PROVEN LAWSUIT RESULTS

Program Manager - Norman , OK

Degenerative Joint Disease, Chronic Pain, Depression, Anxiety

“Our client ceased working at a major University as an administrator due to diagnosed disabilities of degenerative joint disease, chronic pain, depression, and anxiety. Due to our client’s disabilities and an inability to work, our client applied for short-term disability benefits. The Insurer approved the short-term benefits and paid benefits until the short-term benefits were exhausted. Our client then transitioned to long-term disability benefits with the insurance company and actually received long-term benefits until the insurer terminated our client’s long-term benefits after two years or 24 months under the Own Occupation definition of disability. The insurance carrier relied on two document reviews and an occupational report to determine that our client no longer was qualified for disability benefits.

Our client was upset with the insurance carrier’s termination of long-term benefits and contacted the attorneys at Fields Disability. Once retained, the attorneys at Fields Disability acquired medical records, functional capacity evaluations, and reports from our client’s treating doctors and submitted an appeal. The insurer in response to the appeal issued a decision and determined to uphold their prior determination to terminate our client’s long-term disability benefits. Neither our client nor the attorneys at Fields Disability agreed with the insurer’s response and filed a second appeal. This appeal, unfortunately, was unsuccessful as well.

Not satisfied with the reasoning the insurance company used to terminate our client’s long-term benefits, the attorneys at Fields Disability filed a lawsuit in federal court to fight for our client’s long-term disability benefits. After only a couple of weeks of filing the lawsuit, the attorneys at Fields Disability were contacted by the attorney for the insurance company because it was clear the attorney felt this case needed to settle quickly. The parties agreed they wanted to have a mediation, and after some persuasive negotiations on the part of the attorneys at Fields Disability during the mediation, the case resolved, and our client received a sizable settlement check.”

Billing Customer Service Representative - Spokane, WA

Multiple Sclerosis, Spastic Paraparesis, Ataxic Gait, Lumbar Radiculopathy, Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease

“A billing customer service representative for a medical laboratory in the state of Washington thoroughly enjoyed her work, but was forced to resign due the progression of her Multiple Sclerosis, spastic paraparesis, ataxic gait, lumbar radiculopathy, and cervical degenerative disc disease. She was initially granted short-term disability benefits. She later applied for long-term disability benefits from MetLife, who approved her application and began sending her payments. However, just a short time later, she received a denial letter from the insurer claiming that she was capable of performing gainful occupations for which she was reasonably qualified.

The woman wanted to appeal MetLife’s decision, but didn’t want to do it alone. She made the right decision when she retained Fields Disability. Our team began putting together a water tight case for our client. We reached out to the medical providers and agencies she had been working with up to that point. We put together an administrative appeal arguing that MetLife had breached federal law by selectively and improperly neglecting certain facts and opinions in her medical record. Further, that a full and complete review of the medical evidence, in addition to the opinions of multiple medical providers, supported our client’s classification as disabled.

After considering our appeal, MetLife soon responded with a letter granting our client the long-term disability benefits she greatly needed. Our client started receiving benefits checks soon afterwards, including back pay for the period that MetLife had incorrectly denied her benefits.”

Project Manager - Corvallis, OR

Migraines, Occipital Neuralgia

“Our client was a project manager for an international IT company. He developed severe migraines and headaches which hindered his ability to work at a computer and tolerate office lighting. He submitted a claim to MetLife, his disability insurance carrier. His claim was initially paid, until MetLife had a so-called independent doctor review his medical records. The doctor said there was no evidence to support that our client would not be able to work. Quite the contrary, our client had three treating physicians that agreed he could not and should not return to work in any capacity.

Our client found Fields Disability while searching for help online. Our attorneys reviewed the claim file from MetLife and determined severe clinically significant findings were overlooked by the independent doctor. We then secured favorable reports from our client’s treating physicians and submitted the appeal. MetLife quickly reversed its denial of benefits and reinstated our client’s claim.”

Warehouse Supervisor - Salina, KS

Adenocarcinoma, Emphysema, Complications from Lung Cancer

“A Warehouse Supervisor from Kansas underwent surgery to remove a tumor in her lung and experienced severe complications. She lost enough blood during the procedure that she had neurological symptoms. She applied for long term disability through her employer’s insurance plan, but the insurer denied her application and said that she missed a deadline for documentation related to coverage.

She was furious that the insurance company accepted years of her premiums and then told her she was not covered. She called Fields Disability for help. Our team obtained the claim file from the insurance company and found that the insurer misinterpreted the applicable law regarding coverage. Fields attorneys drafted a strong appeal to the insurance company but they did not budge. Our attorneys filed a lawsuit in federal court against the insurance company. During preparations for a hearing, our attorneys negotiated a generous lump-sum settlement. Our client accepted and is happy to be through worrying about her disability claim.”

Propane Sales and Customer Support - Elkhorn, WI

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis

“A sales and customer support professional from Wisconsin underwent surgery for severe carpal tunnel syndrome. She suffered from arthritis and osteoporosis for years and hoped that surgery would help relieve symptoms in her arms. Unfortunately, surgery did not fix her symptoms and her intense pain forced her to miss work. She was initially approved for long term disability coverage, but after receiving benefits for several months she was denied. She submitted an appeal, but the insurer did not change its mind.

Worried about her income, and running out of options, she contacted Fields Disability for help. Our team obtained all the records from the insurer and Fields Attorneys determined she had a good case for a lawsuit. We filed a lawsuit in federal court to fight for our client’s rights. During preparation for a hearing, Fields Attorneys negotiated a generous lump sum settlement. Our client was happy to be done fighting the insurance company and continue treatment with her settlement money.”