For 26 years, a Nursing Supervisor at the Progressive Coronary Care Unit in Scottsdale, Arizona dedicated her life to her job and her patients. In her free time, the nurse led an active life of traveling, walking, swimming, and spending time with her children and grandchildren. Unfortunately, the woman’s life changed forever when she was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, venous insufficiency, lymphedema, and chronic leg pain. No longer able to work, she filed for short-term disability (STD) benefits, then long-term disability (LTD) benefits from The Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company.
Hartford granted these benefits for years until it suddenly and inexplicably decided to terminate our client’s benefits, prompting her to contact Dabdoub Law Firm.
The Nature of the Nurse’s Disability
The most severe symptom of our client’s multiple medical conditions is the swelling and pain that occurs in her hands and legs whenever she stands. Our client is unable to walk without a cane and cannot spend more than 15 minutes at a time on her feet. Further, she can only sit for an hour at a time and not more than 2 hours within an 8-hour workday. Our client must rest and elevate her feet roughly 4 times a day to minimize the pain and swelling in her feet, cannot stand or walk for more than 2 hours in any given workday, and would likely be absent for at least 4 workdays each month due to her impairments.
As such, our client is totally disabled and entitled to LTD benefits from Hartford. Her medical providers have concluded that she is not capable of performing full-time sedentary work.
Although her condition has done nothing but deteriorate for the last 3 years, our client’s insurance company suddenly concluded she was able to return to her original occupation as a Nursing Supervisor. This is objectively untrue.
Dabdoub Law Firm Reveals the Truth
Hartford failed to evaluate our client’s claim in accordance with federal law. The company de-emphasized evidence that proved our client’s disability and relied solely on a flawed peer review performed erroneously by a doctor Hartford retained. Despite never having seen our client and having access to all her medical records, this doctor failed to perform a careful and thorough review and came to a conclusion that defied all logic. Additionally, Hartford did not consider the Social Security Administration’s decision to approve disability benefits.
In short, Dabdoub Law Firm pointed out these mistakes, provided ample evidence for our client’s claim, and encouraged Hartford to reverse its termination and reinstate our client’s LTD benefits. Unsurprisingly, the company complied to avoid legal action. We are pleased we were able to help our client – and that Hartford corrected its inexplicable errors.
Our Lawyers Specialize in Disability Insurance Claims
Because Dabdoub Law Firm has always focused only on disability insurance, our lawyers are experts in legal representation for disability insurance benefits.
That means our disability lawyers have:
- Won several major disability lawsuits and improved the law for disability claimants.
- Experience fighting every major insurance company, including UNUM, Hartford, MetLife, CIGNA, Prudential, and more.
- Successfully represented hundreds of clients and won millions of dollars in disability benefits.
Federal law applies to most disability insurance claims, so we can help clients across the country.
Disability insurance companies have lawyers. You should too. Contact Dabdoub Law Firm to get experienced disability lawyers on your side.
We can help with:
- Submitting a disability insurance claim,
- Appealing a long-term disability denial,
- Negotiating a lump-sum settlement, or
- Filing a lawsuit against your disability insurance company.
Call us at (800) 969-0488 for a free consultation with a disability attorney. No fees or costs until you get paid.
