Mazella v. Medtronic Alleges ERISA Breach Cost Terminally Ill Worker $336K Life Insurance
The estate of a longtime Medtronic employee who died of esophageal cancer has sued the company in federal court, alleging it breached its fiduciary duties under ERISA by failing to notify him of his right to convert a $336,000 group life insurance policy after his coverage lapsed. The group life insurance policy, issued by non-party The Hartford, provided a total death benefit of $336,000.00, consisting of $56,000.00 plus $280,000.00 (Compl. ¶7).
Employment and disability timeline
Michael Mazzella began his employment with Medtronic in January 1991, marking the start of a 29-year tenure with the company (Compl. ¶ timeline events). In July 2017, Michael Mazzella went on short-term disability, followed by long-term disability. On May 31, 2020, plaintiff Lori Mazella and Michael Mazzella were notified of the termination of benefits, including life insurance coverage. On June 28, 2020, Michael Mazzella died of esophageal cancer.
Group life insurance policy terms and termination mechanism
The complaint alleges that Michael Mazzella, who worked for Medtronic for 29 years, participated in the company’s group life insurance policy, which provided a total death benefit of $336,000.00, consisting of $56,000.00 plus $280,000.00 (Compl. ¶7). Under the policy’s terms, individual group life insurance coverage terminated when an employee was no longer “actively at work,” as stated in the complaint: "Individual group life insurance coverage terminated when an employee was no longer actively at work" (Compl. ¶9). However, the policy included provisions for continued coverage under specific circumstances.
Employees on long-term disability were entitled to maintain group life insurance coverage for up to 30 months (Compl. ¶12). Additionally, the policy permitted eligible employees to convert their group life insurance to an individual policy without evidence of insurability, provided they applied within 31 days of the group coverage’s termination. The complaint alleges that the policy entitled eligible employees to convert group life insurance to an individual policy without evidence of insurability (Compl. ¶11). However, Medtronic, as the plan administrator, failed to inform Michael Mazzella of this conversion right or the steps required to exercise it.
On May 31, 2020, plaintiff Lori Mazella and Michael Mazzella received notice that his benefits, including life insurance coverage, were terminated. The complaint alleges that Medtronic’s communications were misleading. The Hartford, the issuer of the group life insurance policy, later denied the plaintiff’s claim, asserting that coverage had terminated on January 5, 2020 with no conversion exercised (Compl. ¶21).
Alleged failure to notify of conversion rights and misleading communications
The complaint alleges Medtronic failed to advise Michael Mazzella or his beneficiary of discontinued group life insurance coverage, conversion rights to an individual policy, or the administrative steps required to exercise those rights. The complaint further alleges that Medtronic informed the plaintiff that "the Employee’s coverage would remain in full force and effect if she continued to pay the policy premiums" (Compl. ¶16).
The complaint alleges the defendant supplied misleading information about how to maintain his coverage and eligibility for the conversion of his coverage, stating that Medtronic provided "misleading information about how to maintain his coverage and eligibility for the conversion of his coverage" (Compl. ¶27). The complaint cites that "an affirmative fiduciary duty to provide conversion notices arises where the terms of the underlying plan or SPD require the employer to provide notice" (Compl. ¶25).
According to the filing, the alleged failure to notify and misleading communications caused Mazzella and his beneficiary to miss the 31-day window to apply for a converted individual policy after group coverage ceased.
$336,000.00 life insurance benefit at issue
The complaint alleges the group life insurance policy at the center of the dispute, issued by The Hartford, carried a total death benefit of $336,000.00, consisting of $56,000.00 plus $280,000.00 (Compl. ¶7). According to the filing, Michael Mazzella, a Medtronic employee for 29 years, was enrolled in the policy until his benefits were terminated in May 2020, one month before his death from esophageal cancer.
The plaintiff contends Medtronic’s alleged failure to provide required notices of conversion rights and its communication that coverage would remain in effect if premiums were paid directly caused the estate to lose the $336,000.00 benefit. The complaint asserts that Medtronic’s breach of its fiduciary duties under ERISA directly resulted in the loss of the life insurance benefits upon Michael Mazzella’s death. The requested relief includes an award of the full $336,000.00 policy benefit, along with costs, expenses, and attorneys’ fees.
Parties
Lori Mazella, executrix of the estate of Michael Mazzella and designated beneficiary under a group life insurance policy issued by The Hartford, filed suit against Medtronic, Inc. The complaint identifies Mazella as the plaintiff, acting in her capacity as executrix and beneficiary. Michael Mazzella began his employment with Medtronic in January 1991 and worked for the company for 29 years before his death.
Medtronic, Inc. is named as the defendant. The company is accused of breaching fiduciary duties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 by failing to provide required notices of conversion rights for the group life insurance policy.
Michael Mazzella, who died on June 28, 2020, is not a party to the litigation. The complaint describes him as a Medtronic employee for 29 years and a participant in the group life insurance policy. At the time of his death, he was terminally ill with esophageal cancer, a fact the complaint alleges Medtronic knew when it notified the plaintiff and Mazzella of the termination of benefits on May 31, 2020 (Compl. ¶15).
Count One: Breach of Fiduciary Duty under ERISA
The complaint alleges that Medtronic, Inc. breached its fiduciary duties under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. Sections 1104, 1132(a)(3)) by failing to provide required notices of conversion rights for a group life insurance policy. According to the filing, ERISA imposes "an affirmative fiduciary duty to provide conversion notices arises where the terms of the underlying plan or SPD require the employer to provide notice" (Compl. ¶25). The plaintiff contends that Medtronic’s omission directly prevented Michael Mazzella from converting his group coverage to an individual policy before his death.
The complaint states that the defendant’s failure to notify Mazzella of his conversion rights misled the plaintiff and Michael Mazzella about his coverage status. The filing further alleges that Medtronic provided misleading information about how to maintain his coverage and eligibility for the conversion of coverage despite knowing Mazzella was terminally ill with esophageal cancer, stating that the defendant provided "misleading information about how to maintain his coverage and eligibility for the conversion of his coverage" (Compl. ¶27).
The complaint alleges that Medtronic’s conduct violated its fiduciary duties by depriving Mazzella of the opportunity to secure continued coverage through conversion, resulting in the loss of a $336,000.00 death benefit, consisting of $56,000.00 plus $280,000.00 (Compl. ¶7). The plaintiff seeks judgment against Medtronic for the full policy amount, along with equitable relief, costs, and attorneys’ fees.
Relief sought: $336,000.00 judgment, equitable relief, costs, and attorneys' fees
The complaint demands a judgment in favor of Lori Mazella, as executrix of the Estate of Michael Mazzella, and against Medtronic, Inc. for the full $336,000.00 death benefit under the group life insurance policy, consisting of $56,000.00 plus $280,000.00 (Compl. ¶7).
In addition to the monetary award, the plaintiff seeks other equitable relief as deemed necessary to make the plaintiff whole, including costs, expenses, and attorneys’ fees. The complaint cites ERISA’s authorization for such relief, which permits a participant or beneficiary to obtain appropriate equitable relief to redress violations or enforce plan terms. The complaint alleges that Medtronic’s failure to provide notice of the conversion rights and its misleading communications violated its fiduciary duties, particularly given its knowledge of Mazzella’s terminal illness at the time of the benefit termination notice on May 31, 2020 (Compl. ¶15).
The allegations described here are taken from the filing and remain unproven; no responsive pleading is reflected in the source document.
The allegations described here are taken from the filing and remain unproven; no responsive pleading is reflected in the source document.
David Brunk is a civil litigation attorney. He can be reached at david@newmanbrunk.com.
From the Complaint Public Court Record
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT ************************************ LORI MAZZELLA : : Plaintiff : : Civil Action No. v. : MEDTRONIC, INC. : JUNE 28, 2026 ************************************ JURISDICTION AND VENUE 1. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 1331 because the claims asserted herein arise under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C.S Section 1001, et seq. 2. This Court has supplemental jurisdiction over state common law or statutory claims nor preempted by federal law pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 1367. 3. Venue is proper in this district because the defendant is doing business in this district, the employee benefit plan at issue was administered in this district and the breaches of duty and claims of omissions given rise to the claims occurred in this district. PARTIES 4. The Plaintiff, Lori Mazella, a resident of Clinton, Connecticut, was duly appointed as Executrix of the Estate of Michael Mazzella, deceased. The Plaintiff brings this action on behalf of the Estate and individually as the designated beneficiary under the group life insurance policy at issue. 5. The Defendant, Medtronic, is a Minnesota corporation doing business in this state, with a principal place of business located at 60 Middletown Avenue, North Haven, Connecticut. The Defendant was the employer of the deceased employee, Michael Mazzella, and was the plan administrator and/or sponsor of the group life insurance plan.
FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS 6. Non-party Michael Mazzella was employed by Medtronic for approximately 29 years as a technician at its North Haven, Connecticut facility. 7. During his employment with the Defendant, Michael Mazzella participated in a group life insurance policy (the “Policy”) issued to the Defendant by The Hartford, having a total death benefit of $336,000.00 ($56,000.00 plus $280,000.00). The defendant pro
Questions about this topic: david@newmanbrunk.com