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

A security counselor worked at a correctional facility before becoming disabled with chronic upper extremity pain, bilateral shoulder pain and right shoulder impingement syndrome, which required surgery. He applied for and received Long Term Disability benefits while he continued to rehabilitate from his surgery. After a few months, the insurance company terminated his benefits, alleging that he was capable of performing all of the substantial physical activity requirements listed in his employer’s job description.

The corrections officer approached Fields Law to represent him in appealing the discontinuation of his benefits. The team at Fields Law worked diligently to review all of the information The Hartford had in its file and supplemented that with updated medical records from our client’s providers. Based on our experience, we knew that The Hartford had possibly glossed over the administrative record and cherry picked evidence to support their denial. We noticed that The Hartford never considered the need to defend oneself and others when intervening with combative inmates. Although rare in terms of frequency on a daily basis, the need to physically intervene when the threat arises is fundamental to the job of a security counselor.

The Fields Law attorneys drafted a strong appeal for our client, highlighting the importance of a security counselor’s ability to physically restrain combative inmates, even if the occurrence is rare. Our attorneys clearly detailed that The Hartford had failed to consider our client’s inability to physically restrain an inmate or defend himself due to his bilateral shoulder impingement, they then reversed the denial and reinstated benefits.

A nurse who had enjoyed her work for many years became completely unable to do her job due to her chronic mental health issues. She suffered from depression and anxiety, which significantly affected her ability to care for her patients at work. The Hartford denied the nurse’s application for Long Term Disability despite the fact that she submitted a letter from her attending physician that stated she would likely never be able to return to work.

She turned to Fields Law Firm for help during this difficult time. Our team prepared an appeal that exposed The Hartford’s deficient review of our client’s claim, especially its failure to consider how our client’s mental health condition made it impossible for her to complete tasks required in the nursing profession. The appeal summarized diagnostic testing and the opinions of her doctors in support of her inability to work as a nurse. The Hartford finally realized its initial decision was in error and our client was issued her benefits.

A woman who worked for many years as a personnel officer for the state of Minnesota 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 Hartford discontinnued benefits under the any occupation definition of disability. Despite the claimant’s continuing impairments and limitations, The Hartford discontinued her benefits based on an Independent Review Report prepared by a doctor who reviewed her medical records.

Confused and distraught about The Hartford’s action, she called Fields Law Firm for help. Our team immediately began working on an appeal to fight The Hartford’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 Hartford 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.