Short & Long Term Disability Cases We’ve Won for Our Clients Against Sun Life Financial
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 Sun Life Financial.
Kathleen – Real Estate Sales Comparable Analyst – Independence, Missouri
Dizziness, Coronary Vascular Disease, Frozen Shoulder, Bilateral Shoulder Osteoarthritis, Joint Pain, Neck Pain, Back Pain, Major Anxiety, Major Depressive Disorder
A Real Estate Sales Comparable Analyst from Missouri worked for several years before she stopped working due to her constant dizziness, joint pain, major anxiety, and major depressive disorder. After the expiration of her Short Term benefits, she became eligible for Long Term Disability benefits from her policy’s carrier. She was initially approved for Long Term Disability benefits; however, Sun Life Financial terminated her benefits, indicating no benefits were payable because she did not meet the Definition of Disability. She was specifically denied because there was a lack of medical evidence to support her inability to perform the material and substantial duties of her Own Occupation as a Real Estate Sales Comparable Analyst.
After receiving the denial letter from Sun Life Financial terminating her benefits, she contacted the attorneys at Fields Law Firm to assist her in her appeal. The attorneys at Fields Law contacted our client’s doctors to compile reports of all of her symptoms and treatments and submitted a comprehensive appeal to Sun Life Financial. After receiving the appeal, they overturned their previous decision and paid all the outstanding Long Term Disability benefits immediately.
Lyfu – Elementary School Teacher – Woodbury, Minnesota
Mental Illness, Anxiety, Depression, PTSD
An elementary school teacher and military veteran began having intense feelings of anxiety and depression. He sought treatment unsuccessfully for a few years, and ultimately had to stop working. He applied for Long Term Disability benefits so that he could seek adequate treatment without the stress of working. Despite his symptoms intensifying at work, the insurer wrote a letter denying him benefits and saying that he could return to work full-time.
Frustrated that Sun Life Financial seemed to ignore his symptoms, he contacted Fields Law for help with an appeal. The attorneys at Fields Law reviewed the medical records and found that Sun Life Financial ignored a key doctor’s report. Our attorneys called the doctor and had him write a letter supporting the appeal. Sun Life Financial overturned their decision, granting our client ongoing benefits and awarding him a lump-sum payment for back-pay. Our client is relieved to be able to focus totally on treatment and not his fight with Sun Life Financial.
Gerald – Machine Operator – Crystal Falls, Michigan
Neuropathy, Diabetes, Lower Back Pain
A machine operator from Michigan began experiencing numbness in his hands and lower back pain. His job required feeding raw materials through heavy machinery. Eventually, his condition became too severe and he was forced to stop work. He was initially approved for Long Term Disability benefits, but after receiving benefits for almost two years, Sun Life Financial sent him a letter indicating that he no longer fit their definition of disabled.
Concerned that his monthly income was in jeopardy, he contacted Fields Law Firm for help. The attorneys at Fields Law closely reviewed the claim file from Sun Life Financial and found two key errors. First, Sun Life Financial’s own expert indicated that no occupations could be identified that our client could perform. Second, they emphasized the fact that our client’s wife owned and operated a family restaurant as evidence that our client could work. The Fields Law attorneys sent a strong appeal which highlighted these errors, and ultimately our client had his benefits reinstated. Our client was relieved to have his monthly income back, and happy to move forward with his life.
