Court Affirms Prudential's Denial of Long-Term Benefits for Mold Exposure

LAKE CHARLES, La. - A federal judge has declined to order Prudential Insurance Co. to provide long-term disability coverage to a former casino maintenance worker who contends that workplace exposure to mold caused such injuries that he can no longer work. Harper v. Prudential Insurance Co., No. 2:04CV1121 (W.D. La.).

District Judge Patricia Minaldi of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana held July 12 that, in applying an arbitrary and capricious standard, Albert Harper failed to produce evidence to counter Prudential's assertion that that Harper was not disabled.

Harper contended that he was exposed to …