When an insurance company refuses to pay benefits, the consequences can extend far beyond a denial letter. A disability claim can affect household income, while a life insurance or accidental death claim can create financial pressure during an already difficult time. Understanding how insurers handle disputed claims can help people make informed decisions about what to do next.
disability insurance attorney J. Price McNamara has spent three decades fighting insurance companies that refuse to pay benefits people purchased. He founded the practice that carries his name in 1995, and the firm now serves clients nationwide, focusing almost entirely on federal ERISA litigation involving disability insurance, life insurance, and accidental death and dismemberment claims.
A Career Shaped by Three Legal Perspectives
McNamara’s work with insurance disputes began long before he represented claimants. After earning his J.D. from Loyola Law School in New Orleans in 1990, he clerked for the Honorable John M. Shaw, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. The clerkship covered civil and criminal matters and gave him an early understanding of how federal judges review arguments, evidence, and legal records.
From 1991 to 1995, McNamara represented national insurance companies in claim disputes and litigation at Hailey, McNamara, Hall, Larmann & Papale in Metairie. During that period, he also earned an LL.M. from Tulane Law School. In 1995, he joined the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office as a felony trial prosecutor, handling cases involving fraud, burglary, robbery, rape, and homicide through 1997.
How Insurance Defense Experience Helps Claimants
Representing insurance carriers gave McNamara an inside view of how insurers evaluate disputed claims. He learned how carriers examine policy language, investigate claims, develop defenses, and prepare cases for litigation. That experience now informs his work for people seeking benefits after an insurer refuses to pay.
His federal clerkship and prosecution background add another layer. ERISA disputes are often decided in federal court, where the record and applicable legal standards matter greatly. His years as a prosecutor also developed courtroom skills involving evidence, legal arguments, and preparation for an opposing side’s challenges.
A Personal Reason for Focusing on Benefits
McNamara’s commitment to insurance benefit claims has a personal foundation. Disabling illnesses took his brother, sister, and father within a span of months. Those experiences helped shape his decision to dedicate his practice to helping people and families pursue benefits after insurance companies deny their claims.
Today, J. Price McNamara: Disability, Life, AD&D Insurance Attorneys serves clients nationwide in disability insurance, accidental death and dismemberment insurance, and life insurance claims, appeals, and litigation. The practice now focuses almost entirely on federal ERISA matters, with approximately nine out of every ten files involving ERISA claims.
Taking Denied Claims to Federal Court
An insurance denial is not necessarily the end of a claim. Depending on the policy and circumstances, a claimant may have appeal rights or other legal options. ERISA cases can involve specific procedures and deadlines, making it important to understand the applicable requirements before deciding how to proceed.
McNamara has taken disputed claims through the federal court system. He personally argued an appeal that produced a $1.3 million ERISA accidental death judgment after the U.S. Fifth Circuit reversed a district court loss. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and each claim depends on its facts, policy language, and governing law.
Helping People Understand Their Options
McNamara has continued developing his knowledge of insurance and benefits law throughout his career. He is admitted to practice in Louisiana and Texas, multiple federal district courts, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. His professional memberships include the American Association for Justice’s ERISA Benefits Litigation Group and the Louisiana Association for Justice.
He has also written four consumer guides covering short-term and long-term disability insurance claims, physician disability insurance claims, accidental death and dismemberment claims, and life insurance claims. The guides are available free to consumers and are designed to provide practical information about pursuing benefit claims and appeals.
What Should You Do After a Denial?
After receiving a denial, the first step is to understand why the insurer refused to pay. The denial letter, insurance policy, benefit plan documents, medical records, employment information, and communications with the carrier may all be important when evaluating whether the decision can be challenged.
Deadlines can also matter, particularly in ERISA cases. A claimant who receives a denial may benefit from having the decision and supporting documents reviewed promptly by an attorney familiar with the applicable rules. A careful review can help identify potential issues and explain what options may be available.
For more than 30 years, J. Price McNamara has combined experience from federal court, insurance defense, and felony prosecution in representing people seeking insurance benefits. His practice now concentrates almost entirely on federal ERISA litigation and serves clients nationwide.
For individuals facing denied disability, life insurance, or accidental death and dismemberment benefits, a professional review can provide a clearer understanding of the situation. McNamara’s firm offers a free denial review for people who want to learn more about their potential options.
