In addition to being a lawyer I am a surgeon with almost thirty years of medical experience.  I served as Clinical Associate Professor in Surgery and  Attending Surgeon in Transplantation at SUNY at Stony Brook, , New York  Assistant Editor, Transplantation Proceedings and President of the New York Transplantation Society.  As a associate professor of surgery I have authored 3 book chapters three patents and 106 research papers published in peer reviewed medical journals.   Because of my medical and research background, I believe I am in the best position to study and present your disability case in the best light. I obtain all the medical records in your case and perform an independent medical research. I analyze your case. I often meet with your doctors to have the best information available. I then present an analysis of your case to the judge arguing not only the legal merits of your case but also present your medical file in its best light

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY

89% APPROVAL RATE

According the SSA information,  only 30% of claimants are approved by the SSA.  Of those denied at the initial level only 40% obtain benefits after a hearing when representing themselves and 63% obtain benefits when  assisted by lawyer.  By 11-01-2007 I represented 240 claimants before the SSA. The approval rate of the entire group was 89%.  ( see table) Appeals were taken on behalf of 20 of the 27  claimants denied . The results of the appeals are still pending.  I expect at least 60% success in this group resulting in further improvement in the approval rate of the entire group  READ MORE

LONG TERM DISABILITY -ERISA

Disability insurance policies are very specific as to the provisions that need to be satisfied in order to obligate the insurer to pay you benefits. Group policies are designed to limit coverage and the amount of benefits payable. This is done in many ways, including limited definitions of disability, offsets against benefits, as well as significant limitations and exclusions in the policy.  Generally, group policies are subject to the ERISA regulations. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) is the federal law that regulates the establishment, operation, and funding of most non-governmental employee benefit plans, including long term disability plans. ERISA was adopted to protect the benefits of plan participants and beneficiaries. Unfortunately, due to unartful drafting by Congress, the courts have often defeated the purpose of the act and have provided protections to insurance companies at the expense of participants and beneficiaries. ERISA is now used by insurance companies as a sword in an attempt to deprive participants and beneficiaries of meaningful judicial review READ MORE

VETERANS DISABILITY

TABLE OF CONTENTS VETERANS DISABILITY