Prudential Reinstates Long Term Disability Benefits To Sales Specialist Following Appeal Filed By Attorneys Dell & Schaefer

Our client was a Territory Sales Specialist for a major medical supply company, responsible for sales spanning a large geographic area with incredibly high sales quotas. Physical requirements of her occupation required here to travel extensively, drive long distances on a day to day basis, carry samples and products that could weigh in excess of thirty pounds, and give presentations and demonstrations. Her job required her to have a strong understanding of all aspects of her company’s products, and keep current with all advancements in the field of medicine as it relates to her company’s products.

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Liberty Mutual Reverses Denial Of Short-Term Disability Benefits And Approves Long-Term Disability Benefits For Advertising Account Manager

Our client was a top selling account manager in the advertising department of one of the country’s largest companies, in one of the company’s most demanding regional markets. Over the course of her career she exceeded sales quotas that were in the upper six figures, year in, year out.

In mid 2008, our client began suffering from severe anxiety and depression. Unable to handle the tremendous pressure and stress from her occupation, she made a claim for short-term disability benefits under her company’s salary continuation plan. Less than a month later Liberty Mutual denied her claim for disability benefits. It was around that time, our client relocated to be closer to family, and in the process of doing so learned of the law firm of Attorneys Dell and Schaefer. She contacted Dell and Schaefer to assist her in appealing her claim denial.

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Insurance Industry Loses Lawsuit Challenging the Abolishment of Discretionary Clauses In ERISA Long-Term Disability Policies

In 1989, The US Supreme Court declared that if ERISA plans contain language giving plan fiduciaries discretion to interpret the terms of the plans and to make benefit determinations, courts will generally yield to that discretion. As a result of this discretion, insurance companies were able to deny claims and there was very little that courts could do to reverse the decision of an insurance company. Throughout the past several years, many states have passed laws to ban discretionary clauses and the insurance industry has been fighting to keep the discretionary clauses.

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Psychiatrist Receives $375,000 Long-Term Disability Insurance Buyout

Attorneys Dell & Schaefer successfully negotiated a $375,000 long-term disability insurance lump sum buyout for a psychiatrist suffering from major depressive and anxiety disorder. After practicing for 20 years, our client began to suffer from the same condition which he had helped thousands of patients to overcome.

The claim was resolved for 70.2% of the present value of future benefits. The client received a mutual release which allows him to return to his prior occupation as a psychiatrist should he recover in the future. Due to a confidentiality agreement the name of the long term disability insurance company can not be disclosed.

Disability Attorneys Dell & Schaefer, established in 1979, have represented thousands of clients with their claims against disability insurance companies. The firm’s disability income division, managed by Gregory Michael Dell, is comprised of eight attorneys who represent claimants nationwide, throughout all stages (i.e. applications, denials, appeals, litigation, & lump-sum policy buyouts) of a claim for individual or group (ERISA) long-term disability benefits. For a free consultation, please call 800-828-7583 or use our contact page.

Unum Provident's Appeal of Long Term Disability Benefits Awarded to a New York Tax Attorney Is Denied

The Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has denied First Unum Life Insurance Co.'s request to reconsider a decision in which it found the company arbitrarily denied long-term disability benefits to a tax attorney with colon cancer.  First Unum, a unit of Unum Group (NYSE: UNM), filed the petition for rehearing with the New York-based federal appeals court in January, saying that the court "misapprehended key facts and law" (BestWire, Jan. 9, 2009).

Attempts to speak with Unum Group to see if First Unum plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court were not immediately successful.  According to the December 2008 decision, written by Circuit Judge John M. Walker Jr. for a three-judge panel, First Unum operated under a conflict of interest because it was both the claims administrator and payor of benefits.

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Prudential Denies Long-Term Disability Benefits To A Breast Cancer Survivor And Attorneys Dell & Schaefer Submit An Appeal

Our client, a breast cancer survivor, was a senior property manager for a large property management company for nearly fifteen years. As a senior property manager, our client was responsible for planning, controlling and directing the day to day operation of multiple properties. Year after year she received numerous recognitions for the quality of her work.

Like many breast cancer survivors, our client experienced cognitive difficulties, commonly referred to as “chemo-brain,” following treatment with chemotherapy and the medication, Tamoxifen. She experienced problems remembering things, focusing, multi-tasking, as well as problems with being able to analyze information in a logical manner. These deficits in her thinking made it impossible for her to continue to perform her job, and in turn she filed for long term disability income benefits with Prudential.

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