Our client was suffering from multiple physical debilitations and health conditions that only felt worse when she also suffered numerous personal losses within a short period of time. Unable to keep working as an accounting firm manager who made nearly $200,000 annually, she wanted to file for disability benefits through MetLife, yet met resistance. Dabdoub Law Firm was able to step in, detail the extent of her conditions and how her losses impacted her, and secure the benefits that she needed without having to go into lengthy in-court litigation.
Details of the Personal Losses & Hardships Case
Our client was a high earner and at 61 years old, she was still loving her job. But she also looked forward to eventually retiring. A series of unfortunate events, coupled with a worsening chronic pain that centralized in her back, would undo all her plans. Between 2022 and 2023 she lost 4 people close to her including her mother and boyfriend. In 2023, she also lost her home and her mother’s home and underwent spinal fusion surgery. Following the surgery she fell and suffered a head injury and concussion.
With everything adding up, she started to become withdrawn, experience signs of depression and anxiety, and struggle physically sitting or standing for hours at a time. She was unable to continue meeting the demands of her occupation, so she filed for disability benefits through MetLife. Unexpectedly, the insurance company said that, other than her recovery period from the spinal fusion surgery, she had no health issues, so her claim was denied.
Challenging MetLife’s Myopic Review
Attorney Kevin Schaefer of Dabdoub Law Firm took the lead in this case. With his extensive experience as an LTD claims attorney representing claimants, he immediately recognized that something must have gone wrong with MetLife’s review of our client’s medical conditions. The medical evidence was overwhelming, to put it lightly, and a neighbor had even agreed to provide a written statement that explained how much our client had changed due to her numerous personal losses in less than a year’s time.
Ultimately, Attorney Schaefer determined that MetLife had been intentionally “myopic” or nearsighted when reviewing our client’s file and claim. It had essentially based its entire evaluation on the 30 days following her spinal fusion surgery and had strangely concluded that she had no mental or physical impairments once that period ended.
In the letter sent by Attorney Schaefer to MetLife, he requested that the insurer reverse its decision and provide our client with the long-term disability benefits owed to her. He also clearly noted that MetLife had failed its fiduciary duty to fairly and fully review her disability claim, but he was willing to give them one more chance to set things right before enacting an official lawsuit. Not wanting to go head-to-head with Dabdoub Law Firm, MetLife agreed our client was disabled and entitled to long-term disability benefits.
Lawyers with Expertise in Disability Insurance Claims
This law firm has always focused only on disability insurance law. Because we specialize in long-term disability, our clients get the benefit of:
- Having an attorney who is an expert in long-term disability claims;
- Having an attorney who has experience with every major disability insurance company; and
- Being backed by a law firm that has a proven track record of winning tough disability lawsuits.
Call the 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.
The firm represents clients nationwide with disability claims governed by federal law, even if we are not located in your state.
Call (800) 969-0488 or contact us online to speak with an experienced disability attorney. Pay no fees or costs unless you get paid.