Short & Long Term Disability Cases We’ve Won for Our Clients Against Principal

A car salesman from North Carolina suffered from Lupus, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Myositis, and Degenerative Disc Disease. Unfortunately, his conditions progressively worsened until his doctors were forced to take him off work. His insurance company paid him Long Term Disability benefits for two years under the Own Occupation definition of disability. However, six months before the definition of disability changed, Principal started reviewing his case. They hired private investigators to follow him and his family, sent him to an IME, and had individuals do an in-home visit to assess his disability. Based upon this review, Principal cut off his benefits, alleging he would not satisfy the new definition of disability.

He quickly reached out to Fields Law Firm for help fighting this decision. Our team of attorneys successfully argued that our client’s condition was progressive and, in fact, worsening. Additionally, our team reviewed the surveillance footage from Principal’s private investigators and showed that this surveillance actually supported our client’s disability claim. Lastly, our attorneys documented the numerous moments where Principal selectively cited, misstated, and ignored relevant evidence in denying benefits. After reviewing our appeal, the denial decision was reversed. Our client was awarded back pay, and recommenced monthly benefit payments.

A nurse supervisor from Missouri was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She took medication to offset her symptoms but eventually she began feeling extreme fatigue and cognition problems. She got into a car accident because her right leg suddenly went numb. She was forced to stop working. She applied for Long Term Disability but was denied by the insurance company and was told she could return to work.

With her symptoms worsening and her income gone, she called Fields Law for help. Our team gathered all our client’s medical records as well as Principal’s file. Our attorneys ordered additional neurologic evaluations. Once the evidence was strengthened, Fields Law attorneys sent a strong appeal to Principal. The denial was overturned, and our client received a lump-sum benefit for back-pay and was awarded ongoing monthly benefits.

A young man who worked as a document processor for a Detroit law firm was hit by a drunk driver. As a result, he suffered a disc herniation in his neck, cervical facet syndrome, and a cervical spine sprain. He was in constant pain and eventually was forced to undergo surgery to fuse his cervical spine at the C4-C5 disc. Due to his condition, he was unable to continue working. His insurer initially approved him for Short Term Disability benefits. When he applied for Long Term Disability benefits, his insurer alleged that he was capable of performing his job and denied his benefits.

Unsure of what to do and how to live without an income, he got in touch with Fields Law. Our attorneys began compiling all of the necessary medical records and reached out to the client’s doctors to obtain narrative reports which detailed his impairments, treatment, and continuing symptoms. Our attorneys then submitted a compelling appeal to the insurer. Upon review, our client’s benefits were promptly reinstated. Our client was overjoyed to find out that the insurer had reversed their denial and was able to rest easy knowing that he would have an income to live off of.