Short & Long Term Disability Cases We’ve Won for Our Clients Against UNUM
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 UNUM.
Marci – Bank Operations Specialist – Buffalo, New York
Back Pain, Spinal Cord Impingement
A bank operations specialist from New York was in a serious car accident. She was rear-ended and her car was violently sandwiched between the car that hit her and the car in front of her. After the accident, she was unable to stay in her chair at work due to severe discomfort and soreness. An MRI revealed that she had damage to her vertebrae and spinal cord at three different levels. Her doctor recommended leaving work. She applied for Long Term Disability benefits but Unum denied her claim, stating that she did not suffer any acute injury.
Shocked by Unum’s decision, she called Fields Law Firm for help. Our team gathered all our client’s medical records and the Fields Law attorneys drafted a strong appeal to Unum. The appeal highlighted important records that they had missed, including one doctor who said our client was 75% disabled and recommended she stop work immediately. Based on these records, the Fields Law attorneys drafted a strong legal argument on appeal that our client’s injury was acute and disabling. Unum changed its mind and granted benefits and our client received a lump-sum payment for backpay and ongoing monthly income.
Adhiti – Accounts Receivable Representative – Las Vegas, Nevada
Non-Union of Right Ulnar Shaft Fracture, CTS, Fractured Vertebrae, Cognitive Deficits, Mental Health Concerns
An Accounts Receivable Clerk from Nevada worked for many years before she was involved in a serious car accident. She suffered numerous injuries in the accident, including a compound fracture of her right ulna and a traumatic brain injury. She underwent four failed surgeries on her right forearm, and eventually had a fifth surgery which just barely managed to stabilize her condition. She suffered from persistent pain and immobility in her right arm. She had also developed carpal tunnel syndrome, cognitive deficits, and a variety of mental health conditions after the accident and subsequent recovery. She applied for Long Term Disability benefits from her insurance carrier but was denied upon application. In their denial letter, Unum claimed that her conditions had improved to the point where she could return to work.
Knowing she needed help, and having just given birth to a baby son, the woman sought out help. She contacted Fields Law, and quickly signed on our team of attorneys to appeal Unum’s denial decision. We gathered extensive medical documentation of her recovery and functional capabilities, outlining the path of her recovery. In addition, we secured a functional capacity assessment from her physical therapist, a narrative report from her primary care physician, and a specialized vocational report from a third party expert. The Fields Law team ended up submitting hundreds of pages of exhibits with our already lengthy appeal proving our client’s disabled status. Unum was forced to review all of the documentation, and upon consideration, overturned their prior denial of our client’s benefits, including backpay benefits. Our client was able to focus on her recovery and care for her newborn son.
Tapitha – Administrative Assistant – Durham, North Carolina
PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, Lumbar and Cervical Disc Degeneration, Fibromyalgia
An administrative assistant suffered from a variety of medical conditions, which led her to the realization that she was no longer capable of performing her job duties. She applied for Long Term Disability benefits. Her claim was accepted and she began receiving benefits. While receiving benefits, Unum performed periodic check-ins. They also submitted her medical information to a nurse, who concluded that she remained incapable of performing work. However, just one month after receiving that opinion, Unum sought out a second medical opinion, and the second medical reviewer said the claimiant had no limitations on her work activities and should be able to return to work.
She reacted immediately, filing an appeal on her own, without the assistance of an attorney. Unum did not change their position based on her appeal. However, they did give her a second opportunity to appeal the decision. This time, she turned to Fields Law Firm for help. Our attorneys argued that Unum breached their fiduciary duty to the claimant when they actively sought out an opinion to deny our client’s benefits. About one month after we submitted the appeal, Unum overturned their decision. Our client received backpay and her monthly benefits were reinstated.
