Short & Long Term Disability Cases We’ve Won for Our Clients Against The Hartford
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 The Hartford.
Lisa – Finance and Administration Manager – Appleton, Minnesota
Scheuermann’s Disease, Bilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
An Administrative Manager for a large railroad company developed low back and neck symptoms that made it very difficult for her to perform her normal work duties. Additionally, bilateral hand pain from carpal tunnel syndrome made it impossible for her to perform the computer work demanded of her on a full-time work schedule. At the advice of her doctors, she left work indefinitely and filed a claim for disability benefits. After receiving a few months’ worth of benefits, she was abruptly denied with little explanation.
She searched for help online and found Fields Law Firm. Our attorneys wrote requests for reports to our client’s treating providers, who were unable to offer any opinions about her condition. To assess her functional abilities, our attorneys referred her to a Functional Capacity Evaluation (“FCE”). The FCE stated our client might be able to perform some modified form of desk work. Our attorneys then submitted the FCE report to a vocational expert who concluded that no gainful work in the economy existed with our client’s restrictions and limitations. After a brief review, The Hartford agreed our client was disabled and reinstated benefits.
Cherryl – Business Technology Analyst – Eagan, Minnesota
Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Degenerative Disc Disease
A former business technology analyst contacted us when her insurance company denied her Short Term and Long Term Disability benefits, despite the fact that the she was unable to work due to her rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and degenerative disc disease. The Hartford’s denial of benefits was based on the opinion of a doctor who had never even seen our client; he merely reviewed her medical records and then gave an opinion that she was not disabled.
The Fields Law attorneys drafted a strong appeal for our client, pointing out that the doctor, whose opinions The Hartford relied on, selectively reviewed the records, and ignored vital facts. We also obtained letters from our client’s treating doctors to refute The Hartford’s denial of benefits. In the end, they reversed the denial of benefits and our client received back pay as well as ongoing monthly benefits.
Paula – Registered Nurse – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Our disability attorneys filed an ERISA appeal for a nurse who worked for many years on the labor and delivery floor of a hospital and in a special needs nursery. The former nurse suffered from reflex sympathetic dystrophy/complex regional pain syndrome (RSD/CRPS). The Hartford denied her disability claiming that she did not meet the policy definition of disabled and that there were no objective findings of her impairments. However, its denial was based on an incomplete review of our client’s medical records. Our client’s records were filled with evidence of her ongoing pain and symptoms, which made her simply unable to do her job.
Our team fought hard to reverse the decision of The Hartford. We obtained letters from our client’s treating doctors to refute the denial. We also supported the appeal with the Social Security Administration’s finding that our client is entirely disabled due to her RSD/CRPS. Our appeal presented the medical evidence clearly so that the insurance company could not deny that she is disabled. She was thrilled to have the decision reversed and to be awarded ongoing benefits. Since our client was injured at work, we were also able to represent her in a Workers’ Compensation claim. We helped her obtain a significant settlement from the Workers’ Compensation insurer.
