⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

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Pistilli v. First UNUM Life Insurance Company — 2d Cir. (argued September 3, 2026)

No. 25-2866 Argued September 3, 2026 Published September 5, 2026

The Second Circuit hears Pistilli versus First Unum Life Insurance Company. Lia Pistilli, a lawyer, sought long-term disability benefits after a car accident. First Unum denied her claim, and the district court upheld that decision. Her appeal challenges the handling of her claim and the judge's review of the medical evidence.

Pistilli v. First UNUM Life Insurance Company (No. 25-2866) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, argued September 3, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — Second Circuit:https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/audio/25-2866.mp3
Case and argument date — Second Circuit recording index:https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/oral_arguments.html
Appealed findings — October 3, 2025, pp. 1–3, 13–20:https://cases.justia.com/federal/district-courts/new-york/nysdce/1%3A2024cv05266/624696/39/0.pdf
Appeal and counsel — Second Circuit docket:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca2/25-2866
Mark DeBofsky — current firm biography:https://www.debofsky.com/about-us/mark-d-debofsky/
DeBofsky Law corroboration — Oye v. Hartford, counsel appearances:https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-7th-circuit/117385111.html
Patrick Begos — current firm biography:https://www.rc.com/patrick-w-begos
Robinson and Cole corroboration — January 21, 2026 court opinion, p. 1:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-nyed-2_21-cv-05825/pdf/USCOURTS-nyed-2_21-cv-05825-1.pdf
Benefit-plan coverage — 29 U.S.C. § 1003:https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/29/1003
ERISA overview — GAO, pp. 4–6:https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-21-376.pdf
Review of benefit denials — McCauley, pp. 13–15:https://cases.justia.com/federal/appellate-courts/ca2/06-5100/06-5100-cv_opn-2011-03-27.pdf
Independent review and trial findings — Krizek, Discussion II:https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/345/91/550623/
Clear-error review — Doe v. Menefee, pp. 163–165:https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/391/147/559366/

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