Philadelphia ERISA and Bad Faith Insurance Attorney for Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, and Retirement Plan Claims

photo of adam garner philadelphia erisa and long term disability attorney

Adam H. Garner, Esquire, is the Founder and Managing Member of The Garner Firm, Ltd., located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He concentrates his practice on ERISA litigation, bad faith insurance disputes, long-term disability appeals, life insurance benefit claims, and retirement plan cases. With two decades of experience as a skilled ERISA, insurance and employment attorney, he has built a reputation as a dedicated advocate for employee benefit plan participants, beneficiaries, and insured individuals who need aggressive representation against insurance carriers and other employee benefit plan fiduciaries.

Extensive Experience in ERISA and Employee Benefits

Mr. Garner has handled ERISA lawsuits in state and federal courts nationwide, including claims for benefits and equitable relief actions under Section 502(a) of ERISA and fiduciary breach litigation. His thorough knowledge of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 spans from administrative appeals to complex multi-party litigation. As a former administrator of multi-million and billion-dollar multiemployer benefit plans, he has firsthand insight into the policies, procedures, and fiduciary obligations that govern retirement plans, health benefits, and long-term disability programs.

Skilled Advocate in Bad Faith Insurance and Disability Claims

Mr. Garner devotes a significant portion of his practice to first-party bad faith insurance litigation, and ERISA benefits claims holding insurance companies accountable when they fail to honor valid claims or engage in unfair practices. His in-depth understanding of long-term disability policies, life insurance contracts, and bad faith insurance laws allows him to prepare compelling cases for clients who have been unjustly denied benefits. By combining careful review of policy language with strategic advocacy, he works tirelessly to obtain the full scope of benefits owed to his clients.

Additional Experience in Employment Law

In addition to his ERISA and insurance litigation work, Mr. Garner regularly assists clients with employment law matters, including negotiating and drafting employment contracts and severance agreements. His Philadelphia-based practice includes counseling employees regarding wage and hour issues and litigating wage and hour cases and select employment discrimination claims. Leveraging years of hands-on experience in both litigation and contract review, Mr. Garner develops tailored strategies to protect his clients’ interests—whether they are seeking fair compensation, clear terms in an offer letter, or a strong position in severance negotiations.

Bar Admissions and Recognitions

Licensed to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland, as well as several federal district courts and U.S. Courts of Appeals, Mr. Garner is positioned to assist clients in various jurisdictions. He regularly writes and speaks on ERISA litigation, employee benefits law, insurance bad faith, and employment law topics for legal conferences, bar associations, and professional publications. His contributions as a chapter editor and senior editor for multiple editions of Employee Benefits Law (published by the American Bar Association in conjunction with Bloomberg) demonstrate his commitment to shaping the field. Mr. Garner has been named a Pennsylvania SuperLawyer or Rising Star every year since 2018.

Client-Centered Approach

Throughout every phase of representation, Mr. Garner prioritizes transparency and open communication, offering clients a clear path forward whether they are facing long-term disability denials, life insurance claim disputes, retirement plan challenges, or employment-related concerns. His approach involves both negotiation and litigation, ensuring that each case strategy is fully customized to the client’s unique circumstances.

Video: Questions To Ask Before Hiring an ERISA Attorney

Nationally Recognized Long-Term Disability Lawyer and Speaker

In addition to representing clients, Adam is a regular speaker and author on topics related to employment law and employee benefits law. For the last several years, Adam has served as a Contributing Author, Chapter Editor, and Senior Editor of the highly regarded treatise Employee Benefits Law, which is published by Bloomberg BNA. He is also a Subcommittee Co-Chair of the American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law, Employee Benefits Committee and the Chair-Elect of the ABA’s Torts, Trial, Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) Health and Disability Insurance Committee.

Speaking Engagements

  • “Civil Procedure Update,” ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law, Employee Benefits Committee, Mid-Winter Meeting, February 2025
  • “ERISA Issues Arising for Labor and Employment Lawyers,” ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law 18th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference, November 2024
  • “ERISA Litigation Remedies,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Employment Law Institute, April 2024“
  • “Benefits Claim Litigation,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Employment Law Institute, April 2023
  • “Benefit Claims Administration and Litigation,” ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law, Employee Benefits Committee, Mid-Winter Meeting, February 2023
  • “Benefit Claims – Part I: Administrative Procedures,” ABA Joint Committee on Employee Benefits Plans ERISA Basics National Institute, November 2022”
  • “Benefit Claims – Part II: Litigation Overview,” AABA Joint Committee on Employee Benefits Plans ERISA Basics National Institute, November 2022”
  • “The Ever-Evolving Standard of Review in ERISA Health and Disability Litigation,” ABA Joint Committee on Employee Benefits webinar, October 2022”
  • “From Long-COVID to Compliance with Regulations: Trends in Health and Welfare Administration and Disability Litigation,” ABA Joint Committee on Employee benefits Plans Employee Benefits Law Update: A Year in Review Webinar Series, March 2022
  • “Pension and Welfare Plan Overpayments – What Plans and Participants Need to Know,” ABA Joint Committee on Employee Benefits Plans Webinar, February 2022
  • “ERISA Litigation and Attorneys’ Fees,” ABA Torts, Trial, Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) Health and Disability Committee Webinar, August 2020
  • “Multiemployer Pension Plans: Selected Topics,” ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law, Employee Benefits Committee, Mid-Winter Meeting, February 2020
  • “Attorneys’ Fees in ERISA Litigation ,” ABA Torts, Trial, Insurance Practice Section (TIPS), 46th Annual Midwinter Symposium on Insurance and Employee Benefits, January 2020
  • “Life Happens: Impact of Divorce, Disinheritance, and Murder on Life Insurance Claims,” ABA Torts, Trial, Insurance Practice Section (TIPS), 45th Annual Midwinter Symposium on Insurance and Employee Benefits, January 2019
  • “Remedies,” ABA Joint Committee on Employee Benefits ERISA Basics National Institute, October 2018
  • “Spousal Rights Under ERISA Plans: QDROs, and QMCSOs,” ABA Joint Committee on Employee Benefits ERISA Basics National Institute, October 2018
  • “Subrogation and Reimbursement Claims,” ABA Joint Committee on Employee Benefits ERISA Basics National Institute, October 2018
  • “Benefit Claims Litigation: Discovery, Experts, Standard of Review and Discovery and Dispositive Motions,” ABA Joint Committee on Employee Benefits Advanced ERISA Benefits Claims Litigation Seminar, May 2018
  • “Administrative Appeals Review – Health Claims,” ABA Joint Committee on Employee Benefits Advanced ERISA Benefits Claims Litigation Seminar, May 2018
  • “Recent Developments in Life Insurance Litigation: Contestable Claims, Misrepresentations, Rescissions, STOLI, and Class Actions,” ABA Torts, Trial, Insurance Practice Section (TIPS), 44th Annual Midwinter Symposium on Insurance and Employee Benefits, January 2018
  • “Spousal Rights Under ERISA Plans: QDROs, and QMCSOs,” ABA Joint Committee on Employee Benefits ERISA Basics National Institute, October 2017
  • “Subrogation and Reimbursement Claims,” ABA Joint Committee on Employee Benefits ERISA Basics National Institute, October 2017
  • “External Review Pros & Cons: Perspectives of the Plan and Claimant,” ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law, Employee Benefits Committee, Mid-Winter Meeting, February 2016
  • “Sweet (ERISA) Mystery of Life (Insurance),” ABA Section of Labor & Employment Law, Employee Benefits Committee, Mid-Winter Meeting, February 2014
  • “Multiemployer Health Plans and the Affordable Care Act,” BNA webinar, November 14, 2013
  • “Employment Laws Made Simple,” NBI Seminars, March 21, 2012
  • “Multi-Employer Pension Plans: Withdrawal Liability,” IOMA (BNA) webinar, 2011
  • “The HIRE Act: Benefits and Possible Pitfalls for Employers,” HRHero.com teleconference, 2010
  • “Changes to COBRA After ARRA,” Labor and Employment Law Developments in Uncertain Times, 2009
  • “Employment Records Retention Requirements Under Federal and Maryland Law,” Records Retention and Destruction, Lorman Education Series, 2007 and 2008

Recent Reported Decisions

Campbell v. Royal Bank Supplemental Exec. Ret. Plan, 646 F. Supp. 3d 629 (E.D. Pa. 2022)
Campbell v. Royal Bank Supplemental Exec. Ret. Plan, 625 F. Supp. 3d 387 (E.D. Pa. 2022)
Bansept v. G&M Auto., 557 F. Supp. 3d 584 (E.D. Pa. 2021)
Dwyer v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of Am., 548 F. Supp. 3d 468 (E.D. Pa. 2021)
Edwards v. Albert Einstein Med. Ctr., 533 F. Supp. 3d 215 (E.D. Pa. 2021)
Dwyer v. Unum Life Ins. Co. of Am., 470 F. Supp. 3d 434 (E.D. Pa. 2020)
Bansept v. G & M Auto., 434 F. Supp. 3d 253 (E.D. Pa. 2020)
Solkoff v. Pennsylvania State Univ., 435 F. Supp. 3d 646 (E.D. Pa. 2020)
Sadowski v. Tuckpointers Local 52 Health & Welfare Tr., 281 F. Supp. 3d 710 (N.D. Ill. 2017)