The heart of the matter

Good news for top US and City lawyers.

A partner in the Washington DC office of top US firm Morgan Lewis & Bockius who suffers from heart disease, and was told by doctors to reduce his working hours, has won a court battle with an insurer which refused to pay him long-term disability benefit.

The insurer said there was no proven link between work stress and heart attacks.

The judge said this did not relate to those who have already suffered a coronary 'event'.

It brings to mind a booklet on the differences between UK and US lawyers earlier this year (see [2001] Gazette, 1 March, 3), which quoted one UK lawyer saying he had recently received a message from a US lawyer involved in the same deal, apologising for not having been in contact for 48 hours.

'I've had a heart attack, but am now fine and back in charge,' he reportedly said.