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.
Kelsey – Social Worker – Denver, Colorado
Lyme’s Disease, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Colitis, Anxiety, Depression
A Social Worker from Colorado was diagnosed with Lyme’s disease and chronic fatigue syndrome. She already suffered from colitis and resulting anxiety and depression about always needing to be aware of where the nearest bathroom was located. The constant fatigue on top of her previous conditions made work impossible. She applied for Long Term Disability benefits and Reliance Standard paid for a few months but then cut off benefits because they said she could return to work.
She was upset at Reliance Standard and worried about her lost income so she called Fields Law for help. The Fields Law attorneys reviewed the claim file from Reliance Standard and found that they had overlooked key medical records. Our team obtained additional expert reports to strengthen the evidence and our attorneys submitted a strong appeal. Reliance Standard changed their mind and our client received a lump-sum check for back-pay and ongoing benefits. She is pleased with Fields Law and happy to be done fighting Reliance Standard.
Gary – Shipping , Storing Supervisor – Manteca, California
Spondylolisthesis Lumbosacral Spine, Lumbar Heniation, Chondromalacia Osteochondral Defect, Knee Pain, Hip Pain, Coccygeal Pain, Chronic Pain
A Shipping & Storing Supervisor from California had a serious work injury and could not work anymore. His employer provided Long Term Disability insurance that he began receiving while pursuing his Workers’ Compensation claim. After his Workers’ Compensation case settled, he had to change doctors. Reliance Standard used that as an opportunity to terminate his benefits.
The team at Fields Law immediately contacted our client’s new and prior treating providers. We made sure Reliance Standard did not exploit the change in doctors by gathering statements from the doctors and updated medical records. The appeal put together by the Fields Law team got our client’s benefits restored and his back benefits paid. Our client was very happy to be able to focus on his medical treatment and not insurance company paperwork.
Curtis – Customer Service Agent – Mesa, Arizona
HIV – Immunity Virus, Chronic Low Back Pain, Coronary Artery Disease
A customer service agent who was suffering from an immunity virus, chronic low back pain, and coronary artery disease was abruptly cut off from his disability benefits based on the insurance company’s selective and partial review of his medical and vocational records. In support of the discontinuation, Reliance Standard stated that the claimant should be capable of frequent and continuous sitting and frequent standing and walking. Reliance Standard relied on the opinion of a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist who reviewed the employee’s file and stated that he was able to perform sedentary work.
The disabled worker called Fields Law because he knew that Reliance Standard had made a mistake. Our team prepared a winning appeal for our client that exposed the inadequacy of the insurance company’s review. In preparing the appeal, we gathered reports from our client’s treating doctors and highlighted parts of his medical records to show that he remained entirely disabled from not just his own, but any occupation. We forced Reliance Standard to admit its mistake, reinstate our client’s Long Term Disability benefits and award him back pay for lost benefits.
