METLIFE INC

MetLife uses aggressive tactics to minimize life insurance and AD&D payouts. In Finney v. MetLife (Case No. 24-13140, Jan 2026), 11th Circuit explicitly criticized MetLife's legal analysis for "making a hash" of its own coverage provisions to avoid payment. MetLife historically used "Total Control Accounts" (TCAs) to hold death benefits rather than paying lump sums, earning interest on funds belonging to grieving beneficiaries.

In June 2020, MetLife reached $84M settlement to resolve securities fraud class action. Shareholders alleged the company failed to disclose it had not been properly using the Social Security Administration's Death Master File to identify deceased policyholders, allowing continued premium collection and withholding of billions in death benefits from beneficiaries who were unaware the policies existed.

MetLife Bank paid $123.5M to DOJ to resolve False Claims Act allegations for knowingly originating hundreds of "underwater" and ineligible FHA-insured mortgages (2008-2012), contributing to foreclosure wave. Separately, MetLife has been repeatedly sued (Cantor v. MetLife) for defrauding elderly investors by guaranteeing high returns on real estate securities ultimately diverted to "lavish lifestyles" of authorized agents.

MetLife Bank paid $123.5M to DOJ under False Claims Act for knowingly originating ineligible FHA-insured mortgages (2008-2012). Elder fraud class actions (Cantor v. MetLife) document pattern of defrauding elderly investors with guaranteed high returns on diverted real estate securities.