Mediation; Disability Insurance; Physicians
A highly-successful cardiologist suffered personal setbacks which precipitated ongoing periods of severe depression to the extent that, he contended, he was unable to practice medicine to the high standards he had previously set for himself. When he filed for disability benefits with his disability insurance company, the company denied the application, contending that the physician was in fact able to practice and that his depression was treatable and manageable with medication. The doctor filed suit, exhaustive discovery was pursued by both parties, and the presiding judge referred the case to mediation before proceeding to trial. After a one-day mediation session, Keegan successfully negotiated a settlement for the parties and averted trial.
