Life insurance attorney Christian Lassen is raising alarms about what he calls a troubling trend in the industry: delays in life insurance payouts. These delays, he says, are leaving grieving families in a tough spot, waiting for money that should be theirs.
Lassen, who leads The Lassen Law Firm and specializes in life insurance cases, spoke to The Wall Street Journal on May 17. He pointed out that insurance companies often blame policy details, outdated forms, or internal processes for these hold-ups. Many beneficiaries think their claims are under review, but Lassen warns that important deadlines might be slipping by without them knowing.
He believes these delays can sometimes be a tactic used by insurers to see if other claims will pop up or to pressure claimants who don’t fully understand their rights. Lassen argues that getting a lawyer involved early can speed things up, as many disputes could be resolved faster with legal help.
Insurance companies typically defend their actions by citing the need for thorough internal reviews and compliance with policies. However, representatives from the industry have not publicly commented on Lassen’s claims, and there is no independent data to support or challenge his assertions about these widespread delays.
The Lassen Law Firm focuses solely on life insurance litigation. They deal with issues like delayed or denied claims, disputes over policy lapses, and cases involving accidental death exclusions. They also handle complicated situations where multiple people claim the same benefit.
Lassen shared that his firm has seen various types of disputes, including those related to outdated beneficiary forms and claims denied due to alleged policy lapses or suicide exclusions. He plans to keep speaking out about these challenges, urging anyone facing long delays to seek legal advice.
“This isn’t about isolated incidents,” Lassen emphasized. “It’s a systemic issue.” His commitment to raising awareness about these delays highlights a significant problem that many families may face during an already difficult time.