Federal Judge Zouhary has issued a July 31, 2023 decision in favor of a disabled UT Associate Lecturer. The Lecturer is a 40-year-old mother of four young children. She had cancer and went through multiple treatments. Ultimately, her left arm and shoulder were amputated. The UT disability carrier, Unum, refused her disability claim because it was not submitted within one year of the amputation. Unum’s defense was rejected by Judge Zouhary. She is now expected to win on the merits because Unum has conceded her disability.
Although Unum is UT’s disability insurance carrier, UT stayed on the sidelines and did not become involved. Meanwhile, the Matt Schroeder/HR Negotiation Team has repeatedly used this faculty’s disability case at the negotiation table to argue against our disability insurance, our Sick Leave Bank usage, and related faculty benefits. They have proposed canceling the UT Disability insurance and other benefits with no justification.
This disabled faculty is represented by Jeremy Rodriguez of our UT-AAUP law firm, Allotta Farley. Jeremy has done a great job. The cost of the litigation was covered by the UT-AAUP and approved by the Executive Board.
UT-AAUP Executive Board