Advertisement 1

Howard Levitt: A new era of corporate accountability for health and disability insurers

More than half of Americans believe justice is rarely if ever served against corporations. That is a staggering figure

Article content

By Howard Levitt and Rob Lilly

Article content
Article content

To some, Luigi Mangione is a modern-day Robin Hood, exacting retribution on the health insurance industry in the name of the little guy. Mangione rose to notoriety in early December, after he allegedly shot UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson from behind outside of the New York Hilton before Thompson’s morning meeting with investors.

Advertisement 2
Story continues below
Article content

Mangione fled on foot and then on a bicycle — leaving behind a dead man and three shell casings with the words “deny” “delay” and “depose” inscribed on them. Law enforcement officials said these words could be a reference to the “three Ds of insurance,” resembling the title of a 2010 book: Delay, Deny, Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don’t Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It.

When Mangione was arrested days later in a fast-food restaurant in Pennsylvania, he was reportedly in possession of a document that expressed “ill will” toward corporate America, with the handwritten phrase, “Frankly, these parasites had it coming.”

Instead of condemning Mangione, the Internet praised him, revealing widespread vitriolic hatred toward health care insurance companies. The examples of support are plentiful. More than a hundred thousand people posted laughing emojis on UnitedHealth’s Facebook page mourning Thompson’s death. #FreeLuigi was posted across social-media platforms. Thousands of dollars were raised for Mangione’s legal defence before the website deactivated the campaign. Other sites sold merchandise bearing such phrases as “Don’t Deny My Coverage” and “In this house Luigi Mangione is a Hero. End of Story.”

Article content
Advertisement 3
Story continues below
Article content

Nearly half of young Americans aged 19 to 29 surveyed in a poll by YouGov said they viewed Mangione as “very favourable” or “somewhat favourable.” Respondents in the 30 to 44 age category viewed him only marginally more negatively. Older Americans, especially those over 65, cast him in a significantly more unfavourable light.

One would expect universal disapproval of the first-degree murder of an innocent man. Yet, vigilantism against the health insurance industry has made its way into the zeitgeist.

When asked how often corporations are held accountable by the law for their unlawful acts, nearly 60 per cent of all respondents said “rarely” or “never,” according to the same poll. That is a staggering figure: more than half of Americans believe justice is rarely if ever served against corporations.

How does this bode for insurance companies that do in fact act unfairly in denying and defending disability claims? Will judges be swayed by public perception of eroded corporate accountability? While we would welcome higher judicial punitive damages awards against insurers to deter bad faith and level the playing field, it is not likely to happen. That is because judges are inherently impartial and less inclined to award large punitive awards — but for a jury with an appetite to stamp out corporate malfeasance, it is a different story.

Advertisement 4
Story continues below
Article content

Juries are formidable justice dispensing machines. Composed of a panel of “our peers,” this group — from all walks of life — decides the legal fate of the insurer and how much it should pay, which can be millions of dollars.

In America, lawyers can extensively interview potential jurors on their past experiences and biases to eliminate jurors who may rule against their clients. In Canada, the jury selection process is much more restricted. Here, lawyers only know the candidates’ names, addresses and occupations. Questioning is very limited and juror disqualification is not nearly as abundant.

We wrote previously in these pages about the largest punitive damages award against a disability insurer. In Sara Baker v. Blue Cross Life of Insurance, a jury awarded an unprecedented $1.5 million in punitive damages to Baker. There was a troubling pattern of “systemic” misconduct at Blue Cross, with multiple employees using the same unethical strategies against claimants like Baker.

This, according to the Court of Appeal, suggested that many others might have been similarly affected but lacked the stamina to pursue the insurer to trial. “Deterrence is impossible unless the punishment is meaningful,” Justice C. William Hourigan wrote in the decision — noting, however, that the amount was “little more than a rounding error.” We view this as an invitation for larger awards.

Advertisement 5
Story continues below
Article content

Recommended from Editorial
  1. To avoid the dangers of employees’ slacking on work, employers are well-advised to call their employees back to the office as soon as they are able, write Howard Levitt and Jeffrey Buchan.
    Don't fall for ‘No-work Fridays’: build a happy workplace
  2. U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order relating to cryptocurrency in the Oval Office of the White House on Jan. 23, 2025, in Washington.
    How Trump reverberates across Canadian workplaces
  3. Quitting may seem an attractive avenue in the heat of the moment, but beware the perils and pitfalls of employment law in the private sector, writes Howard Levitt.
    How Trudeau and Freeland's ‘resignations’ play in private sector

The stakes have never been so high for disability insurers. The winds have changed, especially because of those under 45 years of age who possess a voracious desire for corporate accountability. Given the new climate, we expect more trials by jury and larger awards — not figures tantamount to rounding errors. Indeed, we would like to think that more “meaningful” jury awards against insurers would renew public confidence in the justice system — followed, hopefully, by reduced support for vigilantism and murder.

Howard Levitt is senior partner of Levitt LLP, employment and labour lawyers with offices in Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. He practices employment law in eight provinces and is the author of six books, including the Law of Dismissal in Canada. Rob Lilly is a partner at Levitt LLP.

Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the business news you need to know — add financialpost.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.

Article content
Comments
You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.
Join the Conversation

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.

universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
soxtry.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
maw-pr.com
zaaksen.com
ypxsptbfd7.com
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
onlinenewsofindia.com
worldgraphic-team.com
bnsrz.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
webmanicura.com
osostore.com
softsmob.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
odskc.com
inzziln.info
leaiiln.info
cq-oa.com
dqtianshun.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
bartoysdirect.com
taquerialoscompadresdc.com
aaoodln.info
amcckln.info
drvrnln.info
dwabmln.info
fcsjoln.info
hlonxln.info
kcmeiln.info
kplrrln.info
fatcatoons.com
91guoys.com
signupforfreehosting.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
topsedu.xyz
xmxm7.com
x332.xyz
sportstrainingblog.com
autopartspares.com
readguy.net
soniasegreto.com
bobbygdavis.com
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
qazwsxedcokmijn.com
parabis.net
terriesandelin.com
luxuryhomme.com
studyexpanse.com
ronoom.com
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
snn01.com
hope-kelley.com
bancodeprofissionais.com
zjccp99.com
liturgycreator.com
weedsmj.com
majorelenco.com
colcollect.com
androidnews-jp.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
nova-click.com
abeautifulcrazylife.com
diggmobile.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
sizam-design.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
bamthemes.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com
avgo.top