Short & Long Term Disability Cases We’ve Won for Our Clients Against Reliance Standard
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 Reliance Standard.
Amber – Account Manager – West Valley City, Utah
Chronic Pain, Degenerative Disc Disease, Spinal Stenosis, Fibromyalgia, Anxiety, Major Depressive Disorder
An Account Manager had to stop working due to Chronic Pain, Degenerative Disc Disease, Spinal Stenosis, Fibromyalgia, Anxiety, and Major Depressive Disorder. The employer provided a Long Term Disability policy, which she elected to receive coverage under. When she became eligible for Long Term Disability benefits from the policy’s carrier, she applied and was initially approved, receiving monthly payments for almost one year.
However, Reliance Standard terminated her Long Term Disability benefits, indicating no benefits were payable because she did not meet the definition of Totally Disabled. Reliance Standard based the denial decision on her Facebook page which showed a 4-day vacation with a rental car. This apparently meant that she could return to work.
Upset with the arbitrary decision to terminate benefits, she contacted Fields Law Firm for legal representation and to submit an appeal. The attorneys at Fields Law pulled together comprehensive medical records, reports, and a timeline for this alleged vacation, and submitted an appeal for our client. Reliance Standard issued a new decision and overturned its prior denial of Long Term Disability benefits. Reliance Standard proceeded to issue a backpay check for the months that it failed to pay our client previously.
Lauri – Payroll Supervisor – Neptune City, New Jersey
Renal Failure, Atrial Fibrillation, Diabetes, Hypertension, Depression
A payroll supervisor from New Jersey enjoyed her job until she developed renal failure, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, hypertension, and depression. Her condition required a hospital stay, during which she developed respiratory failure and had to be kept alive by a ventilator. In addition, she required dialysis. Her condition later improved and she was transferred to a rehab facility. Clearly, she could no longer work. Her Long Term Disability insurer initially accepted her claim and paid benefits. Reliance Standard later denied her claim stating that she had recovered enough to perform the duties of any occupation.
Not knowing how to fight them, she reached out to Fields Law. Our attorneys at Fields Law began updating the medical records to provide a full scope of our client’s condition. Once the records were compiled, we drafted a winning appeal which led Reliance Standard to overturn their denial and reinstate her benefits. Our client felt a huge sense of relief knowing that she had gotten her benefits back.
Grace – Registered Nurse – Omaha, Nebraska
Heart Failure
A registered nurse became disabled when her heart function reduced to dangerously low levels. As a result, she was unable to keep up with her duties taking care of patients. Her Long Term Disability insurer denied the claim for the outset, stating that the medical records did not show sufficient evidence she was unable to work as of her date of disability.
Not sure what she should do, she reached out to Fields Law Firm. Our attorneys began by requesting detailed narrative reports from our client’s cardiological care team. Additionally, we helped our client draft a sworn statement discussing the events leading up to her disability. Reliance Standard reversed their decision and paid all past-due benefits. Our client was so impressed with Fields Law that she hired us to represent her on an ongoing basis.
