Former NFL Linebacker Ka’lial Glaud Sues NFL Player Disability & Survivor Benefit Plan, Alleges Biased Process by Plan Doctors

Former NFL linebacker Ka’lial Glaud, who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys after a standout career at Rutgers University, has filed an ERISA lawsuit against The NFL Player Disability and Survivor Benefit Plan and two of its Medical Advisory Physicians (MAPs): William Simon Garmoe, MA, Ph.D., and Silvana Riggio, M.D.

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on September 9, 2025 (Glaud v. NFL Disability and Survivor Plan, et al., No. 1:25-cv-15373), the complaint seeks (1) disability benefits the Plan allegedly owes and (2) the removal of the two MAP physicians for alleged breaches of fiduciary duty under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).

“This lawsuit builds upon several other cases filed against the NFL Disability and Survivor Plan in the past several years, all of which have shown that the Plan continues to act in a self-serving manner,” said William Reynolds, one of Glaud’s attorneys. “In addition to seeking what is owed to Ka’lial, we are seeking the novel remedy of removal of two of the MAP physicians that have crafted the administrative procedures that allow the systematic denial of benefits to all participants.”

Glaud is represented by William Reynolds, clinical professor at Chicago-Kent College of Law, and Richard Frankel of Bross & Frankel, P.A. (Cherry Hill, NJ).

What the lawsuit alleges

According to the complaint:

• Glaud suffered multiple concussions during his playing career and has ongoing neurocognitive impairments.

• He has not returned to full-time employment since September 2015.

• He applied for Neurocognitive Disability benefits and underwent at least seven independent examinations over several years.

• Although physicians allegedly found consistent and reliable evidence supporting disability, the Plan denied benefits.

• The denial, the suit claims, flowed from a biased process designed and enforced by the Plan’s MAP physicians, who are highly paid and have authority to overrule treating doctors and even the Plan’s own examining physicians.

• Beyond benefits for Glaud, the suit seeks to remove Dr. Garmoe and Dr. Riggio as Plan fiduciaries, alleging they failed to act in participants’ best interests, causing economic harm to Glaud and other Plan participants.

Why this case matters for ERISA claimants

For former professional athletes and employees alike, ERISA is meant to protect participants in employer-sponsored benefit plans—including long-term disability, health benefits, and pension and retirement plans. Cases like Glaud’s highlight recurring issues we see across many ERISA plans:

1. Structural conflicts of interest
   When plan-appointed medical reviewers can override treating specialists, questions arise about impartiality and fiduciary duty.

2. Administrative gatekeeping
   Complex internal procedures can delay or deny legitimate claims, especially in neurocognitive disability matters where evidence may require longitudinal testing and specialist interpretation.

3. Remedies beyond back benefits
   ERISA allows courts to address fiduciary breaches, which can include restructuring decision processes or, as sought here, removal of fiduciaries whose actions allegedly harm participants.

Quick explainer: ERISA disability & “MAP” physicians

• What is ERISA?
  The Employee Retirement Income Security Act sets federal standards for employer-sponsored benefit plans, including claim procedures and fiduciary obligations.

• What are MAP physicians?
  In some plans (including the NFL plan), Medical Advisory Physicians advise or influence benefit decisions. The lawsuit alleges these MAPs designed and enforced procedures that produce systematic denials—an alleged breach of fiduciary duty if proven.

• What evidence matters in neurocognitive claims?
  Records often include neuropsychological testing, imaging when appropriate, treating provider opinions, and functional capacity evidence showing how symptoms affect work on a reliable, sustained basis.

If your disability or pension claim was denied, here’s what to do next

Whether you’re a former professional athlete, union member, or employee covered by a private employer plan in Chicago, a denial is not the end:

1. Get the administrative record.
   Under ERISA, your appeal is usually limited to the evidence in the claim file. Request it promptly.

2. Mind the deadlines.
   ERISA appeals have strict timelines—often 180 days from denial. Missing them can foreclose relief.

3. Strengthen the medical evidence.
   Targeted neuropsychological or specialty evaluations, longitudinal records, and work-impact documentation can be decisive.

4. Spot procedural errors.
   Biased reviewer selection, selective evidence weighting, or failure to engage with treating opinions can support an appeal or litigation.

5. Consult an ERISA attorney early.
   Building a comprehensive administrative record is critical before filing suit.

About Reynolds& — ERISA Lawyers in Chicago

Reynolds& — ERISA Law Clinic focuses exclusively on ERISA law. We represent employees, plan participants, and beneficiaries in disability insurance, health benefits, pension and retirement plan disputes, and fiduciary duty claims.

• Address: 565 W Adams St, Suite 627, Chicago, IL 60661

• Phone: (312) 906-5038

• Hours: Mon–Fri, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

• Practice Focus: ERISA litigation, long-term disability claims, short-term disability appeals, pension benefit disputes, fiduciary breaches.

Facing a denied disability claim or pension dispute?
Call (312) 906-5038 or request a consultation today. Our Chicago ERISA attorneys help plan participants pursue the benefits they’ve earned.

Disclaimer

This post summarizes allegations in a complaint filed on September 9, 2025 in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. Allegations are claims, not findings. Outcomes depend on the facts and the law. This post is informational and not legal advice; reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.

source https://www.reynoldsand.com/kalial-glaud-nfl-disability-erisa-lawsuit/