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A former University of Delaware rowing coach has taken Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co. to federal court in North Carolina, alleging the insurer wrongfully cut off her long-term disability benefits after more than a decade of payments.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday, accuses the company of breaching its contract by halting payments in September 2022, despite the coach’s continued eligibility under the policy’s terms.

A Decade of Benefits—Then a Sudden Reversal

Laura Slice, who led Delaware’s women’s rowing team, asserts that she became disabled due to undisclosed medical issues, forcing her to leave her position in 2011. Reliance Standard initially approved her claim, providing long-term disability benefits from October 2011 until September 2022.

Then, without warning, the company allegedly reversed course, discontinuing payments despite Slice’s ongoing compliance with policy terms. The lawsuit claims the insurer’s actions violate the contract, depriving her of benefits she is legally entitled to receive.

Legal Battle Unfolds

Slice’s lawsuit contains a single count of breach of contract, seeking:

• A court declaration affirming her right to continued disability benefits
• Recovery of unpaid benefits from September 2022 onward
• Attorney fees and additional relief deemed appropriate by the court

Her attorney, M. Leila Louzri of Foster Law Firm LLC, is leading the charge against Reliance Standard. Counsel for the insurer was not immediately available for comment, and representatives for both parties have remained silent on the matter.

What’s Next?

The case now moves to the courtroom, where Slice will attempt to prove that Reliance Standard’s abrupt decision to terminate her benefits was not only unjust but also a breach of its contractual obligations.

With potential implications for policyholders nationwide, this lawsuit could shine a spotlight on the practices of disability insurers and whether they truly stand by their commitments—or abandon claimants when it’s no longer convenient.