Samfiru Tumarkin LLP has filed a $5.3M lawsuit in Ontario Superior Court alleging that insurance provider Sun Life Financial callously cut off long-term disability (LTD) payments to a clinically depressed mother of two, because she provides around-the-clock care to her severely disabled son.

“Despite extensive medical opinions that her health is actually getting worse, Sun Life wrongly believes that our client’s ability to care for her severely disabled son suggests that she is not “totally disabled”, and can return to work,” said disability lawyer James K. Fireman, a partner at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP who is representing 44-year-old Sandra Bullock.

Fireman joined The Roy Green Show on The Corus Radio Network to discuss Bullock's case.

Sandra Bullock’s Story

Bullock suffers from thoroughly diagnosed major depressive disorder, anxiety and recurring migraines. She is the primary caregiver to her extremely developmentally delayed 9-year-old son, Jacob, who requires constant supervision, especially at night, when his sleep is regularly interrupted because he has difficulty swallowing.

Bullock’s commitment to her son has resulted in a tremendous lack of sleep, and the exhaustion has taken a toll on her mental and physical health, culminating with her leave of absence from work.

In addition to caring for Jacob, Bullock also suffers from various physical ailments. In 2011, her mother passed away. Approximately 6 months later, her sister was diagnosed with liver failure. And in 2013, her father was diagnosed with cancer.