Posted on December 9, 2009 by Gregory Dell

Arizona Court Reverses Reliance Standard And Awards Disability Benefits to Woman Suffering From Fibromyalgia

After receiving disability benefits for more than 10 years, the Reliance Standard denied disability benefits. After a 4 year legal battle, the Arizona district court determined that Melisa Gemmel was disabled by fibromyalgia. Melissa Gemmel was employed at Systemhouse, Inc. and covered under her employer’s long-term disability plan, issued by Reliance Standard (NYSE:DFG). In 1989, it was discovered that Gemmel suffered from osteophytes in the neural canal at C5-6, a posterior osteophyte at C5-6, and a C7-T1 abnormality.

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Posted on June 1, 2009 by Gregory Dell

Teacher Suffering From Sjorgen's Syndrome, Fibromyalgia And Other Conditions Receives Lump-Sum Buyout Following Denial Of Long-Term Disability Benefits

Prior to becoming disabled, Mrs. C was an eighth grade English literature teacher in southern California. In 1996, Mrs. C began experiencing pain in her muscles and joints as well as fatigue and disturbed sleep. Her physicians soon diagnosed her with various connective tissue disorders, including: Sjogren’s syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, atypical lupus , Raynaud’s phenomenon, fibromyalgia and muti-nodular goiter. She was experiencing pain in a number of small joints in her upper extremities, as well as her knees, ankles and hands. The stress and emotional toll was even causing her to experience hair loss. In 2002, Mrs. C was forced to stop working and file a claim for disability benefits under her long-term disability policy provided through her teacher’s association. After reviewing her claim and giving careful consideration to the medical evidence, the disability insurer approved Mrs. C’s claim and began paying total disability benefits.

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Posted on May 1, 2009 by Gregory Dell

Podiatrist Receives Lump-Sum Buyout at Pre-Suit Mediation With Long-Term Disability Insurer

The Client, a South Florida podiatrist, retained the law firm of Attorneys Dell & Schaefer in December 2007 due to the denial of disability benefits by one of her two long-term disability insurance carriers. Beginning in 1999 the client began suffering complications from fibromyalgia, sjogren’s syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Determined to continue the practice of podiatry and not allow her disabling conditions to destroy the practice she had worked so hard to build, the client continued to treat patients, perform surgeries and work a full time work week. However, it was not long before our client was forced to reduce her working hours and as a result experienced decreased revenues, less patients and canceled appointments.

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