Insurance companies run over honest and deserving policyholders every day by making the claims process confusing, frustratingly slow, and in many ways outright unfair. Dealing with long term disability claims requires specialized knowledge about how polices are written and interpreted. It requires knowledge about federal and state rules and regulations governing claims procedures. It requires a broad range of medical knowledge and contacts within the medical profession so we prove the medical basis for disability. It requires the ability to enforce the policyholder’s rights by prosecuting lawsuits in federal and state court. It requires these and a host of other skills that can only be acquired over time through education and experience. Well-meaning attorneys who do not handle these claims regularly are as likely to do harm as they are to help.
A little about how I got into this line of work: after graduating law school (University of Georgia, cum laude 1992), I began working as an associate at an injury law firm. For the first ten years of my career, I represented injury victims in car wrecks, negligent security and work injury claims. I learned a lot about medicine. I learned a good deal about how insurance companies operate, and a good deal more about how to prepare and try a case in court. For the most part I enjoyed the work, but I did not feel the same sense of calling I have since discovered doing what I do now.
Along the way I encountered several of my injured clients who were having difficulties with their long-term disability insurers. These were all formerly working people. They did not want ot be disabled. They would have loved nothing more than to get back to work, to earn an income, and to enjoy the sense of productivity accomplishment that goes with working. Their health, however, would not allow it.
These were also people who had the foresight and discipline to buy disability insurance. They had spent hard-earned money to buy insurance so that, if their health prevented them from working, they would have income replacement benefits to keep food on the table at home.They paid premiums for years (sometimes decades) hoping they would never need this insurance.
Time and again I encountered clients who were in no physical shape to resume work and yet their disability insurers were denying benefits, giving them the runaround, and generally making their lives miserable. I kept trying to find lawyers who would take these claims, and, as far as I could tell, there were none in the entire state of Georgia. I saw a need, so I bought a three-volume treatise on the topic and began studying it. I also flew myself out of state to begin attend seminars and begin educating myself.
In 1999 I took my first three long term disability cases. Two were resolved favorably by payment of benefits without ever having to go to court. The third case went to federal court and settled on very favorable terms. These successes were the beginning of an education that continues to this day.
Since 1999 our firm has grown, and we have represented more than 1,000 deserving clients seeking long term disability and other insurance benefits to which they were clearly entitled. I am as committed to this endeavor today as I was when I first started. The difference now is that I have gained far more experience and knowledge along the way.
I continue to handle long term disability, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) and health insurance disputes, under both federal ERISA law and under Georgia state bad faith insurance law. My clientele has included impressively accomplished physicians, dentists, attorneys, executives. It has also included truck drivers, paralegals, nurses, salespeople, government employees and many other walks of life.
I have recovered well over 100 million dollars in insurance benefits, mostly on claims that insurance companies attempted to deny. I would welcome the opportunity to assist you in your matter.