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.

→ Click here to continue reading Prudential Reinstates Long Term Disability Benefits To Sales Specialist Following Appeal Filed By Attorneys Dell & Schaefer

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.

→ Click here to continue reading Liberty Mutual Reverses Denial Of Short-Term Disability Benefits And Approves Long-Term Disability Benefits For Advertising Account Manager

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.

→ Click here to continue reading Insurance Industry Loses Lawsuit Challenging the Abolishment of Discretionary Clauses In ERISA Long-Term Disability Policies

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.

About the author: Gregory Michael Dell is an attorney and managing partner of the disability income division of Attorneys Dell & Schaefer. Mr. Dell and his team of lawyers have assisted thousands of long-term disability claimants with their claims against every major disability insurance company. To request a free legal consultation call 800-411-9085.

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.

→ Click here to continue reading Unum Provident’s Appeal of Long Term Disability Benefits Awarded to a New York Tax Attorney Is Denied

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.

→ Click here to continue reading Prudential Denies Long-Term Disability Benefits To A Breast Cancer Survivor And Attorneys Dell & Schaefer Submit An Appeal

Dr. C, a dentist, came to Attorneys Dell & Schaefer in 2006 seeking assistance in submitting applications for long-term disability benefits. In 1999, Dr. C began noticing a slight tremor in his right hand while writing and at times while holding a dental instrument. He immediately sought care from a neurologist, who after examining Dr. C, determined that the tremor was likely stress and anxiety related. Dr. C continued working and operating his dental practice with the hopes that his slight tremor would resolve.

→ Click here to continue reading Dentist With Hand Tremor Files Suit And Receives Confidential Settlement For Past Due And Future Long-Term Disability Benefits

More than sixteen years ago, shortly after starting his dental practice, Dr. Johnson (name has been changed for privacy purposes) bought a disability insurance policy to protect his income in case of an illness or injury that prevented him from completely or partially working in his chosen profession. Over the years, Dr. Johnson’s practice grew substantially and so did his annual income. As such, Dr. Johnson’s insurance carrier made several offers to increase his monthly disability benefit in case of total disability. Each time, Dr. Johnson gladly accepted the increase in premium payments for the added protection.

→ Click here to continue reading Attorney Dell & Schaefer Prove Dentist Is Totally Disabled And Not Residually Disabled

Our client, a Senior Sales Manager for a large medical supply company, was suffering from severe spinal stenosis and an injury to her ulnar nerve following an epidural steroid injection. As a result of these disabling conditions, our client suffered from a multitude of physical problems, which included: loss of range of motion in the neck and shoulders; loss of grip strength of the left hand; numbness, tingling, and burning of the left forearm, extreme sensitivity to cold temperatures or light touch, and constant pain. The only way to provide some relief to the constant pain was through prescription pain killers, which left our client groggy and unable to focus or concentrate fully.

→ Click here to continue reading MetLife Approves Long Term Disability Benefits for Senior Sales Manager in the Medical Supply Industry

To hear company officials tell it Unum is emphatically on the mend, this after the disability insurer was wracked by scandal and losses earlier in the decade.

In 2005, Unum reached a costly settlement with attorneys general in 49 states over allegations of unfairly terminating or denying coverage to disabled clients. That was after a 60 Minutes exposé pilloried the company.

Its other big problem was in the profit department, the result of horribly underpricing policies sold to doctors, lawyers and other professionals. Those policies are now in "run-off" mode, with beefed-up reserves for claims, meaning they can die a slow but less costly death.

→ Click here to continue reading What Is The Financial Future Of Unum?