Short & Long Term Disability Cases We’ve Won for Our Clients Against MetLife
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 MetLife.
Roque – Assembly Production Team Member – San Antonio, Texas
Cervical Radiculopathy, Lumbar Pain
A 40 year old Assembly Production team member was involved in a head-on collision and went to the emergency room. He was discharged the same day and attempted to return to work the following Monday. Unfortunately, he was unable to complete a full day of work due to postural restrictions secondary to pain and reduced range of motion. He followed up with a chiropractor who diagnosed him with lumbar and cervical disc bulges. He was given medically advised work restrictions of 4 hour days and less than occasional bending, lifting, squatting, pushing, pulling and no lifting greater than 25 pounds.
As part of his job, he was required to crawl in and out of automobile frames installing seats, trim, etc. The insurance company denied his Long Term Disability application, arguing that he did not remain disabled through the entirety of the policy’s 90 day elimination period. The insurance company had one of their own doctors allege that there was no objective evidence of his radicular pain. Unable to return to his employer with his work restrictions and unable to provide for his family, he reached out to Fields Law. The attorneys at Fields Law gathered all of our client’s updated medical records. They also reached out to the attorney representing our client for his motor vehicle accident to coordinate getting a narrative report from the spinal specialist he was referred to for a surgery consultation.
The Fields team drafted a strong appeal highlighting all of the errors, oversights and omissions contained in the insurer’s medical review and denial letter. After receiving the appeal supported by updated medical records, the insurance company was forced to overturn its initial denial and approve our client’s benefits.
Gayla – Senior Application Developer – Columbia, Tennessee
Lupus, Fibromyalgia, GERD, Anxiety, Depression, Chronic Pain, Migraines, IBS, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Working in IT for most of her career, a 49-year-old woman became disabled and unable to perform her job due to a variety of medical conditions. Some diagnoses include lupus, fibromyalgia, GERD, anxiety, depression chronic pain, migraine headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
When she ceased work, she assumed she would have no problem applying and being approved for disability benefits through her insurance company. As she understood it, her insurer was supposed to pay disability benefits in the event she became unable to work. What the woman did not realize is the insurance company had the power to decide whether or not they thought she was capable of working. The insurer completely ignored her doctors, who stated she was not capable of working.
She did not know what to do next. She knew she could not work, but did not know how to prove it to her insurance company. She turned to Fields Law for help. Our attorneys worked with our client’s doctors to explain her functional limitations and after two appeals, her insurer admitted they had made a mistake in denying her claim for benefits. She was issued a check for past due benefits and the insurance company began paying her monthly benefits.
Neil – Printing Press Operator – Watsontown, Pennsylvania
Syncopal Episodes
A press operator at a printing company became disabled after suffering a series of blackouts. He was unable to stand or walk for any significant period of time due to the danger of falling over. Initially, his insurer agreed that he was unable to perform his duties at the printing press. However, they then denied benefits during the Any Occupation period in the policy, stating the claimant could return to work at a number of sedentary jobs, despite the doctor telling Metlife that his patient was unable to work due to the danger of blacking out in the work space, even at a sedentary-type job.
The Fields Law attorneys collected updated medical records and a narrative report from our client’s treating physicians outlining his inability to work. The medical support was submitted with a brief arguing that our client’s blackouts would completely rule out any potential job base due to liability issues. Metlife agreed and reinstated the disability benefits and our client was able to continue treating for his blackout episodes with his financial security re-established.
