Policyholders successful in class action against CNO Financial, jury trial decides

In a groundbreaking jury trial victory, Weisbrod Matteis & Copley PLLC and DeLaney & DeLaney LLC successfully represented policyholders in a class action lawsuit against CNO Financial Group, Inc. and CNO Services, LLC. The lawsuit centered around alleged overcharges in life insurance policy premiums, particularly related to the ‘LifeTrend’ policies issued by the former CNO subsidiary, Conseco Life Insurance Company.

Lead plaintiffs William “Jeff” Burnett and Dr. Joe Camp were awarded damages for breach of contract by an Indianapolis jury on June 18, 2025. The jury opted for the damages model that offered the most compensation to policyholders. Dr. Camp received $205,141, while Mr. Burnett was awarded $13,911, excluding interest. The total damages estimated for the class of around 2,000 policyholders now amount to $83.2 million after accounting for previous settlement payments, with total damages reaching $211.3 million when interest is factored in.

The case, titled Burnett, et al. v. Conseco Life Insurance Co., et al., was initiated in 2012 and is currently ongoing in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Despite objections from CNO, the lawsuit was certified as a nationwide class action. Plaintiffs have alleged that CNO imposed increased premiums and unjust “cost of insurance” charges that violated the policy terms, prompting policyholders to surrender their policies as predicted by CNO’s actuaries.

CNO has contested liability for breaches in policies issued by Conseco Life Insurance Company, which settled for $27 million and is no longer a part of the case. This issue will be deliberated in a subsequent trial scheduled to commence on August 25, 2025.

Lead counsel Stephen Weisbrod highlighted the jury’s rejection of CNO’s defenses, emphasizing their acceptance of the policyholders’ stance on calculating damages using CNO’s internal coverage valuations. Co-lead counsel Kathleen DeLaney expressed satisfaction at the precedent-setting victory achieved on behalf of policyholders affected by CNO’s policy amendments that led to significant harm.

Weisbrod Matteis & Copley PLLC specializes in representing various plaintiffs in insurance recovery and related cases, serving clients across different sectors, while DeLaney & DeLaney LLC is an Indianapolis-based litigation firm handling civil matters and class actions in both federal and state courts in Indiana. Both firms have earned recognition for their legal expertise and dedication to advocating for their clients.

This victory marks a significant milestone in holding insurance companies accountable for improper practices and delivering justice to policyholders who suffered financial harm due to policy changes beyond their control.