Short & Long Term Disability Cases We’ve Won for Our Clients in Alabama
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 and lawsuit case wins in Alabama.
Michael – Maintenance Mechanic – Altoona, Alabama
Menieres Disease, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
A Maintenance Mechanic from Alabama unfortunately developed Meniere’s disease and Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo later in life and was unable to continue working. He received Long Term Disability benefits through his employer’s insurer. However, when the definition of disability changed under his policy, his insurer discontinued his benefits.
Liberty Mutual had hired private investigators to conduct surveillance and hired doctors to review his medical records. Although the surveillance footage never showed him doing activities outside his restrictions, and the medical record reviewers confirmed his diagnoses, the insurer denied the claim stating it had determined he could return to full time work in one of a few different jobs.
He turned to Fields Law for help. Our attorneys developed a plan to fight Liberty Mutual’s denial of the claim. Our team reached out to our client’s treating doctors, asking pointed questions in response to the insurer’s position. We built the arguments necessary to show Liberty Mutual had failed to properly credit our client’s Social Security Disability award, and hadn’t considered the most recent medical documentation. After reviewing our appeal, Liberty Mutual reversed its decision, paid our client his back pay, and reinstated monthly benefit payments.
Melanie – Registered Nurse – Smiths Station, Alabama
Failed Lumbar Syndrome
A registered nurse with a large hospital relished a career of helping others get better. Unfortunately, she began developing severe pain in her low back that extended into both of her legs. After several treatments with the doctors and an MRI scan, it was discovered that she needed fusion surgery in her low back.
Doctors performed the surgery, which eliminated the pain for a period, but the pain eventually returned. An MRI scan revealed that she needed additional surgery to further repair the discs in her low back. Despite a second surgery the pain persisted, and her doctors eventually diagnosed her with “failed lumbar syndrome”, which happens to a small percentage of patients who undergo lumbar fusion surgery.
She applied for and received disability for several years as she attempted to resolve her low back condition. Prudential issued a denial letter without any warning stating she was no longer disabled, and the much-needed disability checks stopped coming. She tried to work with her doctors to present enough evidence to show that she continued to be disabled, but Prudential would not reverse its decision.
Out of options, she approached Fields Law, and spoke to our staff about her claim. We took on her case and immediately began working with medical providers to obtain the necessary supportive reports, assembled medical records, and presented an appeal to Prudential. After a complete and thorough review, they reversed the decision and restored the disability payments with back-pay. Our client was emotional and overjoyed upon discovering she would now have the means to pay her bills and take care of her family.
