Short & Long Term Disability Cases We’ve Won for Our Clients Against Guardian
Fields Law Firm successfully recovers millions of dollars each year for our disabled clients throughout the United States. Our Long Term Disability experience is matched by very few other law firms in the country and has earned us a national reputation.
Here are just a few examples of our Long Term Disability appeal case wins against Guardian.
Melissa – Accountant – Marlinton, West Virginia
Shoulder Pain, Neuropathy, Arthritis, Diabetes
An accountant from West Virginia seriously injured her shoulder in an accident at home. She had multiple surgeries, but ultimately regained only limited use of her right arm. She stopped working because she was in constant pain and had limited use of her dominant hand. Guardian, her insurance provider, approved her application for Long Term Disability benefits, and she received benefits for almost ten years until she received a letter saying that she was no longer disabled would no longer receive benefits.
Shocked that Guardian would stop benefits after almost ten years, she contacted Fields Law Firm to assist with an appeal. Our attorneys searched through our client’s medical records and found Guardian had ignored several comments from doctors. The Fields Law attorneys called our client’s doctors to write full reports so the insurance provider could not ignore them in the appeal. Ultimately, our client was awarded continuing Long Term benefits and a lump-sum payment for back pay.
Matthew – Technician – Plainwell, Michigan
Neurocardiogenic Syncope, Autonomic Nervous System Reflex Disorder
Our team represented a worker who was unable to continue his job due to neurocardiogenic syncope. This syndrome an autonomic nervous system reflex disorder that causes the individual’s heart rate and blood pressure to drop, leading to fainting episodes. In discontinuing the worker’s benefits, the insurance company relied on the opinions of two doctors who had never even seen the man, but felt that he could perform sedentary work based on their review of his medical records. Additionally, the insurance company stated that restrictions, as provided by the treating doctor, were preventative in nature and not indicative of his ability/inability to perform gainful work.
The Fields Law team presented a strong appeal to the insurance company. We argued that our client’s restrictions were in place to prevent him from fainting and sustaining further injury and those restrictions did not preclude payment of benefits under his policy. The Fields Law team also gathered updated medical records for the client and illustrated that his condition had not improved since he was initially awarded benefits. Based on these efforts, the insurance company agreed to reinstate our client’s benefits.
Leonard – Trucker – Chicago, Illinois
Stroke, COPD
A long-haul truck driver suffered from a stroke and COPD. Due to the effects of these conditions, he was unable to safely perform his job. His Long Term Disability insurer denied his claim on the basis that he had not provided evidence of his disability.
Not knowing what he was supposed to do, he found the attorneys at Fields Law Firm. The attorneys at Fields Law reviewed all of the records the insurance company had and began getting updated records to provide. They also obtained a report from his treating physician, which highlighted that our client could not work. On appeal, Guardian reversed their decision and reinstated the payment of monthly benefits. Our client felt an incredible sense of relief knowing that his livelihood was once again secure.
