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

A conveyor maintenance mechanic from Pennsylvania injured his back at work. His job required clearing conveyor belts of obstructions and debris, as well as repairing the belts as needed. One day he had to lift a 100-pound box of wire as part of a repair project. He injured his back and the pain was so severe that he was forced to stop working. He applied for Long Term Disability benefits through work but was denied.

Worried about his loss of income, he contacted Fields Law for assistance. Our attorneys immediately contacted the insurance company for a copy of the claim file and asked our client’s doctors for medical records. The insurance company did not thoroughly review the medical record before making their decision. Our attorneys sent a strong appeal to the insurer, citing specific reports from doctors who said our client could not return to work. The insurance company overturned their denial and our client is receiving his monthly benefits again.

A business development manager for US Foods had back surgery. After surgery he developed radiating pain and was eventually diagnosed with Radiculopathy. He could not work due to his symptoms and his insurer approved his initial request for Long Term Disability benefits. Four months later, despite knowing that the manager was scheduled for an upcoming invasive surgery, CIGNA terminated benefits. The insurance company hired a physical therapist who determined that the manager could still work despite his symptoms.

Exasperated with the denial decision and worried about the upcoming expenses from surgery, he contacted Fields Law Firm to assist with his appeal. The attorneys worked with our client’s doctors to obtain all treatment records, and hired a vocational expert to report on how our client’s condition made returning to work impossible. As a result of the strong evidence submitted on appeal, our client received back-pay and had his benefits reinstated.

A respiratory therapist from Oklahoma broke her leg. She healed from the break, but her arthritis eventually caused severe leg and knee pain. After healing from the initial injury, she pursued a conservative course of treatment to manage her symptoms and avoid surgery. Unfortunately, the pain was too much, and she underwent a recommended invasive knee surgery. Recovery from the surgery was nearly nonexistent and her symptoms caused her to miss work. She received Long Term Disability benefits for almost three years until the insurance company suddenly cut off her payments. They claimed that she was able to return to work.

Shocked by the insurance company’s decision, she called Fields Law for help. Our team contacted our new client’s doctors and obtained updated medical records to ensure we had all the available evidence on our side. The Fields Law attorneys scoured the records and discovered the insurance company discounted important records from our client’s doctors. We drafted a strong appeal, attaching the records to point out the insurance company’s error, including the legal arguments supporting our position. The insurance company overturned their previous decision and our client received a lump-sum check for back-pay and began receiving ongoing monthly benefits. She was pleased with the hard work by the Fields Law team on her behalf.