About Us

Professional Biography of Steve C. Burgess, critical illness insurance claim expert.

President of The Center for Life Insurance Disputes

I oversee all activities for getting some of the most complex life insurance claims paid to beneficiaries. I blend 30 years of experience in the life insurance industry with 16 years of practice in life insurance litigation to resolve claim disputes and challenges for people all over the United States without anyone ever stepping into courtroom.

I’ve personally worked with the claims and/or legal departments in the investigation and settlement of death claims totaling over $250 million dollars from companies such as Penn Mutual, Prudential, MET Life, American General, HSBC, Globe Life, National Life of Vermont, ING, Lincoln Financial, Securian, TruStage, Farmers Insurance, Amalgamated Life, Western & Southern Life, Forester’s Life, Starmount Life, John Hancock, Fitzpatrick Life, AAA Life, State Farm, Primerica Life, Mass Mutual, Assurity Life, and Lumico Life.

Expert Witness for Life Insurance Litigation

My education, training and experience make me uniquely qualified to opine on standards and practices within the life insurance industry especially as it applies to the approval and denial of death claims, the process of investigation of claims and the standard practices of life insurance companies as they apply to death claims handling.

Acting as an expert witness in more than 200 lawsuits has given me access to insurers claims manuals, behind the public view exposure of insurer’s claims processes, and I’ve seen the standards and practices of insurance company’s claims departments as well as their legal department’s treatment of claims decisions.

(See a list of cases I have been admitted into Court and offered opinions for below.)

Regional Director for Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company (1995-2008)

I joined the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company as a Sales Manager, where my specific responsibilities were to open a branch office in San Diego, CA and hire, train and supervise insurance agents. Within 3 years the branch had over 40 insurance agents. The products sold included all types of life insurance, annuities, securities, disability insurance and long-term care insurance. This position required significant agent supervisory responsibilities.

I was promoted to the position of Regional Director with Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company within 5 years. As a Regional Director for Southern California, my responsibilities included representing all company life & annuity products. My office processed over 200 applications per year for over 80 insurance agents. From start to finish I have been involved in the complete underwriting process of thousands of life insurance applications. I won multiple company and industry awards for managerial and sales accomplishments.

License Held:

Life Insurance Analyst:

“The examination shall be of sufficient scope to satisfy the commissioner that the applicant has sufficient knowledge of and is thoroughly familiar with the life and disability insurance laws of this state, and the provisions, terms, and conditions of life and disability insurance contracts written on residents of this state, and has a thorough and complete knowledge of life and disability insurance.”

Life Insurance Agent (CA, AZ, NV, IL, CT).

(Formerly) FINRA Series 7, 24 and 63.

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Lawsuits for which Stephen C. Burgess was retained as a Life Insurance Expert:

1. Abernathy v Evensky. State of Tennessee.
2. Anastasi v Ameritas. State of California.
3. AXA Equitable Life Insurance Co., et al. v. Brasner, et al.
4. Babbitt v Farmers New World Life. Superior Court for the State of Arizona in and for the county of Maricopa. Case No.CV2008-093385.
5. Bagdasarian Insurance Group and Christopher Bagdasarian v E & J Gallo Winery. In the Superior Court in the State of California, in the County of Santa Barbara. Case No. 15cv03781.
6. Cheryl Ball, individually on behalf of the Estate of James Michael Ball v. USAA Life Insurance Company. In the United States District Court For the District of South Carolina, Charleston Division. Case No.: 2:16-cv-00041-DNC.
7. Bailey, Chase v Buskey & McCarthy, et al. US District Court, District of New Hampshire. Case No.12-CV-396-SM.
8. Barrozo v Gall. State of California County of San Diego. Case No.37-2011-00096579-CU-BC-CTL.
9. Bennett, Carolann v. American General Life Insurance Company. Case No. CV13-4822 DMG. Central District of California – Western Division.
10. Beck, Doyle v Lakeview Financial Services. In the District Court of the Seventh Judicial District of the State of Idaho, in and for the County of Bonneville. Case No. CV-2012-2073.
11. Bernhoft v Reassure America Life Insurance Company. Superior Court for the State of California for the County of Ventura. Case No 56-2013-00431263-CU-IC-VTA.
12. Bhatia v Dischino. State of New Jersey.
13. Brown, Joan v Marc Takenaga et al. In the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of San Diego, Central Division. Case NO. 37-2014-00026315-CU-BT-CTL.
14. Brugler v Tanner, State of California. Case No. CV092114.
15. Buckley v Wakefield, State of California for the County of Los Angeles. Case No. BC441375.
16. Burgess v Protective Life Insurance Co. United States District Court, Central District of California, Western Division. Case No.CV-13-05372-ODW.
17. Butterfly-Biles v State Farm. State of Oklahoma. Case No. 09-CV-86-CVE-PJC.
18. Cantor v Met Life. Los Angeles Superior Court. Case No.BC446497.
19. Carolyn Chiesa v Michael Fitzgerald. Superior Court for the State of California for the County of Santa Cruz. Case No. CISCV 175859.
20. Carr v Nationwide Life Insurance. In the Circuit Court of Ohio County, West Virginia. Civil Action No. 14-c-04.
21. C.F.C.S. Investments, LP, and Michael H. Clark, Personal Representative for the Estate of Jewell A. Clark v Transamerica Occidental Life Insurance Company, and MAFG Services, Inc. In the United States District Court. Eastern District of Missouri. Case No.: 4:16-CV-00396-JAR.
22. Chase v Principal Life Insurance Co. US District Court, Western District of Washington at Tacoma. Case No. 14-5932 RJB.
23. Cole, Stephen et al v NFP Securities et al. Superior Court for the State of California, for the County of Los Angeles. Case No. BC456425.
24. Court v Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company. United States District Court Eastern District of Texas Sherman Division. Case No.: 4:15-cv-00668.
25. Cowdery, Margaret v National Western Life. Superior Court for the State of California, for the County of Riverside. Case No.: PSC 1504914.
26. Crocker v Mendoza, State of California for the County of San Diego. Case No.37-201-00084461-CU-PN-CTL.
27. Davis Trust Company v John Hancock Life Insurance Company. Circuit Court of Ohio County, West Virginia. Case No 12-C-246.
28. Diehl v MET Life, State of Michigan in the 40th Circuit Court for the County of Lapeer. Case No. 09-041969-CZ.
29. Department of Insurance v Jason Byers. Case No.2011070724. San Diego County.
30. Dixhuit v New York Life & Pruco Life. United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Case No 14-cv-2165 (VEC).

31. Robert Dubinick v The Guardian Life and Annuity Company. In the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri Southern Division. Case No.6:12-cv-3532.
32. Dubreus, Marie v Primerica Life Insurance. In the Court of the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit in and for St. Lucia County, Florida. Case No.2013CA002688.
33. Dukes Bridge LLC v Security Life of Denver. In the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York. Case No.: 10-cv-05491(ILG)(RML).
34. Edwards, Helen v AAA Life Insurance Co. United States District Court in the Southern District of California. Case No.: 3:15-cv-01490-DMS-DHB.
35. Ennabe v State Farm Life. State of California for the County of Los Angeles. Case No.BC436011.
36. Fitzgerald v Matlock. In the District Court. 35th Judicial District. Brown County, Texas.
37. Flaherty v Protective Life. State of Nevada for the County of Clark. Case No. A-09-594697-C.
38. Fontaine v Hoult. In the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Case No: CV10-1038 JVS(MLGx).
39. Freedom Communications v Spitz. United States Bankruptcy Court. Central District of California, Santa Ana Division. Case No:8:15-bk-15311-MW.
40. Galea v Lincoln Life Insurance. In the US District Court for the Southern District of California. Case No. 11-CV-1218 CAB (KSC).
41. Ghadrdan, Sam et al v Yekani, Mohammed et al. In the Superior Court in the State of California, County of Los Angeles. Case No.:BC603373.
42. Gildred v Centara Capital Management. San Diego Superior Court Case No.37-2010-00092890-CU-FR-CTL.
43. Glovinsky v Farber. San Diego Superior Court Case No.37-2011-00085026-CU-BC-CTL.
44. Olga Glushak v Transamerica Life. In the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division. Case No. 1:20-cv-04432-AT.
45. Gordon v Mackey. Superior Court for the State of California, for the County of Los Angeles. Case NO.: LC102166.
46. Gordon v Robyn. United States Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California, San Fernando Valley, Case No.1:14-bk-13578-VK.
47. Goyak v Private Consulting Group. Clark County, Nevada. Case No.A558299, Dept. No.XXV.
48. Graham v Jackson National Life Insurance Company. Superior Court of the State of California, in the County of San Luis Obispo. Case No. CV120152.
49. Harris v Dias. Superior Court for the State of California. County of San Diego, Central Division. Case No.37-2013-00043454-CU-IC-CTL.
50. Harris v Indianapolis Life Insurance. United States District Court Central District of California. Case No.CV10-3934-ODW.
51. Hill v Matlock. District Court, 99th Judicial District, Lubbock, Texas. Case No. 2012-502,885.
52. Hausmann v Hartford. United States District Court, Central District of California. Case No. SA CV 07-1436 AHS (MLGx).
53. Henriques v MET Life. Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County. Case No.109030-09.
54. Hobart Roofing v Mellinger. Porter Superior Court Sitting at Valparaiso, Indiana. Case No. 64D02-0610-PL-9148.
55. Hodjatie, Siamak v UNUM Life Insurance. United States District Court, Central District of California. Case NO.: 2:14-CV-09767-RSWL (JPRx).
56. Holley v Household Bank.
57. Shelley Graham, as Trustee of the Graham Family Trust, v Jackson National Life Insurance Co. Superior Court for the State of California. In the County of San Luis Obispo. Case No. CV120152.
58. Isaacs v Met Life Insurance. Superior Court in the State of California, in the County of Los Angeles. Case No. BC504390.
59. Kaplan, Dori v AXA Life. United States District Court, Southern District of Florida. Case NO.:1:15-cv-21174-HUCK/OTAZO-REYES.
60. Kevyn Ogawa v EFG Capital Advisors, et al. FINRA Dispute Resolution – Western Region.
61. Knypstra, Aimai et al v John C. Koudsi. Los Angeles, CA. FINRA Case NO 12-00772.
62. Kristopher J. Krentz, Carie A. Krentz v. Standard Insurance Company, et al. State of Minnesota District Court, County of Hennepin. Fourth Judicial District, Court File No.: 27-CV-16-6741.
63. Lease, Larry v Transguard Insurance Company of America. In the Circuit Court of Mineral County West Virginia. Case No. 13C55.
64. William R. Lenard, II as Trustee of the ZWG Trust v 5 Star Life Insurance Company. In the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County. Case No. 02-C-13-175897-CN.
65. Lester v Matrix Direct. Superior Court of the State of California, for the County of San Diego. Case No: 37-2011-0087417-CU-IC-CTL.
66. Liberty Life Insurance Company v Eric L. Myers. United States District Court for the District of Arizona. Case No. 10-2024-PHX-JAT.
67. Lincoln National v Joseph Schlanger 2006 Insurance Trust. In the United States District Court, for the District of Delaware. C.A. NO. 09-506-RGA-MPT.
68. Mahew II, Charles v Jackson National Life. Superior Court for the State of California, for the County of Los Angeles. Case No. 443270.
69. Management Brokers v Sentinel Insurance et al. Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles. Case No.SC129855.
70. Marignoli v Duban. Los Angeles County Superior Court. Case No.BC425122.
71. Marks v Story. State of Pennsylvania.
72. Mavash Morady v Professional Liability Insurance Service, Inc. In the Superior Court of Los Angeles, Central District. Case NO.BC480000.
73. Barbara MacPherson-Pomeroy v North American Company for Life and Health Insurance. In the United States District Court, Eastern District of California. Case No.1:20-cv-00092.
74. Menlo Family Trust v Leslie Klein. Superior Court in the State of California. County of Los Angeles. Central District. Case No.BP136769.
75. Millman, Eric v Provident Unum Insurance. In the US District Court for the Western District of Missouri, Southwestern Division. Case No. 3:14-cv-5073.
76. Murphy v Farmers New World Life Insurance Co. United States District Court, in the State of Arizona, in the County of Maricopa. Case No. CV2012-054951.
77. Narramore v Matlock. In the District Court, 38th Judicial Circuit, Brown County, Texas. Case No.CV1208284.
78. Navarro v Sears. State of California. Case No. 2:07 CV-00354-GEB-EFB.
79. Northwestern Mutual Life v Sharon Krause & Cheryl Russell. Superior Court for the State of Washington. In and for the County of Pierce. Case No. 13-2-11009-7.
80. Novak v Blair’s Cremation Services. In the Superior Court for the State of California in and for County of Shasta. Case No:182616.
81. Ohio National v Douglas Davis. United States District Court, Central District of California. Case NO. CV10-42410DW(MANx).
82. Palumbo, Laura v Nationwide. United States District Court, District of Connecticut. Case No.:3:16-cv-01143-WWE.
83. The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company v Barbara Glasser 2007 Insurance Trust, Christiana Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee of The Barbara Glasser 2007 Insurance Trust, and Jared Becker, in the United States District Court, for the District of Delaware. Case NO.1:09-cv-00677-RGA.
84. The Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company v Norma Espinosa 2007-1 Insurance Trust, et al, in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. C.A. No. 09-300-LPS-CJB.
85. Penn Mutual v Rodney Reed 2006 Insurance Trust. United States District Court for the Court of Delaware. Case No.09-663-JCJ.
86. PHL Variable Insurance Company v Price Dawe 2006 Insurance Trust. In the United States District Court, for the District of Delaware. Case No.: 10-964-RGA.
87. RAF v PHL Variable Insurance Co. In the United States District Court, for the Southern District of California. Case No.13-cv-1994-JAH (DAB).
88. Randle, Judy v Farmers New World. Superior Court for the State of California, for the County of Los Angeles. Case No.: BC579987.
89. Reiter v Mutual Credit Corp. United States District Court, Central District of California, Santa Ana Division. Case No. SACV09-811AG(RNBx).
90. Rosenberg v Paul. American Arbitration Association. Case NO.: 01-14-0000-3546.
91. Roy v AXA Advisors LLC et al. In the Superior Court of Washington in and for King County. Case No.18-2-18762-1.
92. Sasha Lee v Hartford Life. Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles – Central District. Case No.BC452003.
93. Schauer v Fidelity Security Life Insurance. In the US District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania. C.A. No.: 1:14-cv-00141.
94. Scott, Sidney Sr., v Western & Southern Life Insurance Co. Civil District Court, Parish of New Orleans, State of Louisiana. Case No. 2016-895.
95. Selmonosky v The Guardian. Supreme Court of the State of New York County of Westchester. Index No.8794/10.
96. Sharikandi, Hawar v American National Insurance Co. Los Angeles Superior Court. Case No: BC625078.
97. Shaffer, Jayne as Trustee v Koreasa & George Williams. Superior Court of the State of Arizona, County of Pima. Case NO. C20163791.
98. Shimizu v Pacific Guardian. Los Angeles Superior Court. Case No.BC540449.
99. Singh v New York Life. Superior Court of the State of California, in the County of Santa Clara. Case No.1-12-CV-231507.
100. Spear v American General. State of California.
101. Stafford v Security Life of Denver. Superior Court for the State of California, County of Los Angeles. Case No.BC475931.
102. Stangl v Fidelity Guarantee. State of California. Case No.8:08-CV-00470-DOC-FMO.
103. Steelman v Phoenix Life. Superior Court of California. County of Orange. Case No.30-2012-00540674.
104. Stevens v Hartford. Superior Court of the State of California for the County of San Diego – Central Division. Case No.37-2009-00085170-CU-FR-CTL.
105. Steven and Sandra Macarthur v Ray Johns and American United Life Insurance Co. In the Fourth Judicial District Court, Spanish Fork Division, Utah County, State of Utah. Case No:150300162.
106. Stueve v Novell, et al. In the Superior Court of California, County of Orange, Civil Complex. Case No.: 30-2010-00411651.
107. Talbott v Pruco Life Insurance Company. Superior Court for the State of California. For the County of Orange. Case No.30-2011. 00503829.
108. Thomas F. Motamed, George R. Fay, and David S. Fowler, V The Chubb Corporation, and The Ayco Company, LP. In the United States District Court, For the District of New Jersey. Case No. 3:15-cv-07262-AET-TJB.
109. Thorn v John Hancock. State of California. Superior Court for the State of California for the County of Los Angeles. Case No.BC434446.
110. Tofigh Tahvili v AVIVA Life & Annuity Co. United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. Case No. CV-12-05162-EFS.
111. Tofigh Tahvili v E. Kent Oswalt, et. al. In the Superior Court in the State of Washington, for the County of Benton. Case No.12-2-02207-8.
112. Tran, Michelle v Kansas City Life. United States District Court, for the Central District of California, Western Division. Case No.2:15-cv-9963-ODW(RAOx).
113. Travelers v Bahador. State of California. Case No. CV11-7763 SJO (AGRx). Frank v Park Avenue Securities. State of California.
114. United States v Daniel Powell. United States District Court in the Central District of California in the Southern Division. Case No. 13-98-3LS.
115. Vision En Analisis Estrategia, S.A. De C. V. v Erwin Legal et al. In Superior Court of the State of California, County of Orange County. Case No.30-2014-00756302-CU-BC-CJC.
116. Vo v Midland National. Superior Court for the State of California, County of San Diego, Central Division, General Unlimited. Case NO.: 37-2010-00089513-CU-BC-CTL.
117. Volk, Pamela v Valerie Goeser. Montana Eighth Judicial District Court, Cascade County. Case No. DDV-13-340.
118. Webb v National Life of Vermont. State of California County of San Diego. Case No.37-2009-00095886-CU-IC-CTL.
119. Wells Fargo Bank v American General Life Insurance Company. In the District Court of Tarrant County, Texas. Case No. 153-247206-10.
120. White v MassMutual, et al. In the Third Judicial District Court, State of Utah, Salt Lake County, West Jordan Department. Case No. 110407591.
121. Wiener v AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company. In the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. Civil Action No.3:18-CV-106-RJC-DSC.
122. Yuva-Pierce, Jerrie v AAA Life Insurance Co. In the United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa, Cedar Rapids Division. Case No.: C16-0169-KEM.
123. Zeltser v John Hancock Life Insurance Co. In the Superior Court of California County of Los Angeles, West District. Case No. SC123905.