01

Notable Results

We have won cases against every major insurance carrier. In fact, we secured the largest disability insurance bad faith verdict ever in California. We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of our clients. Learn More

02

Full Resources

Insurance companies use many tactics to deny, delay or devalue claims. We have the skilled staff and financial resources to go up against the biggest insurance carriers, to force them to honor their policies and hold them accountable for bad faith denials. Learn More

03

Singular Focus

Insurance litigation is all we do, with an emphasis on long-term disability claims. Physicians, dentists, attorneys and other licensed professionals who purchased disability insurance benefit from our in-depth knowledge of law when insurance carriers fail to hold up their end of the bargain. Learn More

04

Proven Trial Attorneys

When insurance companies play hardball, our experienced litigators are up to the challenge. Our lawyers have prevailed against all the big players, including Unum, MetLife, Prudential, Cigna, Hartford and Mass Mutual. Learn More

San Francisco ERISA Benefits Attorneys

ERISA Insurance Claim Lawyers Fighting For The Rights Of San Francisco Policyholders

With a few exceptions, if you receive insurance through your employer, any employee benefits claim you may try to make is governed by ERISA — the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. If you have had difficulties in obtaining your long-term disability benefits, this Act defines the process for bringing a claim.

The ERISA attorneys at Pillsbury & Coleman, LLP, in San Francisco, have extensive experience in this unique and complex area of law. There are a number of traps that petitioners often fall into, resulting in denial. We help disabled employees throughout California get the disability insurance benefits they are entitled to receive. We can help you, too.

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The following pages may assist you in learning more about ERISA but due to the complexity of ERISA law, it is essential that you talk with a lawyer about your particular case in order to know if ERISA applies to you.

What is ERISA about? The Employee Retirement Income Security Act applies to most insurance obtained as an employee benefit from one’s employer. ERISA nullifies many state laws designed to keep insurance companies from acting improperly, and ERISA limits the actions that a policyholder can take to challenge an insurance company’s wrongful denial of benefits.

Don’t Let The Insurance Company Have The Final Word

We not only work to help our clients receive full payment for ERISA delayed or denied claims; we also seek punitive damages in order to encourage insurance companies to treat policyholders fairly. If your insurance claim has been unreasonably denied or delayed or if your insurance company has failed to defend you against a lawsuit, please contact our San Francisco ERISA benefits lawyer today.

Why Our Clients
Hired Us

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Our Results

$32 million

Landmark Insurance

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$31 million

Disability Insurance Case

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$26.5 million

Landmark Insurance

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What Our Clients Say

"You truly make a difference in people's lives...

...because you do not just win cases, you do not just get judgments collected, you actually put lives back together and help heal wounds. More importantly, I believe for all the long hours you put, your significant others should see what a difference you make and especially made in our family's life because we will remain forever grateful to each and every one you."

Mehran Imanabadi
"I can't thank you enough for what you have done for me...

I am so grateful that I had you helping me with this most difficult time of my life. You were always there for me no matter what and I deeply appreciate it."

Peter Englert
"As part of an in-house legal team, I look for smart, capable and no-nonsense outside counsel...

...to guide me on critical issues. Pillsbury & Coleman's attorneys proved to be all of the above. They crafted a creative and insightful strategy for my case that convinced me they were the go-to firm for bad faith insurance coverage issues."

Bill Friedman, In-house Counsel, CISCO
"You truly make a difference in people's lives...

...because you do not just win cases, you do not just get judgments collected, you actually put lives back together and help heal wounds. More importantly, I believe for all the long hours you put, your significant others should see what a difference you make and especially made in our family's life because we will remain forever grateful to each and every one you."

Mehran Imanabadi
"I can't thank you enough for what you have done for me...

I am so grateful that I had you helping me with this most difficult time of my life. You were always there for me no matter what and I deeply appreciate it."

Peter Englert
"As part of an in-house legal team, I look for smart, capable and no-nonsense outside counsel...

...to guide me on critical issues. Pillsbury & Coleman's attorneys proved to be all of the above. They crafted a creative and insightful strategy for my case that convinced me they were the go-to firm for bad faith insurance coverage issues."

Bill Friedman, In-house Counsel, CISCO
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Meet Our Attorneys

California Trial Lawyers Handling ERISA Insurance Disputes

Established in 1991, Pillsbury & Coleman, LLP, is one of the few law firms in California focused exclusively on representing policyholders in ERISA insurance disputes and insurance bad faith litigation. Insurance law is all we do and we do it very well.

Our attorneys offer experienced ERISA legal representation to businesses and individuals in San Francisco and throughout California. Whether you need help getting your health insurance to cover a claim, you need assistance getting a business loss covered, or assistance appealing a long-term disability insurance claim denial, we know how to help.

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Philip L. Pillsbury Jr.
Founding Partner
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Terrence J. Coleman
Attorney
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Our Lawyers Stand Out In ERISA Cases Because We Get Results

Pillsbury & Coleman Often Succeeds Where Others Fail

Our firm often succeeds where others fail because of our careful and complete analysis of ERISA disability claim denials.

Preparing and documenting a comprehensive rebuttal to the insurance company’s decision is crucial. In many cases, the claimant must complete an internal appeal of the decision, which may be the best chance to introduce the best evidence in support of the claim.

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-The ERISA appeals process is highly regulated and complex, with strict deadlines to meet and procedures to follow. Our attorneys know the system and strive to make it work for you, even if your case may qualify for an ERISA exception.

-If you have become disabled and are having difficulty obtaining your long-term disability insurance benefits, please call our office in San Francisco at (415) 433-8000 or send us an email. ERISA litigation is a specialty of our law firm.

– We represent business policyholders in disputes over a wide variety of business insurance policies. We also represent specialized businesses that have unique types of claims, such as construction companies, maritime businesses and companies in the financial industry.

We understand what kind of pre-litigation internal appeal will maximize your chances of getting your claim paid. We have had cases against nearly every major insurance company, and we are not afraid to go to trial to hold them accountable. Our strong record of success with these cases lets insurance companies know that you are serious about your claims.