Short & Long Term Disability Cases We’ve Won for Our Clients in North Carolina
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 North Carolina.
Pamela – Specimen Processer – Sharpsburg, North Carolina
Bilateral Carpel Tunnel Syndrome, Spinal Stenosis, Lyme Disease
A 48-year-old woman from North Carolina suffered from several disabilities including bilateral carpel tunnel syndrome, spinal stenosis, and Lyme disease. As a Specimen Processor, she was required to stand for long periods of time, use her hands and wrists, delicately handle blood samples, bacteria cultures and bodily organs, none of which was possible with quivering hands and extreme pain. She received Short Term Disability benefits, but the application for Long Term Disability was denied.
She then hired Fields Law Firm to appeal the denial and our attorneys requested supportive medical reports from her rheumatologist, orthopedist and longtime family physician. The medical report requests were designed to have each doctor answer the right questions relating to the client’s disability, and to explain why she was unable to do her job as a specimen processor. The doctors responded with highly supportive reports clearly showing that our client was disabled and unable to work.
After a brief but careful review, the insurer reversed its denial and awarded Long Term Disability benefits to our client, who will now receive the much-needed Long Term Disability payments to help her get better and hopefully return to the workforce.
Donald – Manufacturing Operator – Raleigh, North Carolina
Osteoarthritis of Right Hand and Lower Back, Heart Disease
Just three years away from retirement, a North Carolina man had spent nearly his entire career working in manufacturing. His job required him to stand on his feet all day, running machinery and lifting equipment. After decades of wear and tear, his body eventually hurt too much to continue working. His doctors diagnosed him with osteoarthritis of the hand and lower back, and told him he had also developed heart issues. Knowing his conditions were serious, the man applied for and was granted Social Security Disability benefits.
He also applied for Long Term Disability benefits from his insurance. However, his application was denied by the insurer because he allegedly did not meet the definition of “disabled” and was capable of performing the essential duties of his old job. In their denial, the insurer even admitted to reading the Social Security Administration’s grant of benefits, but still refused to acknowledge his need for Long Term Disability benefits.
The man knew he needed help appealing the denial of his benefits. He contacted Fields Law, and our team of attorneys immediately began building his case. We worked with his physicians to produce supporting medical documentation, and wrote a very strong appeal of the denial. Considering our arguments, the insurer had no choice but to reverse their prior decision and approve our client’s appeal. Our client soon had his benefits reinstated, and also received a check for back pay.
Tracy – Management Trainee at Rental Car Business – Charlotte, North Carolina
Fibromyalgia, Multiple Sclerosis, Depression, Hypertension, Migraines, Myelitis-Idiopathic Transverse
A manager from North Carolina had been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Multiple Sclerosis. Her job at a rental car business required her to drive the rental cars and work overtime. She was forced to stop working because she could only work six hours a day and was prescribed medications that would prohibit her from operating a moving vehicle. She initially received Long Term Disability benefits from her insurer, but after a few months she was sent a letter explaining that benefits would stop because she no longer met their definition of “disabled.” The mother of twins was upset at her sudden loss of income, so she contacted Fields Law Firm for help.
The attorneys at Fields Law contacted our client’s doctors to compile reports of all of her symptoms and treatments and also hired their own vocational expert to review the case and issue a report. Her attorneys filed an appeal, and the insurer reversed its denial decision and reinstated her Long Term Disability benefits. The attorneys were able to get a lump-sum for all the missed payments our client was rightfully entitled to.
