Opinion ID: 752912
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Sherrie Ace's Accident

Text: 8 Ace was employed by the State of Alaska as a senior loan examiner. As a state employee, Ace participated in an Aetna group insurance plan, which provided both short-term and long-term disability benefits. She selected and paid monthly premiums for the maximum available health and disability coverage. 9 In December 1986, Ace broke her leg in a sledding accident, which completely shattered her knee. Despite multiple surgeries, the condition of Ace's knee deteriorated and she suffered chronic pain in her leg and in her lower back. On April 30, 1992, Ace's orthopedic surgeon, Dr. McEvoy, performed an osteotomy 2 on Ace's knee. Immediately prior to the osteotomy, Ace applied for and received short-term disability benefits from Aetna. 10 Dr. McEvoy released Ace on a trial basis for half-time, light duty work from August 1, anticipating that she would be able to return to full-time by mid-September. 3 Because her pain had worsened, Ace felt unready to return to work and expressed her concerns to Dr. McEvoy. He suggested that she find another doctor. Ace saw a specialist, Dr. Zorn, who informed her that the osteotomy had failed and that she would need a total knee replacement. That operation would have to wait, however, until April 1993 to permit her knee to heal. 11