Portland Life Insurance Lawyer
Christian Lassen, Esq. | Quoted in The Wall Street Journal | 25 Years Experience
In Portland, Oregon’s largest city, known for its independent spirit, natural beauty, and thriving arts scene, families dealing with denied or delayed life insurance claims often face aggressive tactics from national insurers. At The Lassen Law Firm, we help Portland residents recover life insurance benefits wrongfully denied including accidental death claims, policy lapse disputes, and ERISA group denials.
Attorney Christian Lassen, Esq. brings over 25 years of national experience focused exclusively on life insurance law. With hundreds of millions recovered, our firm fights on behalf of policyholders and beneficiaries across Portland and throughout Multnomah County.
Why Portland Families Trust The Lassen Law Firm
Life Insurance Is All We Do
We do not handle general litigation or injury claims. Our sole focus is helping clients win life insurance disputes.
Serving the US
We serve all 50 states and handle both individual and employer-provided policies.
Work Directly with Attorney Lassen
Every client works directly with Christian Lassen, from the first call through resolution.
Recent Case Highlights for Oregon Clients
$710,000 ERISA life insurance payout for a Portland widow after a denial citing a missed premium. We proved the employer failed to notify her spouse of conversion rights during medical leave.
$670,000 accidental death benefit recovered when the insurer claimed intoxication excluded coverage. Our investigation showed no legal basis for the denial.
$620,000 secured for a client in the Pearl District after the insurer alleged misrepresentation related to a past cancer diagnosis. We demonstrated the condition was fully disclosed.
Life Insurance Claim Types We Handle in Portland
Accidental Death Claim Denials
Including exclusions based on alcohol use, criminal activity, or ambiguous policy language.
Policy Lapses
We assess whether notices were properly sent and whether grace periods were honored.
Application Misrepresentation
We fight back when insurers rescind policies due to minor or outdated medical discrepancies.
Beneficiary Disputes
We represent rightful claimants in conflicts involving divorce, stepchildren, or forged change forms.
Employer Group Plan Denials (ERISA)
We handle federal ERISA appeals and lawsuits when employees’ benefits are wrongfully denied.
Portland Neighborhoods and Areas We Serve
We represent clients throughout the Portland area, including:
Pearl District
Sellwood-Moreland
Northwest District
Laurelhurst
Alberta Arts District
Hawthorne
St. Johns
Goose Hollow
Beaverton
Gresham
Lake Oswego
Whether your policy was purchased privately or through an Oregon-based employer, we are ready to help you fight back and win.
What to Expect
Free claim review
Aggressive strategy tailored to your case
Direct communication with Christian Lassen
No fee unless we recover for you
Get the Benefits You’re Owed
You don’t pay us unless we win your case. Call now for a free, private consultation.
Call The Lassen Law Firm at 800-330-2274 to speak directly with attorney Christian Lassen.
Written & Reviewed by Christian Lassen, Esq.
National Life Insurance Attorney | 25+ Years of Experience
Quoted in The Wall Street Journal (May 17, 2025)
Last reviewed: June 13, 2025
Our FAQ
Have questions? We are here to help. Still have questions or can't find the answer you need? Give us a call at 800-330-2274 today!
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A grace period is the time after a missed payment during which the policy remains in force, usually 30 to 60 days depending on state law and policy terms.
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No. In most states, insurers must send a written notice of overdue premiums and warn of pending lapse before terminating coverage.
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The policy may still be enforceable. Beneficiaries can challenge the lapse based on the insurer’s failure to provide required notice.
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Yes. If the insured dies during the grace period, the policy is still considered active, and benefits should be paid.
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Yes. In group life insurance policies, employers sometimes fail to forward premiums properly, leading to wrongful lapse denials.
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Yes. If automatic payment setups fail through no fault of the insured, lapses may be challenged.
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Some policies automatically borrow against cash value to cover missed payments. Failure to apply this correctly can lead to wrongful lapse claims.
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Possibly. Some courts excuse nonpayment if the insured was mentally incapacitated and missed premiums without proper notice.
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No. Reinstatement must occur while the insured is alive, but wrongful lapse denials can still be challenged posthumously.
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Not without following strict notice and grace period rules. Beneficiaries can often challenge technical denials.
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Deadlines vary by state, but it’s critical to act within 1 to 5 years depending on the policy and jurisdiction.
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Not necessarily. Payments mailed within grace periods or accepted by insurers may keep coverage active.
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Bank records, payment receipts, insurer correspondence, and premium notices are key evidence.
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If the insurer used an outdated address despite updated information, lapse denials can often be overturned.
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Possibly. If the insured submitted a reinstatement application before death, it may help challenge a lapse denial.
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In some states, special grace periods and protections applied during COVID-19 emergencies. They can help fight wrongful lapses.
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Only if the insurer followed all legal notice and grace period requirements. Otherwise, beneficiaries may still recover.
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Misapplied premiums can lead to wrongful lapses — and courts often hold insurers accountable for these errors.
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An attorney can obtain records, challenge improper lapses, negotiate settlements, and litigate if necessary to enforce payment.
Our Clients Speak Volumes
The Right Choice for Your Claim
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“They rejected our claim, saying the treatment my wife was undergoing wasn’t FDA-approved. The Lassen team got expert testimony and proved the procedure wasn’t the cause of death. That made all the difference.”- Anthony J.
Why The Lassen Law Firm Is Different
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Proven National ResultsRepresenting clients coast to coast and recovering hundreds of millions in denied life insurance claims, we secure justice and peace of mind for families everywhere.
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Recognized ExpertisePerfect 10.0 Avvo rating endorsed by over 1,700 attorneys; life member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum; ranked among the top 1 percent of lawyers nationally for life insurance litigation.
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Client-First AdvocacyNo upfront fees: our contingency fee guarantee aligns our interests with yours; we provide personalized, compassionate representation from your initial consultation through resolution.
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Media & Community LeadershipQuoted in The Wall Street Journal and featured in leading legal publications; frequent speaker at national conferences; dedicated to charitable efforts supporting pediatric cancer care.