Wilbraham radiologist sues MassMutual over litigation involving unlicensed Mass. lawyer

SPRINGFIELD — A Wilbraham radiologist is suing MassMutual over a lawsuit in which a defense attorney was lead counsel in a case while not being admitted to practice law in this state.

Jeffrey C. Allard became embroiled in a lawsuit filed in 2020 because the insurance giant refused to pay his individual disability policies out after Allard experienced loss of vision which impaired his ability to practice medicine, according to court records.

His claim in that case says he lost more than $330,000 when the company refused to pay his policies, despite that they never lapsed nor canceled.

A judge dismissed the claims filed by Allard last year and Allard’s appeal also was denied, the court docket shows.

After that, Allard’s attorney determined that an attorney for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co., Michael Welnicki, sponsored another lawyer, Sandra Jones, to assist him in litigation for three years while she was not licensed to practice in the Bay State, according to the more recent lawsuit filed in Hampden Superior Court on Aug. 19.

A judge admitted Jones three years on in the litigation on an emergency basis when a court clerk informed the parties Jones was not properly licensed. Allard is suing for money damages and lawyer’s fees.

MassMutual has not yet responded in court because of the freshness of the lawsuit.

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