incapable of earning more than 80 percent of his prior salary, a federal judge ruled March 5. However, the case will move toward trial because it’s unclear whether MetLife acted reasonably in denying the programmer’s subsequent appeal, which included additional information supporting his claim to disability benefits, the judge said.

The case is noteworthy ...