Short & Long Term Disability Cases We’ve Won for Our Clients Against New York Life
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 New York Life.
Stacy – Dispatcher – North Babylon, Pennsylvania
Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Severe Anxiety
A Dispatcher from Pennsylvania suffered from irritable bowel syndrome and severe anxiety. Due to her condition, she was unable to continue working in her sedentary occupation. Her Long Term Disability insurer denied her claim, asserting that her medical records did not indicate any impairment that prevented her from performing her job.
Scared about what to do, she reached out to Fields Law Firm. The attorneys at Fields Law began updating our client’s medical records to submit to New York Life. In addition, we provided New York Life with a report from her treating doctor that outlined her condition and her inability to work. Upon review, they reversed their decision and recommenced the payment of monthly benefits. Our client was relieved with the reinstatement of her benefits.
Melissa – Phlebotomist – West Union, Ohio
Lumbar Disc Disease, Myleopathy
A certified phlebotomist for a large health care provider was diagnosed with lumbar intervertebral disc disease with myelopathy, with associated radiating pain. She quit working because she was unable to keep up with her physically demanding and stressful job. New York Life agreed and paid the woman’s claim for several months. Out of nowhere and without explanation, the insurer requested the woman attend an independent medical examination. In turn, her benefits were denied based on the report, which far overestimated her physical abilities.
After hiring Fields Law Firm to assist with an appeal of the denial, our attorneys combed over the claim file and discovered that the independent doctor had failed to base his recommended work restrictions on examination findings. The Fields Law attorneys arranged for our client to attend a functional capacity evaluation to refute the findings of New York Life’s doctor and secured a substantial amount of medical records. Our attorneys submitted the medical records, functional capacity evaluation, and several legal arguments undermining the denial decision; which resulted in the decision being overturned our client’s benefits being reinstated.
Robert – Machine Operator – Newton Falls, Ohio
Nerve Damage in Legs, Back Pain, Scoliosis
A machine operator from Ohio experienced severe discomfort following back surgery. He could not sit or stand for more than a few minutes without serious pain. Work became impossible, so he applied for Long Term Disability benefits. His insurer initially approved his claim and paid him monthly benefits for about two years. Suddenly, they sent a letter telling him that he no longer fit their definition of disabled and that payments would stop.
Shocked and worried at his lost income, he called Fields Law for help. The attorneys at Fields Law scoured his claim file and found that they made their decision while our client was in between insurance providers and struggling to find good care providers in his network. Our attorneys contacted our client’s physicians to obtain updated medical records and sent a strong appeal to his insurance company with the updated medical records attached. His insurer overturned their original decision and our client received a lump-sum payment for back-pay and ongoing monthly benefits. He was relieved that his monthly income was restored and is happy to be able to use the money to continue treatment.
