Short & Long Term Disability Cases We’ve Won for Our Clients in Maryland
Fields Law Firm successfully recovers millions of dollars each year for our disabled clients throughout the United States. Our Long Term Disability experience is matched by very few other law firms in the country and has earned us a national reputation.
Here are just a few examples of our Long Term Disability appeal and lawsuit case wins in Maryland.
Michael – Retail Manager – Hagerstown, Maryland
Back Pain, Hip Pain
A retail manager from Maryland had severe hip pain and was forced to stop working. He was approved for Social Security Disability benefits and Long Term Disability benefits through his insurer at work. The Long Term Disability benefits suddenly stopped after two years of payment. The insurer said that the definition of disabled changed and he was no longer eligible for benefits.
Worried about his lost income, and unable to stand or walk for more than a few minutes at a time, he called Fields Law for help. Our team acquired updated medical records from our client’s doctors and ordered new reports to highlight our client’s lack of mobility. The Fields Law attorneys reviewed the evidence and drafted a strong appeal to the insurance company. Unfortunately, the insurer did not change its decision.
Our attorneys filed a lawsuit in federal court to fight for our client’s benefits. During preparation for a hearing, our attorneys negotiated a generous lump-sum settlement. Our client was impressed with the result and the professional advocacy of Fields Law.
Reginald – Senior Plant Technician Operator – Oxon Hill, Maryland
Stroke Symptoms, Drop Foot
A Technical Operator worked for a power company in Maryland for many years. His job involved climbing up and down scaffolding, working on large and complicated machinery, and significant amounts of walking. Unfortunately, he suffered a stroke and began experiencing numbness and tingling in his lower extremities. He eventually was diagnosed with Drop Foot, or total foot numbness. No longer able to climb or walk for any appreciable distance, he was forced to stop working.
He applied for benefits from his Long Term Disability carrier, and was initially approved. When he was released to light-duty work by his physician, his employer couldn’t accommodate his ongoing restrictions and he remained disabled. On these grounds, Metlife terminated benefits, claiming his medical records did not support further functional limitations. He tried appealing the insurer’s decision on his own, but they denied his motion. He remained employed by the power company, but was not allowed to return to work. He felt like he had run out of options.
Knowing he needed help, he turned to Fields Law. Our team of attorneys and legal professionals acquired pertinent medical records, which Metlife claimed not to have. Our attorneys gathered supporting expert opinion from our client’s medical team. Fields Law made several arguments in the appeal, supported by detailed exhibits. The appeal was submitted well before Metlife’s deadline and they soon overturned their prior decision. Our client’s benefits were reinstated and he received a check for back-pay.
Tommy – Distribution Tester – Lusby, Maryland
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Anxiety, Depression, Kidney Stones, Tight Toe Tumor Removal, Diabetes, Hypertension, Hypercholesterolemia, Obesity
A Distribution Tester from Maryland had to stop working following a severely traumatic event of being shot at while sitting in his work truck. As a result of this traumatic event, he suffered from bullet fragments in his neck, and glass fragments in his face. Subsequently, he developed severe anxiety and panic attacks.
However, his insurer denied his Long Term Disability benefits claim, alleging that they did not received any measurable clinical findings to support his inability to work. CIGNA went on to claim that his medical conditions did not preclude him from performing the material duties of his regular occupation.
Shocked at this decision, he contacted the attorneys at Fields Law Firm with only 45 days to submit an appeal. The attorneys at Fields Law were able to collect all the medical records and reports from our client’s doctors and submit an appeal quickly and efficiently. After receiving the appeal, CIGNA realized they needed to overturn their prior decision to deny benefits, and determined our client was indeed disabled. CIGNA issued a check for all the months our client was entitled to immediately, and our client was very happy with the work the Fields Law attorneys did on his Long Term Disability appeal.
