Short & Long Term Disability Cases We’ve Won for Our Clients Against The Standard

A commercial cleaner initially needed a total hip replacement surgery after years of struggling with chronic pain. He was unable to do the heavy lifting that his job required and was forced to stop working. He submitted his disability benefits claim and his insurer agreed he was disabled from his job and paid benefits. However, two years later, The Standard revaluated his claim to determine if he was disabled from Any Occupation in the national economy. They felt he could perform desk work and denied his benefits.

Fields Law Firm was retained to contest the denial for our client. The Fields Law attorneys consulted with our client’s doctor closely to create a report outlining his conditions and limitations. The report was submitted to The Standard as a part of the appeal. Ultimately, The Standard reversed its decision and all past due benefits were paid to our client and his benefits were reinstated.

A Connecticut man had spent years serving his country in the National Guard and Peace Corps before working his way up to become the Director of Cyber Security at an investment firm. Unfortunately, he had developed several serious health conditions during his prior adventures, including chronic migraines and fatigue, type 2 diabetes, PTSD, and severe spine and joint pain. He also had recently contracted Lyme’s disease, and was forced to undergo extensive medical care before he was able to return to work. Around the same time, the man was also forced to undergo surgeries to repair his spine and knee. Possibly because of his ongoing conditions, his employer eventually laid him off.

Knowing he was in serious financial risk because of his conditions, he needed to apply for benefits but wanted to make sure his applications would be successful. Thankfully, he heard that Fields Law had the best team of attorneys who specialized in fighting for disability benefits. He called our office, and was able to speak with an attorney about his case right away. The Fields Law team got to work on his application, coordinating with his numerous physicians and specialists to gather the perfect medical opinions. With our help, he was granted Social Security benefits within the year.

The Fields team also filed for Long and Short Term Disability benefits from his employer’s insurance company, The Standard. However, they unfairly denied both his Long Term Disability and Short Term Disability applications. The Standard based their decision on an unfounded claim that our client was capable of performing the material duties of his occupation. Our attorneys prepared appeals asserting that The Standard had failed to properly consider the combined effects of our client’s impairments, and neglected to conduct an independent review of his medical records. The Standard soon reinstated our client’s Short Term Disability benefits, including back pay. They also agreed to grant our client Long Term Disability benefits, and he began receiving checks in the mail within days of the decision.

A project director left work due to a spinal abscess impinging her spinal cord. She underwent a cervical compression surgery, which was ultimately successful, but she was left with severe neurological deficits like widespread neuropathy and hyperreflexia. She applied for and was paid disability benefits for several years until she eventually returned to work in a part time capacity.

The Standard initially paid her partial disability benefit, but after a few months, she was denied. The Standard stated she was able to return to work in a full-time capacity. The Fields Law attorneys contested the denial, and worked with our client’s treating doctors to build medical evidence to show she remained disabled under the policy. After a review of the appeal, The Standard reinstated benefits and paid all outstanding backpay.