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

A purchasing agent for a steel company in Texas suffered from debilitating pain caused by sacroiliitis and degenerative disc disease. She also suffered from ischemic heart disease. As a result, she was unable to perform her job. Her Long Term Disability insurer initially approved the claim and paid benefits for two years. The Hartford later denied the claim on the assertion that they had identified occupations she could perform and was therefore no longer disabled under her policy.

Unable to work and not knowing what she was supposed to do, she found the attorneys at Fields Law. Our team began by reviewing all of the records The Hartford had and getting updated records to provide. We sent her for testing, which objectively showed she did not have the ability to perform any type of work. We also obtained a report from our client’s treating doctor which outlined her conditions. On appeal, The Hartford reversed their decision and reinstated the payment of monthly benefits. Our client felt an incredible sense of relief knowing that she had an income on which to support herself moving forward.

An administrator in a medical clinic began experiencing chest pain and, after numerous tests, doctors concluded she had suffered a pulmonary embolism. Her job required sitting at a desk for hours at a time. Her doctors advised that sitting for extended periods put her at risk for additional blood clots. She was forced to stop working. She applied for Long Term Disability benefits from her insurer, but was denied because she did not fit the insurance company’s definition of disabled.

Shocked at the decision, and concerened about losing her income, she contacted Fields Law for help. The Fields Law attorneys discovered that the insurance company misinterpreted the recommendation of our client’s primary doctor, who said our client’s condition was too serious to return to work. Our attorneys highlighted this error in the appeal, and strengthened the record with updated medical records. Ultimately, the insurer overturned their decision and granted back-pay and ongoing benefits for our client. With her monthly disability award, she looked forward to continuing her treatment and being able to support herself.

A Staffing Agent from New York was a valued employee prior to becoming disabled. She suffered from spinal stenosis in the lumbar region, cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy and lumbar laminectomy. By a two-page letter, her insurer notified her that, after reviewing her claim, her Long Term Disability benefits were denied because her own occupation required sedentary level work, which The Hartford believed she could perform.

Upset with this denial of Long Term Disability benefits, she called Fields Law to help her appeal the denial decision. The attorneys at Fields Law contacted our client’s doctors to compile reports of all of her symptoms and treatments. Her attorneys reviewed her Functional Capacity Evaluation, which determined she was unable to perform sedentary work. The Fields Law attorneys submitted an appeal stressing and comparing the FCE to the physical requirements outlined in the Staffing Agent/Manager Client Programmer job description. They pointed out that only one conclusion can be reached; she was unable to perform the material duties of her own occupation, due to both the lifting requirements as well as prolonged standing, and walking requirements. The Hartford agreed, reversed its denial of benefits, and began making monthly payments immediately.