Short & Long Term Disability Cases We’ve Won for Our Clients in Ohio

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.

A Sales Representative for a cable provider became totally disabled due to chronic back pain, caused by bulging and herniated discs in his lumbar and cervical spines. After 24 months of paying benefits, his insurance company terminated his benefits because the policy’s definition of disability changed from whether one was disabled from performing his Own Occupation to disabled from performing the material duties of Any Occupation, claiming that he could perform sedentary work and specifically alleged he had transferable skills to perform the occupations of Dispatcher and Service Clerk. Confused by this logic, he approached Fields Law for help with less than 30 days remaining to submit an appeal. Our attorneys immediately reached out to New York Life to request a 45-day extension to submit his appeal, which was granted.

Based on our experience, we knew that New York Life had not performed a significant vocational analysis and had failed to appreciate how our client’s chronic pain and limited range of motion impaired him performing even sedentary work on a competitive basis. We sent our client’s file to a vocational expert who conducted a national and regional job outlook study and determined that the positions of Dispatcher and Service Clerk were not appropriate occupations for our client based on his age, education, work history, and experience. The Fields Law team quickly gathered the necessary evidence and drafted a strong appeal for our client. New York Life reversed its denial decision, issued the back-pay benefits our client was owed and resumed paying his monthly benefits.

A Customer Service Representative became disabled when she developed a severe eye spasm caused by a rare underlying neurological condition. She stopped working because tasks on the computer were impossible to perform in a timely matter. Her Long Term Disability claim was approved and paid out for two years. However, Liberty Mutual later denied her benefits saying that, although the claimant was unable to work her own job, she would be able to return to work at some sedentary occupations.

Not sure where to turn, she hired Fields Law to appeal the decision. Our attorneys reached out to her treating doctors and got detailed reports outlining her conditions. Liberty Mutual overturned their decision resulting in a payment of back benefits and monthly payments began shortly thereafter. Our client was so impressed with the representation we provided that she hired us to monitor her claim against Liberty Mutual and pursue a lump-sum settlement.