Occupations

David P. Martin has handled claims involving a wide variety of occupations.  Disability can strike in any occupation.  The following list is not exclusive but represents a cross-section of claimants he has represented all over Alabama, Mississippi and the Florida panhandle:

Administrators for various agencies
Accountants
Automobile parts manufacturer line workers
Bank supervisor and trainer
Bank teller
Cable TV service manager
Cell tower repairmen
Certified Registerd Nurse Anesthetist
Chemical engineer
Computer Analysts for Department of Defense contractors and various companies 
Credit Union loan manager
Dietitian
Dock laborers
Drug abuse counselor
Engineer - Computer Sciences
Fast Food District Manager
Floral plant arranger
Fork lift driver
Garment factory worker
Insurance claim manager
Insurance claim representative
Insurance sales representatives
Lawyer
Line leader for compact disc manufacturer
Line technician for a power company 
Magazine Vice President
Maintenance workers
Mechanics
Muffler plant line workers
Newspaper Press Operator
Nurses
Pharmacists
Pharmaceutical sales representatives
Physician/Surgeon
Plant maintenance supervisor
Plant managers and line workers
Power Company, maintenance
Product distribution center
Rental car representative
Retail managers
Retail sales representatives
Secretaries
Security for and auto manufacturer
Sewer plan operator
Surgical instrument sales representative
Teachers
Telephone services account representative
Timber products maintenance supervisor
Tire plant makers and supervisors
Truck driver
Video store manager
Water treatment plant tester

Disabling Conditions and Injuries:

There are numerous conditions and many injuries that can cause a loss of capacity to work.  The human body is incredibly complex, so often it is hard to know why someone has suffered a loss of capacity.  Sometimes all that can be done is to document the restrictions and limitations on the loss of capacity that has been suffered, and monitor the condition to learn more as time goes on.  I have represented individuals with a variety of illnesses, conditions, and injuries.  I have listed a few and included links to websites with helpful information. Click on those conditions that are underlined.

1. Bi-Polar Disorder
2. Carpal Tunnel Disorder
3. Chiari malformation
4. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
5. Crohn’s Disease
6. Depression
7. Diabetes
8. Failed back surgery syndrome
9. Fibromyalgia
10. Heart disease and conditions
11. Meralgia Paresthetica
12. Migraine headaches
13. Neurogenic bladder
14. Osteonecrosis
15. Pulmonary Illnesses
16. Pain Medication
17. R.D.S
18. Rheumatoid Arthritis
19. Sciatica

A Note From One of Our Clients:

My name is W.G.P. and I was employed as a pre-ticketer at a clothing manufacturing company in Alabama. My job was to tag garments for retail sale among other things. I had to use my hands and arms all day. I developed arthritis in my hands and I could no longer perform my job. I thought everything would be fine because I had long term disability insurance through my employer. I had payroll deductions from my check. However, the insurance provided had a five year limit for benefits. If I had known this, I certainly would have taken out my own disability policy rather than relying on this one. The policy also had an offset provision which reduced the disability benefit by the amount of social security disability that I later received. This made the policy virtually worthless. In the end, it was only worth $100 per month! This angers me because you can’t live on that. Not only did the policy not pay, but I had to file a lawsuit. I was paying premiums for long term disability insurance that was virtually worthless. I wish my employer had told me of the social security offset provision. In my time of need, my policy paid nothing for years and forced me to file suit. It was not worth the trouble. I think employers should have to tell employees what kind of disability policy is being provided. I also think the Insurance Commissioner of the State of Alabama should forbid selling policies that appear to promise something but provide almost nothing. In plain English, this was a rip off.

Tell us what you think about this case and other ERISA issues at http://erisablog.erisacase.com.