(March 7, 2018, 10:28 AM EST) -- NEW YORK — After determining that a de novo standard of review applies in a disability benefits dispute, a New York federal judge on March 5 found that the insurer’s initial denial of long-term disability (LTD) benefits was justified but said that a question of fact exists as to whether the insurer properly denied the claimant’s administrative appeal (Alexander Sigal v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., No. 16-3397, S.D. N.Y., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 35534)....