{
  "author": {
    "name": "Emily Cousins",
    "webUrl": "/author/profile/emily-cousins/",
    "description": "I'm a litigation reporter for Connecticut Law Tribune, covering litigation wins, verdict news, settlements, interesting cases, etc. Contact me with tips at [email protected].",
    "imageLarge": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8109051e36eef7a0dca81f66037d6bb5?s=136&d=mm&r=g",
    "estimate": 10,
    "social": [
      {
        "network": "twitter",
        "value": "@egcousins"
      },
      {
        "network": "linkedin",
        "value": "https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-grace-cousins/"
      },
      {
        "network": "facebook",
        "value": ""
      },
      {
        "network": "googlePlus",
        "value": ""
      }
    ],
    "articles": [
      {
        "uri": "/2024/04/25/civil-rico-suit-accuses-big-pharma-and-benefit-managers-of-insulin-price-fixing-412-166489/",
        "title": "Big Pharma and pharmacy benefit managers sued for insulin price-fixing",
        "byline": "Emily Cousins",
        "kicker": "News",
        "prettyDate": "April 25, 2024",
        "timeToRead": "4 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2019/11/EliLilly-e1710294849208.jpg",
          "width": "615",
          "height": "371"
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/emily-cousins/",
            "name": "Emily Cousins"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [
          {
            "uri": "/news/",
            "sectionName": "News"
          }
        ],
        "summary": "The health fund for the International Union of Operating Engineers is suing Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi, as well as CVS Health and other PBMs, for \"drastically\" increasing the price of life-saving meds for \"illicit profits.\"",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2024/03/13/cigna-class-action-algorithm-allegedly-auto-denies-300000-claims-412-163851/",
        "title": "Cigna uses algorithm that auto-denied 300,000 claims, alleged in lawsuit",
        "byline": "Emily Cousins",
        "kicker": "News",
        "prettyDate": "March 13, 2024",
        "timeToRead": "3 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2024/03/Cigna-Article-202401101118.jpg",
          "width": "620",
          "height": "372"
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/emily-cousins/",
            "name": "Emily Cousins"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [
          {
            "uri": "/news/",
            "sectionName": "News"
          }
        ],
        "summary": "The Connecticut-based health insurer was hit with another class action suit, alleging that once Cigna's PxDx algorithm denies claims, its medical doctors confirm the denials, without checking the patients' medical history.",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2023/10/30/fired-for-not-returning-to-the-office-employee-alleges-discrimination-412-156859/",
        "title": "Fired for not returning to the office? Employee sues employer, alleging ADA discrimination",
        "byline": "Emily Cousins",
        "kicker": "News",
        "prettyDate": "October 30, 2023",
        "timeToRead": "3 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2023/10/Hybrid-work-place-Article-202310291430.jpg",
          "width": "620",
          "height": "372"
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/emily-cousins/",
            "name": "Emily Cousins"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [
          {
            "uri": "/news/",
            "sectionName": "News"
          }
        ],
        "summary": "In a lawsuit, a disabled worker alleges Electric Boat Corp. did not provide reasonable accommodations for his disabilities and he was ultimately fired for non-compliance with the company's post-COVID return-to-office policy.",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2023/09/20/ex-cigna-employee-pays-33000-to-settle-insider-trading-charges-412-154753/",
        "title": "Ex-Cigna employee pays $33,000 to settle insider-trading charges",
        "byline": "Emily Cousins",
        "kicker": "News",
        "prettyDate": "September 20, 2023",
        "timeToRead": "2 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2023/03/Cigna-Article-202303031114.jpg",
          "width": "620",
          "height": "372"
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/emily-cousins/",
            "name": "Emily Cousins"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [
          {
            "uri": "/news/",
            "sectionName": "News"
          }
        ],
        "summary": "When Cigna released its second-quarter financial performance on Aug. 5, 2021, its stock dropped by 13%, and Ferrie \"realized an approximately 236% profit of $16,039.78 on his investment of $6,782.05,\" the complaint said.",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2023/05/19/a-new-group-of-litigants-might-be-emerging-in-post-pandemic-era-412-148414/",
        "title": "The 'invisible' disease? Some COVID skeptics fail to accommodate long-suffering staffers",
        "byline": "Emily Cousins",
        "kicker": "Update",
        "prettyDate": "May 19, 2023",
        "timeToRead": "3 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2020/07/mask-employees-computer-workplace-covid.jpg",
          "width": "617",
          "height": "410"
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/emily-cousins/",
            "name": "Emily Cousins"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [
          {
            "uri": "/update/",
            "sectionName": "Update"
          }
        ],
        "summary": "Employees with long COVID-19 symptoms can suffer from chronic fatigue, brain fog and difficulty breathing, but employers that refuse to provide an accommodation to these workers could lead to a spike in workplace claims.",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2023/05/04/health-insurers-face-erisa-lawsuit-for-allegedly-reversing-an-approved-claim-412-147585/",
        "title": "UnitedHealthcare hit with ERISA lawsuit for allegedly reversing an approved claim",
        "byline": "Emily Cousins",
        "kicker": "News",
        "prettyDate": "May 04, 2023",
        "timeToRead": "2 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2019/11/United-HealthCare-Article-201810172221.jpg",
          "width": "620",
          "height": "372"
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/emily-cousins/",
            "name": "Emily Cousins"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [
          {
            "uri": "/news/",
            "sectionName": "News"
          }
        ],
        "summary": "The insurer did not give an explanation for the reversal of coverage for a midwife, leaving a couple with no recourse after exhausting all processes within the claims processing, including a formal appeal, which was denied.",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2023/03/06/cigna-hit-with-class-action-for-allegedly-overcharging-clients-for-medical-services-412-144524/",
        "title": "Cigna hit with ERISA class action lawsuit for allegedly overcharging members",
        "byline": "Emily Cousins",
        "kicker": "",
        "prettyDate": "March 06, 2023",
        "timeToRead": "3 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2022/04/Cigna-767x633.jpg",
          "width": "767",
          "height": "633"
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/emily-cousins/",
            "name": "Emily Cousins"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [],
        "summary": "The health care provider negotiates lower rates with in-network providers to save members money, however, members allege that Cigna participated in a \"fraudulent scheme\" that overcharged its members, says the complaint.",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2022/12/13/cvs-walgreens-reach-10-7-billion-multistate-settlement-agreement-over-opioids-412-140418/",
        "title": "CVS, Walgreens agree to pay $10.7 billion to 17 states to settle opioid prescription lawsuits",
        "byline": "Emily Cousins",
        "kicker": "News",
        "prettyDate": "December 13, 2022",
        "timeToRead": "3 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2022/12/CVS-Walgreens-767x633.jpg",
          "width": "767",
          "height": "633"
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/emily-cousins/",
            "name": "Emily Cousins"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [
          {
            "uri": "/news/",
            "sectionName": "News"
          },
          {
            "uri": "/update/",
            "sectionName": "Update"
          }
        ],
        "summary": "Though the drug chains have not admitted to wrongdoing, CVS would pay $5 billion  while Walgreens would pay $5.7 billion to states and local governments for opioid crisis abatement and remediation programs.",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2022/12/07/class-action-filed-self-funded-health-plans-sue-anthem-412-140172/",
        "title": "Self-funded plans sue Anthem, alleging overcharging and other ERISA violations",
        "byline": "Emily Cousins",
        "kicker": "News",
        "prettyDate": "December 07, 2022",
        "timeToRead": "4 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2022/12/Anthem-Article-202212061405.jpg",
          "width": "620",
          "height": "372"
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/emily-cousins/",
            "name": "Emily Cousins"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [
          {
            "uri": "/news/",
            "sectionName": "News"
          }
        ],
        "summary": "Employers claim that the health care company, now known as Elevance Health, breached its fiduciary duties under ERISA because they were denied access to plan claims due to mismanagement of funds.",
        "body": null
      },
      {
        "uri": "/2022/08/16/only-cigna-and-connecticare-invited-as-connecticut-lawmakers-weigh-insurance-rate-hikes-412-134670/",
        "title": "Only Cigna and ConnectiCare invited as Connecticut lawmakers weigh insurance rate hikes",
        "byline": "Emily Cousins",
        "kicker": "News",
        "prettyDate": "August 16, 2022",
        "timeToRead": "3 minute",
        "image": {
          "uri": "https://images.benefitspro.com/contrib/content/uploads/sites/412/2022/08/Interest-Rate-Hike-767x633.jpg",
          "width": "768",
          "height": "633"
        },
        "authors": [
          {
            "webUrl": "/author/profile/emily-cousins/",
            "name": "Emily Cousins"
          }
        ],
        "kickerNode": [
          {
            "uri": "/news/",
            "sectionName": "News"
          }
        ],
        "summary": "\"Our priority, our duty should be to Connecticut families and residents and small businesses, to protect them to make sure they don't have to pay more for health insurance and health care than they have to,\" Attorney General William Tong said. \"And to ask, and to even require, the health insurance companies here today to do all they can to really serve their customers and not just extract as much as they can.\"",
        "body": null
      }
    ]
  }
}