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Posted on July 3, 2007 by Troy Rosasco
Congratulations to my friend and fellow long term disability attorney Eve-Lynn Gisonni on her significant victory at the New York State Court of Appeals in Benesowitz v. MetLife. This decision is a great victory for long term disability claimants who are denied benefits due to a "pre-existing condition clause" in their employer's LTD Summary Plan Description. Credit is also due to Eric Dinallo, Governor Spitzer's new Superintendent of Insurance, who supported Eve-Lynn's position in an Amicus brief to the Court.
In Benesowitz, the Court ruled that claimants who apply for long term disability benefits in part due to a preexisting condition which was present at the time disability coverage began only have to wait 12 months before they can collect disability benefits. Up until now, many disability insurance companies, including Unum, MetLife and Cigna , used preexisting condition clauses to unfairly deny claims forever. Now, the Court has ruled that claimants in these fairly common situations will have a 12 month "waiting or elimination period" before being able to collect benefits. For a 30 year old with a pre-existing history of cancer which reoccurs and causes permanent disability for the rest of her life, this will be an economic life saver if she is claiming long term disability benefits.
Posted on June 21, 2007 by Troy Rosasco
That's the rumor in the latest business press. Having just digested the giant Travelers Insurance, MetLife is apparently on the prowl for its next corporate meal, and Unum Group might be ripe for swallowing. But what impact would such a acquisition have on individuals claiming long term disability benefits from the "new undisputed disability insurance king"? Probably not much.
As it stands now, neither MetLife nor Unum Group are great claims payers. In the last month, I've had employees of these companies come to my office for representation because their own employers unfairly denied their ERISA disability claims. If this is how MetLife treats its own employees, can you imagine how you will be treated. These two titans are motivated primarily by shareholder profits, not policyholders interests. From a long term disability lawyer's perspective, it would be a perfect marriage in which both naysayers deserved each other. But then again, it might be a good stock?!
Posted on June 13, 2007 by Troy Rosasco
Patricia Kitchen of Newsday did a nice article on business professionals who blog in the cover story to the Money and Careers section of last Sunday's paper. My good friend and fellow attorney Diane Pfadenhauer, who writes the Strategic HR Lawyer Blog, was featured along with my blog on long term disability claims. We both have Kevin O'Keefe at Lexblog to thank for hosting and designing our blogs and keeping them easy to navigate for our readers.
The article stressed the roles our blogs play in providing useful information on specific topics to the public while also allowing us to express our professional "spin" on the issues. Of course, I have suffered some ribbing from fellow attorneys since publication - mostly along the lines of "what is a blog?" The print edition unmercifully had my mug shot front and center, and one good "friend" informed me that he stuck it on the refrigerator door right next to the plumber's magnet!
I have since spoken to Steve Levy, a professional recruiter who was also profiled in the article and discussed employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. We will talk again. I haven't spoken to career strategy coach Deb Dib yet who was also profiled, but am sure we will have similar synergies. See you in the blogosphere!
Posted on June 9, 2007 by Troy Rosasco
As an Air Force veteran myself, I have always had a soft spot for my disabled veteran clients who have put their life on the line to protect our country and our freedoms. However, the United States Veterans' Administration has done an awful job over the years by denying legitimate VA Disability claims and allowing the system to have a now 400,000 case backlog. This is is not the 'thank you" our young men and women returning from Iraq deserve if they are missing limbs.
Thankfully, help is on the way for disabled veterans fighting the daunting Veterans' Disability Claim process from us "controversial lawyers". A new law, originally sponsored by Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho), will finally allow disabled veterans to hire attorneys to fight their unfair claim denials or disability ratings. The new law, effective June 20, 2007, allows lawyers to enter the administrative disability determination process at the most critical stage - when evidence is being obtained to support the claim. If they aren't running into a filing deadline, some disabled veterans are waiting until after this June 20th to file their appeals so they can do so with lawyers.
The system is so backward now that our law firm has been representing one New York disabled veteran in his claim for over seven years without a final resolution. This case illustrates the old adage "justice delayed is justice denied". Under the old law, the disabled vet was on his own (he could not by law hire a lawyer) during the initial claim processing and the first appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The Veterans' Administration only allowed attorneys to enter the process at the US Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims, where the evidentiary record had already been closed. This prevented the attorney from introducing any new evidence the veteran representing himself may have not known to submit.
Even the DAV (Disabled American Veterans), a formerly staunch opponent of the right to attorney representation due to its desire to "protect the turf " of its own Veterans' Service Officers, seems to now support attorneys in the process based on a recent Newsday article on VA disability claims . The American Legion has always supported the right of the disabled American veteran to retain counsel or a law firm.
Turley, Redmond & Rosasco attorneys have been practicing before the US Court of Veterans' Claims for over ten years. Whether injured recently in Iraq or still suffering PTSD from Vietnam, do not hesitate to call our partner, David Tobias, Esq., in our Veterans' Disability Department toll free at 1- 877-NY-DBLAW.
Posted on June 6, 2007 by Troy Rosasco
I was reading the magazine section of my Sunday paper this weekend and ran across a great article on online support groups by Peter Waite, the founder of HealingWell.com, a website devoted to online discussion groups for individuals with chronic illnesses. I have always been a big fan of support groups for those with particular medical conditions, whether they be cancer, diabetes heart disease or some less common but equally disabling conditions. However, I have always been dubious of recommending specific online disease forums due to the proliferation of bad medical information and questionable "lurkers". Up until now, about the only Internet medical site I have recommended is MedlinePlus, sponsored by the National Institute of Health. MedlinePlus is the starting place for my medical research.
Mr. Waite makes an excellent suggestion that anyone considering participation in an online support group first check out who sponsors the site (is it a drug company that wants to sell you its latest multiple sclerosis medication?) and if the site is accredited by the Health on the Net Foundation. He also discussed proper online etiquette and the always sound mantra to check everything with your doctor.
My curiosity piqued, I got out of the recliner, sat down at my computer, and went to the HealingWell.com website. It is well organize and has a user friendly interface. More importantly, it has well attended discussion forums on diseases such as fibromyalgia, chronic pain, lupus, depression, arthritis, Crohn's Disease and ulcerative colitis, to name a few. For those of you who are fighting a Social Security Disability claim or ERISA long term disability claim, this helpful site may give you some much needed support in the interim.
Posted on May 29, 2007 by Troy Rosasco
I was recently interviewed by a reporter for AM New York in an article on disablity insurance claims. The article is a good overview of the reasons to have long term disability insurance and the potential problems that may arise when you make a long term disability claim. It also appeared in the always excellent Disability Insurance Forums. Good reading!
Posted on May 22, 2007 by Troy Rosasco
Congratulations to Turley, Redmond & Rosasco, LLP founder William J. Turley on being nominated last night as the Democratic candidate for the Suffolk County Legislature's 13th District, as detailed in today's Newsday.
Besides being one of Long Island's leading workers' compensation lawyers, Bill will be an excellent county legislator come this November. Bill was recently the sole honoree of the New York Workers' Compensation Bar at a fundraiser for "One in Nine", the breast cancer advocacy group. Needless to say, everyone at our firm is extremely proud of Bill's past and future accomplishments. Go Bill!
Posted on May 18, 2007 by Troy Rosasco
Last week, the New York Daily News published a sad article about disability benefits and our client's 3 1/2 year struggle to obtain the Social Security Disability benefits she deserved entitled "Filing for Disability, but Finding Discouragement". As detailed in the article, our client was mentally retarded and could not read or write.
In mid-2003, she applied for Social Security Disability benefits. Unbelievably, her claim was denied about 6 months later. Our office filed an appeal called a "Request for a Hearing before an Administrative Law Judge" in the Queens Office of Disability Adjudication and Review. Our client eventually appeared for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge after waiting an additional 12 months. At the hearing, the law judge called a special Social Security medical expert to testify. The medical expert testified that our client was disabled under Social Security regulations. End of story - right? No!
Despite the testimony of his own medical expert saying our mentally retarded client was disabled, the judge again denied the claim in a poorly written decision a few months later. This particular judge is known for horrible decisions. We then immediately appealed our client's case to the Social Security Appeals Council (a panel of reviewing judges) in Falls Church, Virginia. Finally, in January 2007 the Appeals Council fully reversed the original judge's decision and granted our client disability benefits, some 3 1/2 years after her initial application.
As the claimant's mother said in the article, "when we needed the system, it wasn't there for us". When the mentally retarded need retain disability attorneys to get the Social Security Disability benefits they deserve, you can only imagine the challenge the rest of you might have, especially in the New York City area.
Posted on May 8, 2007 by Troy Rosasco
Once again, Mark Harrington of Newsday continues to do a superb job of uncovering previously unreleased documents about the dangers still lurking in the soil and air surrounding the former Hicksville Sylvania nuclear fuel rod fabricating plant, now owned by Verizon. Yesterday, he published the fourth article in an ongoing series about the Hicksville nuclear site and its impact on thousands of workers. Harrington details the most recent March 2007 Army Corps of Engineers report about the proposed future cleanup of this "dirty" site contaminated with both radiological waste and chemicals such as TCE and PCE. Updating the health of my client, the article goes on:
Troy Rosasco, DePascale's Hauppauge-based attorney, said his client is preparing for surgery on May 17 to remove a tumor even as he recovers from the removal last month of half of the other lung. At the same time, he said, continued testing raises questions about assurances that the site was completely safe. "It tells me that the State Department of Health...is operating fast and loose with data the US Army Corps says is missing" Rosasco said.
Despite winning his case after a trial over two months ago, Gerard DePascale is still without any workers' compensation payments due to the frivolous appeal filed by his employer, Hudson News Group. All the while, every day another present or former employee who worked at this toxic "glow in the dark" work site calls my office to get on the list of potential future plaintiffs in a future major litigation to provide medical monitoring for all those exposed. Even if you are currently healthy, you may be entitled to future medical monitoring. If you are currently sick, you may have additional legal remedies. If you would like your name placed on the contact list for any future litigation or discuss any other potential claim, please call Troy Rosasco at 631-582-3700, ext. 123.
Posted on April 23, 2007 by Troy Rosasco
US Senator Charles Schumer announced in a Newsday article yesterday that treatment, medical monitoring and potential compensation are on the way for potentially thousands of workers who formerly worked atop the nuclear waste site owned by Verizon in Hicksville, New York. In addition to announcing the new benefits for workers, a frustrated but determined Senator Charles Schumer stated that "I will hold the Army Corps' of Engineers feet to the fire" and "the site should have been cleaned up yesterday", referring to his previous efforts in 2004 to achieve a full cleanup.
Shocked that their efforts in 2004 to secure a federal cleanup of the Hicksville, Long Island, New York nuclear waste site have not been completed to date, both Senator Charles Schumer and Congressman Pete King vowed to to cut through the bureaucracy and finger pointing. Both Schumer and King were reacting to a letter request for intervention from Troy Rosasco, the attorney for Gerard Depascale, who the New York Workers' Compensation Board recently found contracted a rare cancer while working for the Hudson News Group on this site and was awarded lifetime workers' compensation and medical benefits. In a previous Newsday artcle on Mr. Depascale, Mr. Rosasco compared the illnesses facing the Hicksville workers as similar to the ilnesses facing 9/11 workers who were exposed at Ground Zero. "Over the course of the next 10-20 years, I believe we are going to see more cases of cancer and other illnesses related to radiation at this site", said Rosasco.
This new aid promised by Senator Schumer will be especially welcome to those workers who were exposed to ionizing radiation and other toxins on the site and are now in fear of getting sick in the future. In addition, the Army Corp of Engineers promised to return to the site this May for more investigation. Turley, Redmond & Rosasco, LLP is compiling a list of workers who ever worked on this site and may have been exposed to radiation and other chemicals. Please call Troy Rosasco, Esq. at 631-582-3700, ext. 123 if you worked at this site and would like to be on the list for possible testing, treatment and/or compensation. We will keep you posted on further developments.
Posted on April 16, 2007 by Troy Rosasco
Shocking. Revolting. Sad. Tragedy. Anger. Way off the seemingly inconsequential topic of long term disability and social security disability claims today, but we feel compelled to offer our sympathies and prayers to all those impacted by the horrific shootings at Virginia Tech today. May God be with you all.
Posted on January 16, 2007 by Troy Rosasco
Welcome to the newly designed New York Disability Law Blog! As you will notice, I changed the official title of the blog from "The Disabled Worker Law Blog" to the more informational "New York Disability Law Blog". This is in keeping with the blog's purpose of providing useful information and insight regarding disability claims to fellow attorneys and the general public.
To this end, I am excited to announce the creation of the blog's "Disability Law Library" which will be continually added to and updated. I hope that this will eventually become the first place attorneys and claimant's turn to when researching disability claims and legal issues. Still in it's formative stages, the library will have sections on long term disability and ERISA claims, Social Security disability, New York workers' compensation, civil service disability pensions, scaffold /ladder /construction site lawsuits and a new section on the unfortunate expanding area of veterans' disability claims.
In addition, in 2007 we hope to do a better job collaborating with fellow bloggers such as Jonathan Ginsberg and his excellent Social Security Disability Radio Blog. Please feel free to comment about the new design and let me know how the New York Disability Law Blog can better serve your needs. Talk to you soon.
Posted on December 25, 2006 by Troy Rosasco
Well, my seven year old son didn't get "an official Red Ryder carbine-action, 200-shot, range-model air rifle with a compass in the stock" this Christmas, but he now has enough "weapons of mass destruction" to justify Dick Cheney's armed search of our property (I better duck!) My daughter is content with her yo-yo and Rubik's Cube. Chock it up to testosterone!
All of us at the New York Disability Lawyer Blog and Turley, Redmond & Rosasco wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and Holiday Season! See you in the New Year!
Posted on November 11, 2006 by Troy Rosasco
On Monday, November 13th, I will be lecturing at the Suffolk County Bar Association's Plaintiff's Personal Injury Committee on the always confusing subject of Workers' Compensation Law Sec. 29, liens, consent and Kelly calculations. The Kelly calculation formula derives from the seminal New York Court of Appeals decision in Kelly v. State Insurance Fund, 60 NY2d 131 (1983). The Kelly case said that the workers' compensation carrier must pay it's equitable share of the claimant's litigation costs based upon their "total benefit" from the claimant's recovery. This "total benefit" includes both the amount of the lien they recoup and the present value of future workers' comp benefits they will not have to pay (credit/offset rights) due to the claimant's recovery. We will be handing out a Kelly Calculation Worksheets that personal injury lawyers can use and will practice on several hypothetical cases. Bring your calculators!
In addition, we will discuss the impact of the recent Appellate Division case of Burns v. Varriale, 2006 Slip Op. 6346 (3d Dept.) which states that Kelly may not apply in some permanent partial disability cases. My friend and fellow New York legal blogger Matt Lerner at the New York Civil Law Blog has an excellent synopsis of Burns, as does fellow workers' comp attorney Ray Seligman in the Albany Bar Association newsletter - so the issue is hot.
The seminar panel will include notable experts such as Leonard Tartamella, Esq. giving the Personal Injury attorney's perspective and Robert Manning, Esq. giving the workers' compensation defense counsel perspective. It starts at 6:00pm and is worth three continuing legal education credits. Call the Suffolk Academy of Law on Monday at (631) 234-5588 if you would like to sign up. There are still a few seats left.
Posted on October 10, 2006 by Troy Rosasco
I am humbled to have been recently elected by my colleagues to be their Second Circuit Court of Appeals representative on the NOSSCR Board of Directors. I look forward to seeing many of them at our upcoming national disability lawyer conference in Phoenix, Arizona and representing the interests of all Social Security Disability claimants. Remember - President Bush still wants to privatize Social Security in his last two years in office. We must prevent this ill-conceived idea.
For those of you who have never attended a NOSSCR conference, I strongly recommend that you do. Not only are the Continuing Legal Education seminars of the highest quality, but the opportunity to meet and learn from some of the sharpest disability attorneys in the US is a great asset. In fact, I am sure I would not have developed our ERISA and professional long term disability practice had it not been for attending an eye opening seminar given by California long term disability lawyer legend, Frank Darras, at a prior NOSSCR conference
Led by Executive Director Nancy Shor, NOSSCR is the largest disability lawyer association in the United States and is well known to our representatives in Washington, DC for protecting the rights of Social Security Disability claimants. As part of the NOSSCR leadership team, I am committed to preserving social security disability (SSD) and supplemental security income (SSI) benefits for all individuals with disability claims.
Posted on August 11, 2006 by Troy Rosasco
In April of this year, New York joined the growing list of states banning discretionary clauses in ERISA long term disability policies, much to the benefit of disabled workers. Unfortunately, the New York State Insurance Department recently rescinded it's prior advisory letter in favor of proceeding with formal rule making in the future. While it is clear that New York still feels that "discretionary clauses" are unfair to ERISA long term disability plan participants, this newest circular letter does subject current disability claimants to uncertainty in the near future.
New York Insurance Department Circular Letter # 8, dated 3/27/06, required long term disability insurance companies to remove "discretionary clauses" from disability income policies within 30 days they were "unjust, unfair, inequitable, misleading , deceptive or contrary to public policy". New Circular Letter # 14, dated 6/29/06, super cedes and withdraws Circular #8, and states that the Department will be drafting regulations which would "prohibit the use of discretionary clauses". In the interim, the Department "suggests" that long term disability insurers remove discretionary clauses from policies.
While the latest statement from the New York Insurance Department takes a little wind out of the initial announcement in March, it could lead to stronger permanent regulations which will have more impact in court. In addition, the formal rule making process allows for public comment. You can be sure the long term disability carriers will use this opportunity to water down the new regulations to their economic benefit. You can also be sure that Turley, Redmond & Rosasco will counter all such comments vigorously to protect disabled policyholders in their long term disability claims.
Posted on July 17, 2006 by Troy Rosasco
The new regulations changing the Social Security Disability Claims Process take effect August 1, 2006. Many Social Security Disability lawyers have commented regarding the pros and cons of these new rules since the original Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) last year. Thankfully, the Social Security Administration has taken some of our comments to heart and modified some of the proposed rules to benefit claimants.
From my perspective, the most claimant friendly improvements to the new Disability Service Improvement Process (DSI) are twofold. First, Social Security Disability Attorneys are not required to submit adverse medical evidence, as was originally proposed in the NPRM. If your law firm handles workers' compensation claims like mine, you always have a few completely "terrible, no good, very bad" IME reports (to paraphrase "Alexander") in your file. Submitting such reports to certain ALJ's would give them the ammo to shoot your claimant down. Under my ethical obligation to "zealously" represent my client, I have always refused to submit IME reports even when an ALJ "orders" me to submit them. My standard response to these ALJ's is to remind them of their subpoena power and give them the workers' compensation insurance carriers address. To date, no ALJ has ever taken the time to issue such a subpoena. Perhaps, upon reflection, they agreed with my argument that IME reports prepared by a party with adverse interests to the claimant generally lacked probative value...perhaps?
Second, Social Security Disability Lawyers will now have a 75 day notice of an Administrative Law Judge hearing. This is a great improvement over the current 20 day notice requirement which often sent us scrambling at the last minute to obtain the still outstanding residual functional capacity (RFC) form which has been sitting on the treating physician's desk for the last three months. Now it can sit on the doctor's desk for at least another month!
Other changes include Quick Disability Determinations (QDDs) for clearly disabled claimants, establishment of a new Medical and Vocational Expert System (MVES), and the new position of the Federal Reviewing Official (RO), a government attorney who looks at claims between initial denial level and the ALJ hearing level, and a new Decision Review Board (DRB) replacing the old Appeals Council. For those of us who remember the utter failure of old Adjudication Officer (AO) position, let's hope the RO position more resembles the successful Senior Attorney program. These changes are being implemented gradually accross the country, starting in Region I (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont). On August 1st, all Social Security Disability attorneys will be playing on a new ballfield!
Posted on June 9, 2006 by Troy Rosasco
Arthritis cripples more people in the United States than almost any other chronic condition. Therefore, it is one of the most common disabilities the attorneys at Turley, Redmond & Rosasco see when it comes to processing long term disability claims and Social Security disability claims.
Arthritis is a broad category of disorders including degenerative arthritis,osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis. It also includes autoimmune disorders such as lupus, fibromyalgia, sclerodema, and mixed connective tissue disease. All involve severe pain and functional restrictions. When arthritis affects the hips, knees or ankles, obesity often times exacerbates the symptoms. When the symptoms become severe enough, sometimes total joint replacement surgery is necessary.
To win an arthritis Social Security disability or long term disability claim, the key is always to document how the client's pain and/or inflammation impacts on the ability to use hands repetitively, stand, walk or sit for long periods. One of our main jobs at Turley, Redmond & Rosasco is to work with the client's treating rheumatologist or orthopedist to document the severity of pain induced functional restrictions. When handled properly by a skilled disability lawyer, arthritis claims can be easily won and result in much needed disability benefits.
Posted on May 26, 2006 by Troy Rosasco
New York ERISA long term disability claimants just received a big assist from New York State Insurance Superintendent Howard Mills . Following the lead of California's Insurance Department, Superintendent Mills issued 2006 Circular Letter # 8 invalidating all "discretionary clauses" in existing group long term disability policies. All insurance companies must comply by May 31, 2006.
Insurance companies frequently used discretionary clauses to unfairly deny legitimate long term disability claims by claiming their policy gave them "discretion" to decide what is and is not a disability. Discretionary clauses also handcuffed federal court judges who reviewed the unfair denials. An often heard statement by Judges might be "if I were deciding this myself, I would find the claimant disabled. But since the policy grants the insurance company discretion to decide what is disabling, and their doctor says the claimant is not disabled, I cannot say their decision was ‘arbitrary and capricious’.
Now - New York residents with ERISA group long term disability policies will have greater success challenging disability claim denials or terminations. Federal Judges will have far greater leeway in deciding who is disabled from their ‘own occupation’ or ‘any occupation’. Essentially, the playing field for long term disability claims just got a lot fairer. Sure – the insurance companies still have the big bucks to hire large law firms to fight your claim, but you just won a significant battle. Bottom Line – Turley, Redmond & Rosasco will be fighting and winning more LTD claims in the future. Have a great Memorial Day weekend!
Posted on March 19, 2006 by Troy Rosasco
With all the talk of workers' compensation reform in New York lately, some of you may have thought that we forgot about the long term disability and social security disability claim side of our practice. Anything but!
On February 23th and 24th, I attended ACI’s Litigating Long Term Disability Claims conference in Coconut Grove, Florida. This is one of the best LTD claim lawyer conferences in the nation and all the "heavy hitter" plaintiff and defense attorneys in the in LTD business, from Frank Darras to Mark DeBofsky, were there. In fact, both Frank and Mark gave wonderful presentations regarding recent case law and claim filing strategies.
Given that a long term disability insurance carrier last week denied a new client who has end-stage real disease and is awaiting a kidney transplant, it looks like the good fight will continue for the foreseeable future.
Posted on February 17, 2006 by Troy Rosasco
Big decision from the Court of Appeals on 2/16/05 that all New York Workers' Compensation lawyers need to know about. In Brisson V. County of Onondoga, the Court held that New York employers and insurance carriers must expressly reserve their rights to offset a third part recovery - or lose them. Read about it here at Matt Lerner's Civil Law Blog.
Posted on January 12, 2006 by Troy Rosasco
Next Wednesday, 1/18/06, my friend and colleague Justin Frankel and I will be giving a Continuing Legal Education Seminar at the Nassau County Bar Association entitled "Winning Long Term Disability and Social Security Disability Claims". It is suitable for both current New York disability lawyers and those attorneys considering branching out into either long term disability or Social Security Disability law in Nassau or Long Island.
If you are an attorney and would like to learn more about long term disability law or Social Security disability law in New York (while earning your CLE credits), please call Barbara Kraut of the Nassau Academy of Law at 516-747-4464. Hope to see you there!
Posted on January 3, 2006 by Troy Rosasco
This past year has been a great experience for all of us at the Disabled Worker Law Blog. Hopefully, we have shared some useful information for the disability community regarding New York workers' compensation claims, Social Security Disability claims, and Long Term Disability claims. In addition to sharing helpful information, we have taken strong political positions to protect the rights and benefits of disabled workers, whether it be the Bush Social Security Privatization plan,the Pataki workers' compensation reform plan, or the UnumProvident long term disability settlements. Your continued readership and comments have been both encouraging and enlightening. We look forward to the continuation of our mutual conversation in the New Year.
Along the way, we have encountered many friends and fellow bloggers, such as the the always insightful New York Civil Law Blog and the simply outstanding Workers' Comp Insider. Their excellence keeps us striving to do better. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the support and encouragement of Kevin O'Keefe at Lexblog who is the preeminent authority on law firm blogs in the US. Thanks, Kev!
Finally, we would like to personally thank all our loyal readers. Since the Disabled Worker Law Blog was launched in March 2005, our readership statistics have shown steady growth, while maintaining a loyal group of regulars. We frequently receive inquiries from disability advocacy groups, disability support groups, unions, physician practices and the press, in addition to disabled individuals and their families. On behalf of all the attorneys at Turley, Redmond & Rosasco, we wish you all a happy and healthy New Year. We'll see you in the blogosphere!
Posted on December 27, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
One of our workers compensation and Social Security disability clients picked up her $500 check as a result of Turley, Redmond & Rosasco's First Annual Christmas Blessing on December 21, 2005 in our Shirley office. Our staff was overwhelmed by the volume of touching and heartfelt letters we received from many of our disabled clients. Almost every single letter requested help not for themselves, but for their young children on Christmas day. Our staff did their best to select the absolute neediest among our many deserving clients.
Finally, our staff selected a single mom with three children ranging from age 2 to 6. She had a 15 year solid work history as a Nurse's Aide until she hurt her back lifting a patient at work. She recently underwent back fusion surgery but the result is still in limbo as she continues to have chronic pain. She has no car and uses sporadic bus service on the east end of Long Island to go to doctor appointments and buy groceries. Her Social Security disability claim is still pending, and her only source of income is her paltry workers' compensation benefit.
When we called her on the phone to inform her of her blessing, she began to scream in joy so loudly that her children could be heard in the background asking what was the matter. We thank all our clients who participated in the Christmas Blessing and look forward to making it an annual tradition at Turley, Redmond & Rosasco. We wish you and your families a happy and healthy New Year!
Posted on December 16, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
We know that many of our New York clients with workers compensation, Social Security Disability or long term disability claims might have a less joyful holiday this year. For this reason, the attorneys at Turley, Redmond & Rosasco have instituted our First Annual Holiday Blessing. The law firm will donate $500.00 by December 20, 2005 to the neediest disabled New York client who is out of work and cannot afford presents for his/her children.
To be eligible for the Blessing, please write a short note to our Office Manager, Janou Mauro, by December 20th telling us how the $500 would make your Holiday more joyful. A committee of staff from our workers compensation, Social Security disability and long term disability departments will select the neediest client at 12 noon that day and contact the client to pick up their check that same day. Please call us if you have any questions.
The attorneys and staff of Turley, Redmond & Rosasco wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy, Healthy Holiday Season. May next year be better than the last! In the words of Charles Dickens, "God Bless Us, Everyone!"
Posted on December 8, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
In one of her farewell decisions as a Supreme Court Justice, Sandra Day O'Connor ruled for a unanimous Supreme Court yesterday that the federal government can collect delinquent student loans by withholding a claimant's Social Security Disability benefits. The full decision in Lockhart v. United States is here. While legally sound, the practical effect on disability recipients does not seem one bit fair.
Let's take the following real world example: John works for 20 years as a GM factory worker and then gets laid off. All those 20 years he paid into Social Security for disability and retirement benefits. Trying to better himself and find a new career, he enrolls in college to become an insurance claims adjuster. He takes out $7,500 per year in student loans to pay for tuition and books. In his sophomore year, he has a major heart attack which forces him to withdraw from his courses and prevents him from working. Since he is not enrolled in study, his loans come due. Because he can't work due to his disability, he falls behind on his payments. Eventually, he files for Social Security Disability. While Social Security finds him qualified medically, they don't pay him anything because they first want to recoup his delinquent student loans. Because John has no income and no Social Security Disability benefits now, he is forced to go on welfare. What's wrong with this picture?
First, the government is forgetting that John already paid for his Social Security Disability benefits through payroll deductions during the 20 years he worked at GM. It's his money! Social Security Disability is not welfare! This money was entrusted to the Social Security Administration to protect John if he became disabled. It's like a forced savings account. How do they expect him to pay back his student loans if he cannot work? How do they expect him to live now? Poor John.
I'm all for going after student loan deadbeats if they are driving a Lexus and not paying their loans. Most of them won't get hurt by the Social Security offset until retirement age. However, I would hope Congress would carve out an exception for the disabled so they can get by today. It would be the right thing to do
Posted on December 1, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
I wouldn't! I think they both have major conflicts of interest. As the attached court decision Allsup v. Advantage 2000 shows here, I think Allsup and Advantage 2000 (A2K) Consultants are more interested in helping long term disability insurance companies, like UnumProvident, Cigna and MetLife, than they are in protecting the rights of Social Security Disability beneficiaries.
This is the way companies like Allsup and Advantage 2000 work: 1) You file for long term disability (LTD) through your employer's LTD carrier; 2) before the ink is dry on your LTD application, the LTD insurance company tries to solicit you to sign up with Allsup or Advantage 2000, at no financial cost to you, to help you apply for Social Security Disability. Sometimes Allsup will send you letters directly. I know - one of my LTD clients with Parkinson's Disease can't get Allsup to stop sending him annoying letters.
Why do long term disability insurance companies want you to use their handpicked Social Security Representative? A few reasons: First, most ERISA long term disability plans "offset" the benefits they pay by the amount you receive in Social Security Disability benefits. For example, if the LTD claim is supposed to pay you $3,000 per month, and you also win Social Security Disability that pays you $2,000.00 per month, the LTD insurance company now only has to pay you $1,000.00 per month. That's a whopper of a financial incentive.
And as the above case shows, they don't want you to even touch your Social Security money when you win! They want to electronically forward it to the LTD insurance company. Talk about you know what! You paid for your Social Security benefits, and they don't even want you even see it.
Even more disturbing is the relationship between Allsup (and their ilk) and the LTD insurance company. Remember - the Allsups of the world work first and foremost for the insurance company, not you. They are allowed to share any secrets, confidences and/or private medical information they obtain directly in the Social Security Disability claim with the LTD insurance company. I have seen such info used later to deny the long term disability claim. Unlike attorneys, Allsup has no ethical obligation to put your interests (and secrets) first. See here an Allsup brochure that seems to play on their trusting relationship with a client to the advantage of the LTD insurer. If you read it closely, this says it all.
To be fair to Allsup and other non attorney representatives like them, some law firms provide the same service to long term disability insurance companies. In my mind, this is even worse than Allsup's practices since an lawyer should know better. Allsup is just trying to make a buck from the insurance company.
Bottom Line - if you have a long term disability claim and need to file for Social Security disability, select an independent attorney with no relationship to any long term disability insurance companies. Most times your independent attorney can negotiate with the LTD insurance company so that the attorney's fee will be paid by the insurance company.
Thanks to the excellent Brininger Law Firm blog for publishing this info on the web.
Posted on November 23, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
Turley, Redmond & Rosasco wishes all our Long Term Disability, Social Security Disability and Workers' Compensation clients (along with fellow lawyers in the disability bar) a blessed Thanksgiving! See you on Monday.
Posted on November 16, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
Want to know how Workers' Comp, Social Security Disability and Long Term Disability claims inter-relate? I will be lecturing next week on 11/22/05 in Garden City at a day long seminar entitled "Advanced Workers' Compensation in New York" My topic will be "Coordinating Workers' Compensation, Social Security Disability and Long Term Disability Claims". In the past year, I have seen an increasing number of clients who wish to have all their disability related claims handled by one law firm. There are specific strategies that can be followed in order to protect a claimant's entitlement to all three benefits at the same time.
For those attorneys and workers' compensation claims professionals who have not yet signed up for next week's seminar, you can still do so by contacting Lorman Educational Services toll free at 1-866-352-9539 or at www.lorman.com. So far, we have over 30 attendees signed up, so it should be a lively and informative disability seminar. Hope to see you there.
Posted on November 11, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
It’s Veterans’ Day. Let’s review some sad and disturbing Iraq War statistics: 15,568 veterans wounded in Iraq. 23,889 returning Iraq veterans have claimed VA benefits for PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and other mental conditions. 2,062 veterans dead. About 100 spectators at my local Veterans’ Day parade this morning. Something is wrong.
As a veteran myself, I take these numbers personally. It won’t be long before more and more returning Iraq veterans cross my office threshold to file for Social Security Disability. Whether its amputations, severe burns, blindness or PTSD, the Iraq veteran will face the same bureaucratic barriers all my disabled clients face when filing for Social Security Disability. They will have to wait months to get the same silly (yet cruel) denials most of my clients get initially. Then they will have to wait at least another six months to see a Social Security Judge where at least they have a fighting chance. Unlike the New York Workers’ Compensation Board, which set up a special expedited procedure for 9/11 claims, the Social Security Administration has no such program for returning Iraq veterans. Something is wrong.
Turley, Redmond & Rosasco thanks all veterans for their service and sacrifice. We wish those who return from Iraq good health and an uneventful transition back to civilian life. Today is your day. Thank you for defending all of us.
Posted on October 28, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
The Full Service New York Disability Law Firm of Turley, Redmond & Rosasco, LLP is pleased to announce that David Tobias and Craig Rosasco have been named partners in the firm.
David Tobias is a graduate of Hofstra Law School and has been Supervisor of the firm’s Social Security Disability Department for the past five years. Prior to joining Turley, Redmond & Rosasco, LLP in 2000, he was an Associate Attorney at a national Social Security disability law firm for ten years. Over the course of his career, he has appeared at more than 1000 administrative disability hearings and has a winning percentage of over 95%. In addition to his Social Security disability work, David also supervises the firm’s New York State Retirement Disability Pension Department and our Veterans Disability Appeals Department (which is unfortunately quite busy now given the number of injured and wounded returning from Iraq). Dave is based out of our Suffolk office and can be reached at (631) 582-3700 x114. Please join us in congratulating Dave on his accomplishment.
Craig Rosasco is a graduate of Touro Law School where he was Student Bar Association President. Craig joined the firm in 1997 after working in the Claims Department at a major workers’ compensation insurance company. Since then, he has concentrated in representing workers with New York State Workers’ Compensation claims. Over the course of the last 9 years, he has appeared at more than 800 hearings before the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board. Craig is known for his strong trial and negotiating skills on behalf of injured workers, and uses his prior insurance company experience to benefit the firm’s clients. Craig handles workers’ compensation claims out of our Nassau and Queens offices. He can be reached at either (516) 745-5666 x113 or (718) 396-3500 x113. Please join us in congratulating Craig on his accomplishment
Posted on October 27, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
On October 16, 2005, my partner Chris Redmond rode in the New York City Multiple Sclerosis Association's MS Bike Tour and his group of riders raised over $20,000 for MS research! Congratulations to Chris and his team for raising an astounding amount for this great organization. The event raised over a Million dollars in total! By raising money like this, we get that much closer to finding a cure for multiple sclerosis. Although I have found our multiple sclerosis clients to be some of the nicest and most courageous people we have ever met, we would be glad to never see another MS Social Security Disability or Long Term Disability claim again.
On a different front, last Thursday I had the pleasure of attending the Long Island MS Association Chapter's 8th Annual Research Dinner. The speakers were Malcom Gottesman, MD, Director of the MS Treatment Center of Winthrop University Hospital and Susan Goelz, PhD of Biogen. Bottom Line - in addition to Multiple Sclerosis drugs like Avonex, Copaxone, Rebif and Betaseron, pharmaceutical giant Novartis is currently in Phase Two trials with a promising new drug currently labeled "FTY720". This is an oral drug which can reduce MS lesions. Finally, the drug Tysabri may soon be coming back on the American market after it was withdrawn over fears it might cause PML. All in all, it was a fascinating night filled with hope that we will conquer Multiple Sclerosis sooner rather than later.
Posted on October 12, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
Don't Talk to the Insurance Company and Don't Sign Authorizations!
Within a few days of learning of your work related accident, the insurance company claims adjusters will pounce on you. These people are NOT your friends. They are employed by the workers' compensation insurance company to save money on your claim. While many claims adjusters may be good human beings trying to "do the right thing", at the end of the day they are under intense pressure from the insurance carrier to minimize your workers compensation benefits and close your claim as soon as possible.
Often times their initial contact with you will take the form of a syrupy and insincere letter to the effect of: "My name is Nancy Neverpay and I'm your Claims Examiner. I look forward to working with you and your doctors to help you get better and return to work. Please call me so we can discuss your claim." Don't trip while you run to the phone! It's the old "iron fist in the velvet glove trick". They try to sound perfectly innocent and caring, but when they get you on the phone they will be fishing for information to deny or minimize your workers compensation benefits. They will try to steer you to their hand-picked doctor. They will assign you a "Nurse Case Manager" who will "coordinate" (insurance company lingo for "minimize") your doctor visits and attend each visit to your doctor. I've had clients tell me the insurance company nurse stayed in the examining room while the client disrobed and the doctor performed the examination! Whatever happened to doctor-patient confidentiality and your inherent right to privacy? Bottom Line - the workers compensation insurance companies don't care and will do whatever they think they can get away with. You don't have to stand for such treatment.
When you get a letter from the insurance carrier, simply send it to your workers' compensation lawyer for the appropriate response. If an insurance company Claims Adjuster, investigator or rehabilitation nurse calls you on the telephone, politely tell them that "My lawyer told me not to talk to you. If you need any information, please call him at this number and don't contact me again". Trust me - your workers compensation attorney will never hear from them.
Always remember that the New York Workers Compensation system is an adversarial system. You're "David" and the insurance company is "Goliath". Given a chance, Goliath will crush you like a bug! Be careful...
Posted on October 5, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
He said it - not me! In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, ongoing American casualties in Iraq, and vicious attacks from the "Far Right" for his most recent pick of Harriet Miers for the Supreme Court, it appears that the President is giving up on his Social Security privatization plan. For those of us who have been arguing all along that it was ill-conceived and unaffordable, this is welcome news.
In reality, the President had no choice. The fact is that given his "Roosevelt-like" promise to rebuild the South (and fix poverty along the way!) after Katrina, he simply cannot afford the "Social Security 401k plan" he envisioned. The short term costs of Social Security privatization about equal the mind numbing costs of Katrina. The conservatives in his own party are giving him a rough time on the cost of the Katrina promise - and they simply would not stand for additional debt that the Social Security plan would add to our children's dimming financial future. We are seeing the nicer and kinder George W. - and the Far Right is apoplectic!
This does not mean that the President isn't moving full speed ahead with his reform of the Social Security Disability process. The most recent proposals, while helpful to Social Security Disability claimants in some respects, have many flaws which can be disastrous for a disabled client. Thankfully, the new rules are not yet final and you can share your comments here with the Commissioner of Social Security. Look here for a sample critique of the new rules. While we may have dodged a bullet with Social Security privatization, the disabled might pay the price
Posted on October 5, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
UnumProvident, the nation's largest long term disability insurance company, has been ordered to pay an $8 million dollar fine and change the way it evaluates long term disability claims in California in a settlement announced today. On the heels of New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer's wide ranging Unum settlement last year and a recent stinging LA Times article highlighting the problems in the entire disability insurance policy industry, UnumProvident has suffered another embarrassing blow. Now, residents of California have the best protections in the US against unscrupulous disability insurance company practices. No more "pizza parties" for employees who deny the most disability claims. Employees will now have a fighting chance to get the disability benefits they paid for and desperately need.
Hopefully, the California reforms will spread to all 50 states. If not, Congress should step in to reform ERISA, the federal statute that regulates group long term disability claims. To Unum's credit, based upon the experiences of my clients, UnumProvident does seem to have cleaned up its act recently. This settlement insures that such reforms shall continue. Now all we need is to have companies like MetLife, Cigna, and Disability Management Services jump on the reform bandwagon. Don't hold your breath!
Posted on September 22, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
My good friend (and one of Long Island's best Elder Lawyers), Sharon Kovacs Gruer, has asked me to speak at the New York State Bar Association's Elder Law Advanced Institute on October 21, 2005 in Saratoga Springs. My topic will be "Obtaining Social Security Disability (SSD) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)". I work with Elder Lawyers like Sharon frequently on social security disability and workers compensation issues. One of the most common needs my clients have is the establishment of a Supplemental Needs Trust. These trusts hold the assets of a disabled person so that they do not lose Medicaid eligibility.
For example, I recently handled a workers compensation claim and we were on the verge of a significant money settlement. Before the settlement papers could be signed, my client suffered a massive stroke and will require nursing home care for the rest of his life, which was being paid for by Medicaid (health insurance for the poor). If he had taken personal possession of the workers comp settlement, he would have lost his Medicaid. Instead, I worked with an Elder Lawyer to set up a Supplemental Needs Trust which the client can now use for various personal needs, such as clothing and trips outside the nursing home. I suppose that's one of the reasons I like most Elder Lawyers - they are like Disability Lawyers. They help some of the most vulnerable in our society, the sick and disabled. I look forward to being with them in Saratoga Springs.
Posted on September 15, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
The partners and attorneys at Turley, Redmond & Rosasco have a full plate of activities this weekend. First, Ronna Horwitz-Bard and I will travel to beautiful downtown Fishkill, New York for the Fall Injured Workers Bar Association Conference. In between the lectures and meetings, we will be honoring one of the giants of the Workers Compensation Bar - Abe Popish. Abe has been practicing workers compensation law in New York State for over fifty (50) years! He is a real class act and has been an inspiration to many workers compensation attorneys over the years. Congrats to Abe!
While we're chewing bagels and strategizing in Fishkill, the healthier contingent at Turley, Redmond & Rosasco will be running in the Cow Harbor 10K race in Northport, New York. Founding partner Bill Turley will be joined by attorney Aimee Berlin. If she's smart, she'll run a close second!
Next week we will start our Workers Compensation Top Ten Tips for Claimants, so be on the look out.
Posted on September 8, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
How ironic? As reported in a great LA Times article, a woman who made $250,000 a year selling long term disability policies couldn't collect herself when she put in a claim with UnumProvident due to her multiple sclerosis! Remember - this is a woman who made the disability insurance companies tons of money by selling disability policies. You can't fake MS- its a progressive neurological disease documented by lesions on brain MRI's. If she has to wage a three year legal fight to get her benefits, what chance do you have? As I always tell my clients - better to plan and seek legal advice before you file your claim.
Thanks to John Wood and his excellent new ERISA long term disability law blog for bringing this article to our attention. The article is mandatory reading for anyone who wants the real scoop on UnumProvident and ERISA long term disability claims.
Posted on September 2, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
Unfortunately, according to a new CNN poll, 42% of workers will be will be laboring on Labor Day - a traditional day of rest. Its a sad commentary on our "Winner Takes All" economy when almost half of America can't enjoy a full day of rest. Except for the rescue workers in New Orleans dealing with Katrina, I think everyone deserves and needs a break on Labor Day. For those of you who have to work this Monday, at least be careful. I don't want to come into the office on Tuesday and have to file any new workers compensation claims for injuries on Labor Day. Have a great weekend!
Posted on August 30, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
My partner, and TRR's East End Managing Attorney, Chris Redmond will will be riding in New York City's 21st Annual MS Bike Tour on October 16, 2005 to raise funds for medical research to fight Multiple Sclerosis. Besides representing Multiple Sclerosis clients in Social Security disability claims throughout the years, Turley, Redmond & Rosasco has a personal interest in fighting multiple sclerosis as it has touched someone very close to us. As a result, earlier this year a number of our firm's employees participated in the Long Island MS Walk and raised a substantial sum for this worthy cause. If you would like to sponsor Chris' Bike Tour to fight Multiple Sclerosis, please click here for his personal MS Web page and make a contribution. Thank you!
Posted on August 14, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
Thought President Bush’s Social Security Privatization Plan was dead? Think again! In the wake of significant Congressional victories such as the new energy bill and CAFTA, the President’s handlers are using Social Security’s 70th birthday to take another stab at private accounts. We can expect a new push this fall assuming issues like Iraq and Karl Rove don’t distract the President.
On Social Security’s 70th birthday today, we should be celebrating the spectacular success of this insurance program. Prior to its enactment in 1935, retirees and the disabled frequently lived in poverty. Social Security continues to be an important safety net for the least fortunate in society. It is not another 401k account to play the stock market. Wouldn’t it be nice to know you had this safety net if you live to be 90 and your nest egg has evaporated? As a Social Security lawyer, I think so.
Democrats and Republicans agree that private accounts do not solve the Social Security solvency problem. It’s a simple fact that people are living longer and Social Security will have to pay out more in the future. However, this fact leads me to conclude that we need the security of the Social Security program more than ever. Regardless, of your position on Social Security private accounts, we should all be grateful that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s foresight 70 years ago created a Social Security program that is the envy of the rest of the world. When I interview immigrant clients for Social Security Disability claims, they are overwhelmingly thankful that they moved to a country that does not let its citizens fall between the cracks. Let’s make sure we don’t tear down the security of Social Security by foisting private accounts on working class Americans. Happy Birthday, and many more, to Social Security!
Posted on August 9, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
New research shows an increase in brain cancer deaths for veterans exposed to the nerve agent Sarin in Gulf War I. Over 100,000 soldiers were exposed to chemical warfare in Iraq during the first Gulf War. According to the new study, they now have double the risk of dying from brain cancer compared to the 250,000 soldiers who were not exposed. And this information is just coming out now - some 14 years after their exposure. Makes you wonder what our current soldiers in Iraq have to worry about when they hopefully come home for good...
We generally know the great sacrifices our soldiers give during war time, including the ultimate sacrifice. However, we all should remember the overwhelming challenges some face when they come home. Whether it is the staggering divorce rate, learning to walk or eat with new limbs, PTSD , personal bankruptcy or the cruelly indifferent attitude of those not brave enough to serve, our veterans face huge obstacles. If one needs the Hollywood version to get the picture, rent the DVD's of "The Best Years of Their Lives", "Coming Home" or "Born on the 4th of July" and see if you don't think more should be done to ease their transition home and protect their health.
As a veteran myself, I take great pride knowing that my law firm has been helping veterans with service related disability and Social Security disability claims for many years now. These are not lucrative claims for lawyers, but they are very rewarding. David Tobias, our partner in charge of VA disability claims, is currently fighting an unusual claim involving cancer of the larynx (vocal chords) for a Korean War era veteran due to radiation exposure at a top secret atomic weapons assembly plant. Just getting the official records from the Department of the Army regarding the doses of radiation the veteran was exposed to was a battle. Now we have to prove that the exposure caused the larynx cancer. The Veterans Administration has fought us all the way, and the case is currently pending before the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in Washington, DC. Personally, I think the VA underestimated the scrappy ex-wrestler from Long Island (Dave Tobias) and we are hoping to make some good law later this year. Let's hope we don't have to fight similar battles with the VA regarding these new brain cancer cases in the future.
Posted on August 2, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
While I was on vacation last week, New York disability attorneys had a lot of interesting disability law developments to digest. I will try to catch everyone up on the most important developments over the course of the week, but I will start with the most important: the New Social Security Approach to Disability Determination proposed last week by Social Security Commissioner Jo Anne B. Barnhart. Bottom Line – it’s generally BAD for claimants, and it's hidden agenda is to decrease the odds that disability claimants will win their Social Security claims.
Probably the most significant change for disability clients and their attorneys is the elimination of Appeals Council review of Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) decisions. While most Social Security judges are fair and competent, a few are neither. Some regional hearing offices are packed with bad judges. They start out with an agenda to deny the claim, and then proceed to have staff attorneys write their legally unsupportable decisions. Because all ALJ’s are members of a powerful union, it is almost impossible to rid Social Security of a bad judge. They are consistently reversed by the current Appeals Council.
And that’s the rub - eliminate Appeals Council review, and claimants will have to march into Federal District Court to reverse the lousy judges. Since many Social Security attorneys and non-attorney representatives are unwilling to take disability claims to federal court for a myriad of legal (non-attorneys can't) and financial reasons (filing fees), this will essentially deny many claimants a chance to overturn lousy ALJ decisions.
For lawyers who have busy and aggressive federal court disability practices, we will be quite busy. But in the big picture, not every unfairly denied claimant will come see attorneys like Turley, Redmond & Rosasco. For those unfortunate many, the Appeals Council served as a much needed safety net. It allowed deserving claimants to appeal their decisions at no cost simply by filling out a one page form. Now, they will have to proceed to the costly and complex federal court arena. I predict that the federal courts will quickly get bogged down with disability claims, leading to more delay and uncertain outcomes. What do you think? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.
Posted on July 24, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
I will be taking a break from the world of workers compensation and disability claims until August 1, 2005. My family and I are taking a learning vacation at Cornell's Adult University. This is a great program if you want to combine relaxation with intellectual stimulation, all in the heart of the Finger Lakes wine country. While Dad and Mom take a course entitled "Meritocracy in America" taught by Prof. Glenn Altschuler, my 6 and 7 year old "explorers" will be studying bugs and ecology with Cornell students. See you soon.
Posted on July 11, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
Unlike some of you, I got a thoughtful letter recently from Congressman Peter King (R - Seaford) on the Social Security Disability program. I had written him on behalf of all my disability clients who were scared that they might lose their social security benefits as part of the President's privatization reform. Congressman King wrote that:
"the White House has made clear that any reform legislation would fully protect and maintain disability benefits."
He went on to add that he:
"will work to ensure that full disability payments are continued."
Sounds good to me.
King, who boxes for fun and fitness, has been taking some glancing blows recently in Newsday over various letters he has written to constituents. Now I'm a longtime fan of Peter King, especially when he bucked his own Party and rightly supported Senator John McCain over then Governor Bush for President in 2000.
But even I had a problem with the tone of his letters. We've come to expect and admire straight talk from Pete King - he doesn't feed his constituents the pablum we so often hear from members of Congress. But the letters printed in Newsday did seem beneath him.
People have an absolute right to be scared of the President's privatization plan for Social Security Disability. It does not address the Social Security solvency problem, while placing additional risk on young Americans. Those under age 55 can plan on paying higher taxes to receive smaller guaranteed benefits. So much for security, unless your the King!
Posted on July 7, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
OK, what would a legal blog be without our two cents about Justice Sandra Day O’Connor’s retirement? What will it mean for New York Social Security disability claimants? Probably a big whopping nothing! Other than her concurring opinion in Sims v Apfel, O’Connor will leave an inconsequential mark on Social Security disability jurisprudence.
However, for the larger disability rights community, Justice O’Connor has left a significant positive impact. In the 2004 case of Tennessee v Lane, she sided with paraplegics (bucking Rehnquist, Scalia and Thomas) by upholding the Americans with Disabilities Act and requiring state courts to be accessible to the disabled. In the 2002 death penalty case of Atkins v Virginia, she stood with the majority (again bucking the conservatives) and overruled her own previous 1989 opinion in Penry v Lynaugh, holding that it is "cruel and unusual punishment" to execute the mentally retarded. Bottom Line – I think O’Connor was a conservative with compassion toward the disabled, and will be missed by the disability rights community at-large.
Now, the $64,000 question turns to her replacement. My bet is that President Bush picks his old pal, Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez. If the evangelicals don’t burn him at the stake first, I think my fellow Air Force Academy Falcon would be a fine appointment and easily confirmed by the Senate. If the President wants to move his domestic issues forward in Congress while making history appointing the first Hispanic to the Court, Gonzalez would be a wise choice. His administration has made many of them to date...
Posted on June 28, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
The Suffolk County Bar Association has invited me to present a Continuing Legal Education Seminar on Thursday, August 11, 2005, entitled "Malpractice Avoidance for Workers Compensation & Social Security Disability Attorneys". I will be presenting with my colleagues Vic Fusco and Dennis Chase. Lawyers who attend will earn two CLE ethics credits.
In the past year, I have testified as an expert witness in two legal malpractice cases involving workers' compensation claims. In both, the legal malpractice was clear - it was just about estimating damages. One case settled in the 7 figure range and one in the 6 figure range. Unfortunately, legal malpractice is a growing problem in the United States. Just type in a "google" search for "legal malpractice lawyer" and see how many sharks swarm. Prevention is key. Bottom Line - this would be a good one for any negligence, workers compensation or social security disability lawyer to attend. If interested, contact the Suffolk Academy of Law at 631-234-5588 to register. Hope to see you there.
Posted on June 21, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
Great article on the front page of yesterday's New York Times about how Social Security is currently a lifeline for 2/3 of all Americans, and why women in particular would be hurt by the President's privatization plan. Nearly 1/3 of all Americans receiving Social Security are single women. Many were divorced late in life and left with little or no savings. Due to child rearing responsibilities, they did not have the luxury of a regular attachment to the workforce like most men. The current Social Security program made allowances for this fact. A divorced spouse was allowed to collect a portion of her former husband's Social Security, without any negative impact on the man.
However, if Social Security funds are diverted to "private accounts", will the divorced single woman get a part of her former husbands "private account"? Will the husband have anything left for himself after the divorce lawyers? Does anyone really want to risk being in poverty in their old age? Prior to Social Security, almost 40% of the elderly in the United States lived in poverty.
One of the persons profiled in the article is a former millionaire whose business failed and was hit by medical bills for his wife before she died.. He now lives largely on his monthly Social Security check. What if the stock market crashes just before you are forced to retire? Would you deplete your "private account" to prolong your wife's life? These things happen every day. Thats why we have Social Security Insurance.
Posted on June 15, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
In an effort to jump start the President's stalled Social Security privatization plan, Senate Republicans are now proposing to raise the normal retirement age to 69. Those of us who represent the disabled have to watch this carefully. As both academics and those of us in the trenches will tell you, this proposal would ordinarily force more older Americans onto the disability program - thereby not fixing Social Security's solvency problem. But what if the sly Senate Republicans simultaneously make the standard for obtaining disability benefits so high that no one qualifies? They could have their cake and eat it too.
After representing hard working New Yorkers in demanding physical jobs for the last 15 years, I can tell you that most will not be able to function in their regular jobs until age 69. Sure - advances in medicine have increased life expectancy, but have they increased "work life expectancy" ? I think not, at least for those middle and working class Americans who need Social Security the most. As various proposals wend there way through Congress, keep an eagle eye on the disability benefits program. You may need it one day.
Posted on June 14, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
Had a great time last Thursday night at the New York Social Security Bar Dinner. Along with five other attorneys and staff from my office, we got a chance to socialize and laugh with old friends and colleagues, including Richard Morris and Vic Fusco. Judge Emanuel Poverstein from the Long Island Office of Hearings & Appeals was presented with the Lester Rosen Memorial Award - the highest honor an Administrative Law Judge in the New York region can attain. In his acceptance speech, Judge Poverstein humbly described the role of a Social Security Judge: "Helping the most vulnerable in our society - the disabled". Sounds like he was a fan of the late Senator Hubert H. Humphrey.
When I started practicing Social Security Law in 1990, both Judges Poverstein and Rosen sat together in the old Hempstead Hearing Office. Prior to his untimely death, I was fortunate to have learned the law from Judge Rosen, who was then widely considered the Dean of the New York Social Security judiciary. Judge Poverstein had just transfered from his prior assignment in Arizona and he became a "Rosen-like" Judge - compassionate and scholarly with a dry sense of humor. One of his particular strengths is evaluating mental disability claims. If you have a client with a mental disability, you hope Judge Poverstein is assigned to your case. Like former Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, 'he knows it when he sees it'.
Posted on May 27, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
As a veteran, Memorial Day (formerly Decoration Day) has a special significance for me. As we all enjoy our 3-day holiday weekend, please remember that American soldiers are still dying in Iraq every day (now up to 1647). If you get a chance, please attend a Memorial Day parade and salute the marching veterans. They will appreciate your support.
While we will be honoring the dead, lets not forget all those soldiers who come home disabled, either physically or psychologically. Since the news focuses so much on death numbers, its easy to forget the much larger number wounded in action (WIA). There have been over 6,300 wounded in Iraq so far. Unfortunately, I see many of these wounded vets when they come home and have to apply for Social Security Disability. Whether they have lost a leg due to a land mine or suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), these vets deserve all the support our government can give them.
That's why the President's push to privatize and "reform" Social Security concerns me. When will a 22 year old Army private, now in a wheelchair, get his chance to build up a "private account"? Will Social Security Disability be there for the veteran who has flashbacks and PTSD 20 years from now? I'm still representing Vietnam veterans whose PTSD only recently became disabling. We must remember that Social Security is a government sponsored "security blanket" for seniors and the disabled. It is not a Fidelity investment account. Hope you enjoy (and remember) the holiday!
Posted on April 25, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
In a clever twist on President Bush's under funded "No Child Left Behind" education law, Matt Miller labeled the President's Social Security Plan as "Leave Huge Debts Behind" in a great opinion piece in yesterday's New York Times. After a good laugh, I sadly realized how similar both programs really are.
No Child Left Behind provides almost no funding to get our kids' education on par with what they will need in the super-competitive workforce. Leave Huge Debts Behind (ie Bush Social Security Plan) mortgages our kid's future with an extra $200 billion added to the existing Federal debt. Bottom Line- the Bush Social Security Plan will leave future generations poorer, while No Child Left Behind will leave them less educated than they need to be. Rather than leaving No Child Left Behind, we will be leaving all children with far less economic security than they need. In my house, that's not being a responsible parent.
Posted on April 22, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
Even though Congress included the words "Consumer Protection Act" in the name of this horrible new law, it is really a misnomer. There is not one single pro -consumer part of this law. Because of "means testing", many middle class Americans will not be able to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The predatory credit card companies spread so much money through the halls of Congress that even moderate Democrats supported this unconscionable gift to these gluttonous money changers. President Bush signed the new law on Wednesday.
I went to a presentation last night by a Federal Bankruptcy Trustee who explained the new law. He was not impressed by this mean spirited legislation. As the Trustee said, there were provisions in the old law, that he frequently used, to stop the small minority of credit card abusers. The majority of my Workers Compensation and Social Security Disability clients never abused credit. They simply had the unfortunate luck to have been injured on the job or come down with a crippling illness, and now can't pay the bills. Bottom Line - if you suddenly become disabled or lose your job and face mounting medical bills or can't pay the mortgage, you may as well be in debtor's prison. The old bankruptcy law gave hard working middle class Americans who fell on hard times a fresh start. Those days are over.
Posted on April 7, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
Another one bites the dust! About two hours ago, Bextra, a popular prescription pain killer similar to Vioxx, was pulled from the market due to its potential to cause fatal illness. Celebrex, another Cox-2 inhibitor, will still be allowed to be sold but only with highlighted warnings. If your doctor still has you on Celebrex, you may want to discuss the risks, sooner rather than later!
Many of our clents receiving workers compensation, social security disability and/or long term disability were prescribed these drugs for relief of their pain. Unfortunately, some have suffered heart attacks or strokes due to these drugs. As I am sure you have seen on T.V., many lawyers are pusuing lawsuits for Vioxx, Bextra and Celebrex victims, with some straining legal ethics. As in every profession, there are a few who are "good" and then there are the rest. If you need a referal to one we respect, call us Toll Free at 1-877-NY-DBLAW, ext. 123.
Posted on March 21, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
Give him credit! With his Social Security privatization plan sinking faster than a turncoat with cement shoes in the East River(can't you tell I'm from New York), the President floats out his 79 year old mother to the rescue. A brilliant, yet all too common tactic for sons. When the public deserts you and Congress wishes you never brought the whole Social Security issue up, who better to pump up support than a woman who lives month to month on her Social Security check! Yes, she will say she is doing this for her many grandchildren. Balderdash! - they will have trust funds. This is all about a mother's unwavering support for a son, which is actually pretty nice to see in this self-centered age.
On a more serious note, it now looks like Congress would rather deal with the Social Security solvency issue without inserting "private accounts" into the equation. One long time friend of Social Security Disability recipients has been Republican Clay Shaw of Florida. As he recently stated in a fine article by David Broder of the Washington Post, "private accounts" will have to be "add ons", not a partial replacement of the current Social Security benefit, to get bipartisan support. Shaw is one of the few Social Security experts in Congress. The President (and his mother) would be wise to listen the experts in his own party.
Posted on March 15, 2005 by Troy Rosasco
I wouldn’t bet on it. Despite dwindling support in his own party and the public in general, the President has shown in the past that he is a stubborn and resilent fighter for his policies. Rather than folding up shop and licking his wounds, he has announced a new multi-state push to convince the American public that his way is the better way to fix Social Security. His biggest nemesis, AARP, will surely be nipping at his heels after every stop and trying to undercut his proposal for "private" (or shall we say "personal") accounts. For entertaining bashing on both sides of the Social Security Reform issue, visit There Is No Crisis and Social Security Choice.
Even if the President’s privatization plan fails, there will most likely be some sort of Social Security reform in the next year. Advocates for disabled workers must see to it that the Social Security Disability program isn’t left on the cutting room floor when all the smoke clears. We will have to lobby all our friends in Congress to make sure that they protect the most vulnerable among us – the disabled. As with most things, the devil is in the details. There are more than a few pitchfork carrying souls lurking in the halls of Congress who would love to gut the disability program. With all the discussion about private accounts, let’s also keep an eye on the disability insurance program.
