Short & Long Term Disability Cases We’ve Won for Our Clients in Wisconsin

A man from Wisconsin worked as a Machine Slitter operating heavy machinery for over twenty years. Over the years, he developed degenerative disc disease throughout his lumbar spine, chronic lumbar back pain, and anterolisthesis. He tried to work through his growing pain but finally his doctors took him off work and he applied for Short Term Disability benefits. At first, he was paid his Short Term benefits but as the switch to Long Term benefits approached, his insurer denied the Short Term Disability claim and preemptively denied his Long Term Disability claim.

He quickly reached out to Fields Law for help. Our team reviewed all the documentation used to deny benefits and found that Liberty Mutual had adopted a medical record review by a physician who had never examined the client. This review failed to consider our client’s job duties, and the opinions of his doctors, before finding him not disabled. Our attorneys built an appeal with letters from the treating doctors responding to the medical record review, and federal guidelines detailing our client’s job duties. Moreover, we successfully argued that the medical record review ignored relevant evidence already provided to Liberty Mutual. After reviewing our appeal, Liberty Mutual reversed its decision, paid our client’s remaining Short Term Disability benefit, paid the back pay owed on Long Term Disability, and commenced monthly Long Term Disability benefit payments.

A Mechanical Designer from Wisconsin was exposed to some toxic fumes at work. Over the next several weeks, he began experiencing severe bouts of dizziness and loss of balance. His doctors said there may have been cyanide in the fumes. The symptoms forced him to stop working. He applied for Long Term Disability benefits and provided medical records from his treating physicians. Much to his dismay, CIGNA denied the claim, saying that he did not fit their definition of disabled.

Upset at his loss of income, he contacted Fields Law for help. The Fields Law attorneys started by gathering additional medical records from our client’s doctors, and obtaining the claim file from the insurance company. The Fields Law attorneys sent a strong appeal, arguing that CIGNA made a mistake in denying benefits for our client. They acknowledged their error and granted a lump-sum payment for back-pay. Our client is now back to work and pleased that he can pay for his medical expenses.

A Case Manager in Wisconsin was granted Long Term Disability benefits due to seizures and mental health conditions. Two years later, her benefits were denied when her insurance provider alleged there was no clinical evidence supporting that she was unable to return to work. She appealed, presenting evidence from her physicians that she was unable to work, and her benefits were reinstated for another year before being denied again. The insurance company merely relied on the opinion of an Independent Physician Consultant who had never met with her to conclude that she could work in her own occupation.

She was at a loss and decided to reach out to Fields Law Firm to guide her through the lawsuit. Our attorneys negotiated a settlement for more than what our client could have won in court for her mental deficits. After a long battle with the insurance company, our client was pleased with the results and thankful to the Fields Law team for helping her be done with the process.