Short & Long Term Disability Cases We’ve Won for Our Clients in Utah
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 and lawsuit case wins in Utah.
Austin – Insurance Manager – Murray, Utah
Dyspnea with Exertion, Fibromyalgia, Mitochondrial Disorder
An Insurance Manager from Utah suffered from Dyspnea with Exertion, Fibromyalgia, and Mitochondrial Disorder. He was taken off work by his doctors as they attempted to clarify his diagnoses and treat his many disabling symptoms. His insurer initially paid his Short Term Disability benefits but when the doctors could not find a definitive cause for his symptoms Life Map discontinued benefits.
Fields Law built a multifaceted plan to win his appeal. Our attorneys secured narrative reports from multiple treating physicians documenting the severity of our client’s symptoms and their impact on his day to day life. We successfully argued that Life Map had ignored relevant evidence already provided and that its hired medical record reviewer selectively cited and misstated the opinions of our client’s treating doctors. After reviewing our appeal Life Map reversed its decision, paid our client’s back benefits, and commenced payment of Long Term Disability benefits.
Amber – Account Manager – West Valley City, Utah
Chronic Pain, Degenerative Disc Disease, Spinal Stenosis, Fibromyalgia, Anxiety, Major Depressive Disorder
An Account Manager had to stop working due to Chronic Pain, Degenerative Disc Disease, Spinal Stenosis, Fibromyalgia, Anxiety, and Major Depressive Disorder. The employer provided a Long Term Disability policy, which she elected to receive coverage under. When she became eligible for Long Term Disability benefits from the policy’s carrier, she applied and was initially approved, receiving monthly payments for almost one year.
However, Reliance Standard terminated her Long Term Disability benefits, indicating no benefits were payable because she did not meet the definition of Totally Disabled. Reliance Standard based the denial decision on her Facebook page which showed a 4-day vacation with a rental car. This apparently meant that she could return to work.
Upset with the arbitrary decision to terminate benefits, she contacted Fields Law Firm for legal representation and to submit an appeal. The attorneys at Fields Law pulled together comprehensive medical records, reports, and a timeline for this alleged vacation, and submitted an appeal for our client. Reliance Standard issued a new decision and overturned its prior denial of Long Term Disability benefits. Reliance Standard proceeded to issue a backpay check for the months that it failed to pay our client previously.
