Matrix Absence Management, now a part of Reliance Matrix, denied the short-term disability benefits requested by a young mechanical engineer in Akron, Ohio, who had become unable to work due to mold exposure complications. Attorney Geannina Burgos took the lead on this case, challenged how the insurance company seemingly misunderstood objective laboratory results, and provided additional evidence of his disabilities. Perhaps not wanting to go to court against one of the nation’s most widely recognized disability lawyers, the insurance company soon agreed to approve the disability claim and pay retroactive benefits.
Details of the Mechanical Engineer Mold Exposure Case
Our client is a mechanical engineer who is only in his 30s, yet he needed short-term disability benefits due to an unfortunate turn of events. He was known throughout his career as an intelligent and reliable worker, but he began to experience troubling health complications in late 2024. It would not become known until months later that he was showing signs of unsafe mold exposure after unknowingly moving into a mold-infected home in 2022. By early 2025, he struggled to complete any work tasks safely because he was plagued by chronic fatigue, cognitive impairment, migraines, and erratic mood swings.
When he filed for short-term disability benefits to try to recover enough to resume work, he was surprised that Matrix denied his claim. What’s more, the denial letter claims that his symptoms are subjective.
Attorney Burgos relied on her extensive experience both with insurance cases and complex medical conditions to uncover the truth of the matter. There was nothing subjective about the engineer’s health problems. Results from CLIA-certified labs showed demonstrably and irrefutably that he had been exposed to Aspergillus and Penicillium molds, which are known to be neurotoxic. The mold samples were collected from his own home, so there was no doubt that he had been exposed to them. Furthermore, another lab test showed that he had been exposed to “fungal overgrowths” that were known dopamine disruptors that could cause depression and dysfunction.
Dr. Annette Hobi, NMD, was shown our client’s case file and environmental data. The returned report included a diagnosis of toxic mold exposure. Board-certified toxicologist, Shakil Saghir, PhD, DABT, was also called upon to review the case, and the conclusion was reached that our client’s symptoms were expectedly aligned with unsafe exposure to disease-causing mycotoxins. Even more medical professionals were able to analyze the medical and environmental evidence of the mold exposure and the symptoms it was causing, and they all concluded that his exposure was significant enough to cause disabilities that should warrant disability insurance benefits.
With overwhelming medical and laboratory evidence in hand, none of which could be called subjective, Attorney Burgos confidently challenged Matrix’s decision to block our client’s disability benefits. Before the case had to go to court, the insurer backed down. Our client’s benefits were approved, and he was given retroactive pay benefits.
Lawyers with Expertise in Disability Insurance Claims
This law firm has always focused only on disability insurance law. Because we specialize in long-term disability, our clients get the benefit of:
- Having an attorney who is an expert in long-term disability claims;
- Having an attorney who has experience with every major disability insurance company; and
- Being backed by a law firm that has a proven track record of winning tough disability lawsuits.
Call the Dabdoub Law Firm to get experienced disability lawyers on your side. We can help with:
- 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.
The firm represents clients nationwide with disability claims governed by federal law, even if we are not located in your state.
Call (800) 969-0488 or contact us online to speak with an experienced disability attorney. Pay no fees or costs unless you get paid.