Dabdoub Law Firm Secures LTD & STD Benefits for NJ Client with Arthritis

After his claim for short-term disability (STD) benefits was denied by his disability insurance company, a former Aldi manager in New Jersey turned to Dabdoub Law Firm for assistance.

Thankfully, our seasoned Dabdoub attorneys successfully appealed to Life Insurance Company of North America (LINA) on his behalf, securing both the short- and long-term disability (LTD) benefits our client deserved from the start. Keep reading to learn more about this recent success story in Princeton, NJ.

Dabdoub Attorney Successfully Appealed to LINA on His Client’s Behalf

In May 2023, Attorney Kevin Schaefer stepped in to reverse LINA’s unjust denial of benefits for our Princeton client, in addition to securing the LTD benefits he was also lawfully entitled to.

“As a fiduciary, LINA must act ‘solely in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries,’” Attorney Schaefer reminds the insurer in his appeal. “Here, LINA neglected its fiduciary duties owed to [my client], despite clear evidence of his disability and an inability to perform the material duties of his regular occupation as a store manager.”

Prior to becoming disabled, our NJ client worked a demanding occupation as an Aldi store manager—one that LINA recognized as a “medium-level demand job” from the get-go. Sadly, our client was forced to stop working in October 2022 due to debilitating pain.

His physician quickly identified the cause of his pain, diagnosing him with numerous conditions: arthritis in the lumbosacral spine, herniation of lumbar intervertebral disc with radiculopathy, sciatica, and levoscoliosis of lumbar spine. By December, our client’s doctor confirmed that “nothing had changed” in his patient’s condition.

“He is still very limited physically,” the physician confirmed. He advised his patient to avoid lifting, bending, and twisting motions. Despite this, LINA still saw fit to prolong the financial relief that our disabled client clearly needs, leaving him with no choice but to undergo a functional capacity evaluation (FCE) in February 2023.

LINA Wrongfully Denied Our NJ Client Disability Benefits

“The FCE report confirms [my client] is not able to work in a sedentary level occupation, and certainly not a medium level occupation,” Attorney Schaefer informed LINA, reminding the insurer that the courts consider the FCE to be the best means of assessing a person’s functional level.

“Given the overwhelming evidence that [my client] has presented, LINA is afforded one final opportunity to once again conduct a full and fair review,” Attorney Schaefer concluded. “Once it does so, the obvious decision will be to approve the appeal award his benefits.”

In this case, the insurer chose to take our Dabdoub lawyer’s sound advice, equipping our Princeton client with the LTD and STD benefits he is legally entitled to.

Attorneys That Specialize in Handling Your Disability Insurance Claims

This law firm was created with a single purpose in mind: to help people get disability benefits from insurance companies. With that kind of focus, we have:

1. Experience with every disability insurance company;
2. A proven track record of success in winning major long-term disability lawsuits; and
3. Recovered millions of dollars in disability benefits for clients like you.

Every day, our disability lawyers work to get insurance companies to approve long-term disability claims or appeal disability benefits denials. With so much at stake, shouldn’t you have expert disability lawyers on your side?

Because federal law applies to most disability insurance claims, we do not have to be located in your state to help.

Call (800) 969-0488 or contact us online to speak with a disability insurance lawyer.