Opinion ID: 77298
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Equitable's Payments

Text: 22 When it received the 1999 claim, Equitable began paying total disability benefits while investigating the claim. After an in-house medical review in August 2000, however, Equitable concluded that there was no current significant impairment that would preclude [Giddens] from performing most of the duties of his occupational description[,] and Equitable continued to make benefit payments only pursuant to a reservation of rights. 2 Equitable disbursed a total of $60,790.98 in benefits to Giddens under the reservation of rights. 23 In September 2001, Equitable reportedly learned that Giddens had not actively practiced dentistry for four years before he became disabled and that his real estate pursuit was essentially passive in nature. Equitable requested clarification from Giddens. In March 2002, Equitable terminated the payment of benefits to Giddens.