Short & Long Term Disability Cases We’ve Won for Our Clients in New York
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 New York.
Kim – Medical Receptionist – West Seneca, New York
Vertigo, Headaches, Cervicalgia, Radiculopathy Cervical Region, Spondylosis Cervical Region, Cervical Disc Displacement, Low Back Pain, Radiculopathy Lumbar Region
A Medical Receptionist from New York was forced to stop working as a result of vertigo, headaches, cervicalgia, radiculopathy-cervical region, spondylosis-cervical region, cervical disc displacement, low back pain, and radiculopathy of lumbar region. The team at Fields Law Firm obtained medical records from her orthopedic doctor for her spinal conditions that demonstrated our client had reduced abilities to lift, bend, drive a motor vehicle, standing and even sitting due to the combination of her impairments. Our attorneys worked with her primary care physician and other specialists to obtain medical records from one year before she had stopped working when she had undergone a craniotomy.
Although this procedure did not result in our client’s disability, the surgery had longstanding effects relative to our client’s cognitive functioning, which prevented her from being able to perform her own occupation as a medical receptionist. The team at Fields Law Firm meticulously combed through Metlife’s administrative record and identified the holes in their denial decision where they had purposefully cherry picked the medical record to support their decision. Also, it was discovered that even the adverse peer review commissioned by Metlife was ignored. Shortly after receiving our client’s strong appeal, Metlife reversed their earlier denial and reinstated our client’s Long Term Disability benefits. With this source of income and her health insurance reinstated, our client is now able to continue treating in order to improve her quality of life.
Maryanne – Staffing Agent – Lockport, New York
Spinal Stenosis in the Lumbar Region, Cervical Disc Disorder, Radiculopathy, Lumbar Laminectomy
A Staffing Agent from New York was a valued employee prior to becoming disabled. She suffered from spinal stenosis in the lumbar region, cervical disc disorder with radiculopathy and lumbar laminectomy. By a two-page letter, her insurer notified her that, after reviewing her claim, her Long Term Disability benefits were denied because her own occupation required sedentary level work, which The Hartford believed she could perform.
Upset with this denial of Long Term Disability benefits, she called Fields Law to help her appeal the denial decision. The attorneys at Fields Law contacted our client’s doctors to compile reports of all of her symptoms and treatments. Her attorneys reviewed her Functional Capacity Evaluation, which determined she was unable to perform sedentary work. The Fields Law attorneys submitted an appeal stressing and comparing the FCE to the physical requirements outlined in the Staffing Agent/Manager Client Programmer job description. They pointed out that only one conclusion can be reached; she was unable to perform the material duties of her own occupation, due to both the lifting requirements as well as prolonged standing, and walking requirements. The Hartford agreed, reversed its denial of benefits, and began making monthly payments immediately.
Cynthia – Dining Services Supervisor – Rochester, New York
Pneumococcal Bacteremia
A Dining Services Supervisor developed a severe infectious disease that affected the neurological tissue in her spine and brain. After her long hospitalization, she was unable to return to work. She was paid Short Term Disability benefits for six months pursuant to her disability policy. However, when the transition to Long Term Disability was set to begin, Prudential suddenly denied her claim, stating a nurse case manager determined she was capable of performing light duty work.
She hired Fields Law after searching for help online. Our attorneys built up and submitted a strong appeal using updated medical evidence and statements from treating providers showing our client was unable to perform the duties of a dining services supervisor position. After a brief review, Prudential agreed our client was unable to work and paid her all past-due benefits.
