Our client was a highly respected chiropractor — someone who had built a successful business and spent years serving his community. But when severe arthritis took hold in both arms, his life and livelihood were suddenly in jeopardy. The condition was so debilitating that he could no longer perform the physical work required of him. Forced to step back, he turned to his long-term disability insurance for support during this difficult time.
That’s when the real battle began.
Although our client was unable to work as a chiropractor, he still owned his business. He had wisely hired other chiropractors to keep the practice running, and while he was no longer treating patients, the business continued to turn a profit. The insurance company seized on this, arguing that because the business was still making money, our client was not truly disabled. They not only cut off his benefits but also demanded that he repay a large sum in alleged overpayments.
Our client knew this wasn’t right — and fortunately, he learned about us through another attorney who trusted us to help.
Once we took over, we got straight to work. We thoroughly reviewed every document, policy provision, and piece of financial evidence. We demonstrated that profit from owning a business is fundamentally different from income earned by working in that business. Before his disability, our client had two income streams: wages from his work as a chiropractor and profits from owning the practice. After arthritis forced him out of his hands-on role, he lost his earned income entirely. What remained – the business profit – was passive and unrelated to his ability to work.
Armed with this clear and compelling argument, we pushed back hard against the insurance company’s position.
In the end, our strategy worked. The insurance company dropped the overpayment claim entirely and reinstated his long-term disability benefits.
Thanks to his own perseverance and our relentless advocacy, our client was able to move forward without financial ruin hanging over him. He remains an example of resilience, still running his business and contributing to the community – even if he can no longer practice in the way he once did.
Do you have a case involving a long-term disability claim?
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