An Acute Dialysis Registered Nurse (RN) in St. Lucie, Florida was forced to stop working due to chronic neck pain. She enjoyed a nearly 20-year-long career and worked through her chronic pain for over 15 years with the help of surgery and medication. When her disabilities and diagnoses became unbearable, she was relieved to turn to her disability insurance with Prudential. The company approved her claim and paid disability benefits for 14 months before inappropriately reversing its stance and denying benefits.
When Dabdoub Law Firm heard about this, we could not stand idly by. We helped our client recover the benefits she deserved.
Details of Our Client’s Chronic Neck Pain
Our client had her first neck surgery in 2002, but she has been unable to perform the duties of her job since February 2018. Her list of diagnoses includes:
- Cervical stenosis and radiculopathy
- Lumbar stenosis
- Inflammatory polyarthropathy
- Osteoporosis
- Thoracic degenerative disc disease
- High cholesterol
- Barrett’s esophagus
- GERD
- Addiction
- Insomnia
- Anxiety and depression
The claim our client filed was consistent with Prudential’s policy and she was approved for long-term disability (LTD) benefits in August 2019. Prudential then determined, rather inexplicably, that “no benefits are payable beyond October 31, 2019.”
What Prudential Did Wrong
Under the terms of her policy, our client is eligible for benefits because she is unable to fulfill the duties of her occupation, suffered a loss of earnings due to comorbid health conditions, and has been under the regular care of multiple doctors.
Although she attempted to work 2 part-time jobs after retiring as a nurse, her restrictions and limitations made them impossible. Her medical records confirm this fact, and Prudential has extensive evidence of her conditions and inability to maintain gainful employment.
Prudential also has a fiduciary responsibility to act in our client’s best interest – one which it breached by denying her benefits. On top of all of this, our client had her spinal surgery rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a cancer scare.
Considering our client’s situation and the inappropriate justification Prudential gave for denying her claim, the company violated ERISA law. Prudential manipulated medical records from years prior to act in its own self-interest.
How We Helped
Because Dabdoub Law Firm is experienced in ERISA and LTD claims, we were able to highlight legal precedents and medical evidence to show Prudential the wrongs it performed. We gave them a chance to remedy the situation before engaging in litigation.
Fortunately, Prudential complied. Using the evidence and explanations we provided, the company reinstated our client’s LTD benefits, securing her livelihood during this difficult time and honoring the terms of her policy.
Disability Insurance Companies Have Lawyers. Shouldn’t You?
Dabdoub Law Firm was created to focus on disability insurance, which means we have developed expertise in this complex area of the law.
Our expertise in long-term disability claims gives our clients the backing of a law firm and attorneys who:
- are experts in disability claims,
- have fought all major disability insurance companies and know their tactics,
- boast a track record of success,
- have won major disability lawsuits that created good law, and
- have successfully recovered millions of dollars in disability benefits.
All our lawyers commit every day of their legal career to helping people get disability benefits from UNUM, MetLife, Prudential, Northwestern Mutual, Hartford, CIGNA, and others.
Because federal law applies to most disability insurance claims, we do not have to be located in your state to help. We help clients nationwide.
Call to get experienced disability lawyers on your side throughout:
- 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 or contact us online for a free consultation with a disability attorney.
