PROVEN LAWSUIT RESULTS

Retail Supervisor - Washington, DC

Hidradenitis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

“A supervisor at Wal-Mart stores became disabled when she developed hidradenitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. As a result, she was unable to work. Her insurance provider denied the claim, stating that her conditions fell under a pre-existing condition provision in her policy.

Not sure what she should do, she reached out to Fields Disability. Our attorneys researched the effective date of the policy to determine if the pre-existing condition clause was valid. Additionally, we closely analyzed the medical records and determined that, even if the pre-existing clause was valid, our client’s carpal tunnel diagnosis did not fall under the pre-existing clause in her policy and she would qualify for Long Term Disability benefits. On appeal, Liberty Mutual reversed their decision and paid all past-due benefits. Our client was so impressed with Fields Disability that she hired us to attempt to settle the claim on a full-final and complete basis.”

Payroll Service Manager - Las Vegas, NV

Diabetes, Charcot Arthropathy, Neuropathic Foot Ulceration, Osteoarthritis, Morbid Obesity, Hyperlipidemia, Hypertension

“As a Payroll Service Manager, our client very much enjoyed her work and was a valued employee prior to becoming disabled. She worked at call center as a supervisor, and was responsible for day to day supervision of staff, responding to inquiries ranging from routine to complex, resolving concerns from internal and external customers regarding payroll products and tax services. However, she was unable to perform these material duties because she suffered from diabetes, Charcot arthropathy, neuropathic foot ulceration, osteoarthritis, morbid obesity, hyperlipidemia and hypertension, which were all well-documented in her records.

She initially received short-term disability benefits from Liberty Mutual, but after a few months, she was sent a letter explaining that benefits would stop because Liberty Mutual believed she could go back to work as a Payroll Service Manager. After this determination, she applied for long-term disability benefits, which Liberty Mutual denied because her job was a sedentary occupation and Liberty Mutual believed she could perform the main job duties of her own occupation.

Understandably upset with Liberty Mutual’s determinations, she called Fields Disability for help appealing Liberty Mutual’s decision. The attorneys at Fields Disability contacted our client’s doctors to compile reports of all of her symptoms and treatments and submitted a comprehensive appeal. Liberty Mutual reviewed the appeal Fields Disability submitted, and determined it was wrong in denying her the Long-Term Disability benefits that she rightly deserved, and reversed its denial of benefits. The client was ecstatic, but dumbfounded how Fields Disability was able to get the decision to deny benefits reversed after being denied on multiple occasions by Liberty Mutual.”

Lumber Yard Manager - Chesterfield, MI

Chronic Neck Pain, Neck Fusion Surgery, Weakness throughout both Upper Arms, Gait Instability

“Our client was a lumber yard manager from Michigan suffering with chronic neck pain after undergoing a multilevel neck fusion surgery. He was removed from work and his treating providers noted he could not return to the physical nature of his previous occupation. He applied for long-term disability benefits through his employer’s plan with Greater Georgia Life. Unfortunately, the insurer denied the claim asserting based on its review he could continue to perform the material duties of his occupation.

Our client turned to Fields Disability for help. Our team worked with our client to build an appeal fighting this denial. We wrote to our client’s doctors receiving extensive narrative reports specifically responding to the insurers grounds for denial. Additionally, we pointed out substantial errors in the review that failed to consider all the relevant evidence in the claim file. After receiving our appeal, the insurer reversed its decision, paid our client his backpay, and commenced monthly long-term disability benefits.”

Research and Development Chemist - Joplin, MO

Chronic Breathing Conditions, Chronic Headaches, Deep Vein Thrombosis, Pulmonary Emboli, Multiple Sites of Degenerative Joint Disease

“A 63-year-old Chemist from Missouri who formerly worked at a large candy company as a Research and Development Chemist suffered from chronic breathing conditions, chronic headaches, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary emboli, and multiple sites of degenerative joint disease. He initially received long-term disability benefits, but after a few months he was sent a letter explaining that benefits would stop because he no longer met the insurers definition of disabled. The attorneys at Fields Disability submitted an appeal with two independent medical evaluations and several reports from his physicians. The insurer decided to still deny him his benefits.

Our attorneys filed a lawsuit against the insurance company in federal court to fight for our client. During preparation for trial, Fields Disability attorneys were able to negotiate a generous lump-sum settlement for our client. He was overjoyed with the resolution of his case.”

Licensed Practical Nurce - Pendleton, IN

COPD, Pneumonia, Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Immunodeficiency, Depression, Anxiety

“Our client who was a nurse was forced to stop working due to a variety of medical conditions including COPD, pneumonia, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, depression and anxiety.

She applied for long-term disability benefits. Unum accepted her claim and began paying benefits. However, for the first two years of benefits, the woman only had to show Unum that she was not capable of working in her job as a nurse. After the first two years of benefits, she had to show that she was not capable of returning to any gainful occupation. Unum used this “change in the definition of disability” as an opportunity to deny the woman’s ongoing benefits.

Unum discontinued her benefits and cited a listed of jobs that they felt she was capable of performing. The woman knew she did not have the physical capacity to perform any of the jobs. Moreover, she lacked the necessary education, experience, and skills.

She turned to Fields Disability for help. The attorneys at Fields Disability took a weight off the woman’s shoulders by handling the entire appeal process. We worked with our client’s doctors to refute Unum’s assertions that she could return to work in various jobs. We gathered medical records and drafted legal arguments in support of our client’s claim for benefits.

After reviewing the information that Fields Disability submitted in support of her appeal, Unum was forced to overturn their denial of benefits, paid her back pay and reinstated her disability benefits.”