Short & Long Term Disability Cases We’ve Won for Our Clients in North Carolina
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 North Carolina.
Tammy – Project Manager – Waxhaw, North Carolina
Ruptured Colon and Associated Complications
A project manager for a consulting firm suffered from a ruptured colon, and later suffered from complications from multiple surgeries, septic shock, and tearing of her intestines. Clearly, she was unable to continue working. Her Long Term Disability carrier accepted her claim and paid benefits. New York Life later cut off her benefits claiming that she could resume work as a project manager.
Unable to work and unsure of what she could do, she reached out to Fields Law. The Fields Law attorneys began reviewing the entire file from New York Life. We also obtained all of our client’s medical records. With all of this information, our attorneys drafted an appeal which highlighted the medical evidence that our client was disabled and the faults with New York Life’s review. Upon review, New York Life reversed their decision and reinstated her monthly benefits. Our client was happy to have her benefits reinstated and her income restored.
Tapitha – Administrative Assistant – Durham, North Carolina
PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, Lumbar and Cervical Disc Degeneration, Fibromyalgia
An administrative assistant suffered from a variety of medical conditions, which led her to the realization that she was no longer capable of performing her job duties. She applied for Long Term Disability benefits. Her claim was accepted and she began receiving benefits. While receiving benefits, Unum performed periodic check-ins. They also submitted her medical information to a nurse, who concluded that she remained incapable of performing work. However, just one month after receiving that opinion, Unum sought out a second medical opinion, and the second medical reviewer said the claimiant had no limitations on her work activities and should be able to return to work.
She reacted immediately, filing an appeal on her own, without the assistance of an attorney. Unum did not change their position based on her appeal. However, they did give her a second opportunity to appeal the decision. This time, she turned to Fields Law Firm for help. Our attorneys argued that Unum breached their fiduciary duty to the claimant when they actively sought out an opinion to deny our client’s benefits. About one month after we submitted the appeal, Unum overturned their decision. Our client received backpay and her monthly benefits were reinstated.
Laura – Insurance Recovery Specialist – Pittsboro, North Carolina
Osteoarthritis, CRPS
An insurance recovery specialist from North Carolina was diagnosed with osteoarthritis and possible Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. She attempted to continue working, but constant sitting and typing exacerbated her symptoms and she was forced to stop working. Her insurer through her work refused to even pay Short Term Disability benefits because they said she could return to work.
Shocked by the Lincoln Financial’s decision, she called Fields Law Firm for help. Our team contacted our client’s doctors and obtained updated medical records to ensure we had all the available evidence. The Fields Law attorneys scoured the records and discovered Lincoln Financial discounted important records from our client’s doctors. We drafted a strong appeal, attaching the records to point out the insurance company’s error, and including the legal arguments supporting our position. Lincoln Financial overturned their previous decision, and our client received a lump-sum check for back-pay and is now receiving ongoing monthly benefits. She was pleased with the hard work by the Fields Law team and is happy to be done fighting her insurance company.
