Short & Long Term Disability Cases We’ve Won for Our Clients in Minnesota
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 Minnesota.
Samantha – Registered Nurse – Hastings, Minnesota
Rare Pelvic Condition
A registered nurse was forced to leave her job at a hospital because she suffered from a rare pelvic condition that made her unable to work. Her Long Term Disability insurer denied her application for benefits, claiming that there were no “functional tests” in her file that supported her inability to work. She called Fields Law Firm to represent her in appealing the denial.
We were able to spot the errors that New York Life had made in reviewing her case. Given the rarity of her condition, the insurance company should have sent her to a doctor to be examined before it denied her. Our appeal highlighted this failure, along with the fact that New York Life never even talked to any of our client’s treating doctors and did not obtain all of her medical records. By reaching out to our client’s doctors and presenting the medical evidence, we prepared a successful appeal. The former nurse was happy to find out that the appeal was successful and New York Life reversed their denial. She received the benefits she deserved.
Craig – Welder – Ceylon, Minnesota
Neck Injury
Prudential denied a welder’s claim for Long Term Disability, despite his inability to do his job due to a significant neck injury. The welder was bending over his work station when a piece of metal jumped into his welding helmet and hit his eye. He tried to stand up quickly to get the piece of metal out, but the back of his helmet got caught as he was attempting to stand up. He injured his neck. He made every attempt to return to work but it became impossible due to the pain in his neck that radiated into his upper extremities. He tried various jobs, but nothing worked.
Prudential claimed that the welder’s medical record did not support an impairment that would prevent him from performing his job as a welder. He contacted Fields Law Firm to help him stand up to the insurance company to get the benefits he deserved.
Our team drafted an appeal to show that Prudential overlooked medical evidence and provided little to no rationale for its denial. We know that an insurance company cannot discontinue benefits based on a selective or partial review of a beneficiary’s file. We provided a strong legal argument in the appeal, forcing Prudential to change its position. Our client was awarded back pay, along with ongoing monthly benefits.
Amy – Teacher – South Saint Paul, Minnesota
Multiple Sclerosis, Dizziness, Fatigue, Balance Problems
An English teacher from Minnesota began feeling dizzy and fatigued. Her doctor referred her to a neurologist who discovered lesions on her brain and diagnosed her with Multiple Sclerosis. The bouts of dizziness and vertigo became too severe and forced her to stop working for about six months. She applied for Short Term Disability benefits through her employer’s insurance plan. Madison National denied her benefits, saying that she did not meet their definition of disabled.
Frustrated and concerned about her loss of income, she contacted Fields Law for help with an appeal. The attorneys at Fields Law contacted our client’s doctors and built a strong appeal. Our client received regular updates on the appeal and was kept informed every step of the way. Ultimately, the appeal was successful and Madison National approved her claim. She received a lump-sum check for her benefits and was happy to use the funds to continue her treatments.
