PROVEN LAWSUIT RESULTS

Switchboard Operator - Port Gibson, MS

Brain Aneurysm, Disc Bulges, Hypertension, Type II Diabetes, Acute Sinusitis, Joint Pain

“A Mississippi woman worked as a switchboard operator at a local medical center when she unexpectedly suffered a brain aneurysm. The woman also suffered from disc bulges, hypertension, type II diabetes, acute sinusitis, and joint pain. Despite her conditions, she bravely managed to continue working. However, two years later she suffered another aneurysm in a different part of her brain, and had to undergo emergency surgery to repair the damage. She was forced to leave work as a result of her worsening conditions, but applied for and was granted short-term disability benefits. Shortly thereafter, she also applied for long-term disability benefits from her insurer Mutual of Omaha, but was denied. Mutual of Omaha claimed that her brain aneurysm was a pre-existing condition, and refused to provide benefits.

She needed help fighting the insurance company, so she came straight to Fields Disability knowing our expertise would win her case. Our team of attorneys got to work right away, gathering supporting documentation from her medical providers, and building a case to support her claim for long-term disability benefits. We wrote an appeal of the insurance company’s decision, arguing that Mutual of Omaha selectively ignored evidence in her records and failed to properly understand her conditions as they related to her policy. With notice of their failings, and our clarification of their own policy, Mutual of Omaha soon overturned their decision and granted our client the long-term disability benefits she deserved. Our client was very pleased with the result, and soon began to receive regular checks in the mail.”

Foreman - Livingston, TX

Diabetic Neuropathy, Back Pain

“A foreman from Texas started having back pain and neuropathy in his legs and feet. He was diagnosed with diabetes and his doctor also recommended back surgery. His symptoms became too severe and he was forced to stop working. He applied for disability benefits through Sun Life Financial but was denied based on an independent nurse’s opinion of his medical records.

Frustrated and angry with the decision, he contact Fields Disability to assist with the appeal. The attorneys at Fields Disability reviewed the denial documents from Sun Life and determined that the nurse’s assessment of our client’s medical records missed many key items. A doctor had referred our client to a cardiologist and back specialist just a few weeks prior to their denial letter.

Our attorneys mounted a strong appeal against Sun Life and kept our client informed at every turn. Ultimately the insurance company overturned the decision, granting our client ongoing benefits and a lump-sum settlement for back-pay. Our client was overjoyed with the decision, and relieved to have a steady source of income once more.”

Personnel Officer for the State - Le Center, MN

Anxiety, Depression, Panic Attacks, Bipolar 1 Disorder, ADHD

“A woman who worked for many years as a personnel officer for the state was unable to continue to work due to a number of serious and debilitating mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, panic attacks, bipolar 1 disorder, and ADHD. The insurance company accepted her claim and paid her long term disability benefits for two years under the own occupation definition of disability.

After two years, the insurance company continued to pay benefits under the any occupation definition of disability. Despite the woman’s continuing impairments and limitations, the insurance company discontinued her benefits based on an Independent Review Report prepared by a doctor who reviewed the woman’s medical records.

Confused and distraught about the insurance company’s action, the woman called Fields Disability for help. Our team immediately began working on an appeal to fight the insurance company’s discontinuation of benefits. We argued they had ignored important parts of our client’s records, which showed that her condition had not improved and that she continued to suffer from limitations that make her disabled from any occupation. The appeal was a success, and the insurance company reinstated our client’s long-term disability benefits. Our client was put at ease, knowing that she would have financial security despite her disabling mental health conditions.”

Registered Nurse - Albany, OR

Sjogren's Disease, Lupus, Adrenal Insufficiency, Thyroid Issues, Celiac Disease

“A registered nurse from Oregon was 10 years away from retirement. She had worked at the same hospital for 40 years, but had a very complicated medical history due to her clostridium difficile intestinal infections. One day she awoke to extreme pain and discovered blood in her stool. She went to the nearest emergency room and learned she had developed an autoimmune disease called Sjogren’s in addition to Lupus, adrenal insufficiency, thyroid issues, and celiac disease.

The nurse applied for and was granted short-term disability benefits, but just a month later the insurance company cut off their payments. In their denial letter, the insurer claimed the woman did not fit the definition of disability, claiming to have based their decision on an independent physician’s peer review of her medical records. She was stunned, and tried applying for long-term disability benefits without the assistance of an attorney, but was again denied on the same grounds.

The woman knew she needed help and retained Fields Disability to help fight the insurance company. The Fields team wrote a multi pronged appeal of the insurer’s decisions concerning both her short and long-term disability benefits. Our attorneys argued that the insurance company made multiple errors in their evaluation of our client’s ongoing conditions, and incorrectly limited their consideration to only one physician’s peer review.

However, the insurer decided to reject the appeals, claiming that the woman was still capable of full time employment as a nurse. The Fields Disability team filed a lawsuit in federal court. Faced with litigation, the insurance company quickly moved to settle the case and our attorneys were able to secure a large settlement for our client.”

Customer Service Agent - Mesa, AZ

HIV - Immunity Virus, Chronic Low Back Pain, Coronary Artery Disease

“A customer service agent suffering from an immunity virus, chronic low back pain, and coronary artery disease was abruptly cut off from his disability benefits based on the insurance company’s selective and partial review of his medical and vocational records. In support of the discontinuation, the insurance company stated that the claimant should be capable of frequent and continuous sitting and frequent standing and walking. The insurer relied on the opinion of a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist who reviewed the worker’s file and stated that he was able to perform sedentary work.

The disabled worker called Fields Disability because he knew that his insurance company had made a mistake. Our team prepared a winning appeal for our client that exposed the inadequacy of the insurance company’s review.

In preparing the appeal, we gathered reports from our client’s treating doctors and highlighted parts of his medical records to show that he remained entirely disabled from not just his own, but any occupation. We forced the insurance company to admit its mistake, reinstate our client’s long term disability benefits and award him back pay for lost benefits.”