The following was written in an explicit attempt to duplicate the benefits that many patients have
received from the Co-Cure's "Good Doctors" List at
http://www.co-cure.org/Good-Doc.htm. We thank the moderators of Co-Cure for a good
idea -- and a good model to follow.
This page contains a list of lawyers who have been recommended by subscribers to the
Disinissues discussion list. The list is organized by state, but lawyers can in many
instances cross state lines in their work, so you should not feel limited to your own
state in your search for a good lawyer.
DISCLAIMER: The "Disinissues Good Lawyer List" is provided as a convenience
to Social Security Disability and private long-term disability insurance claimants.
Disinissues has not verified any of the information submitted for the purpose of inclusion
on this list and provided herein as to accuracy nor professional standings. As always, individuals
should check with local/regional agencies that monitor law professionals prior to engaging
services. The names on this list are here solely because they were recommended by someone
with an "invisible" disability, generally the disabilities CFS/ME or fibromyalgia but also MS, connective tissue disease, Lupus, and other disabilities sometimes given short shrift by private and public bureaucracies. It should be taken with no more nor less value than advice passed along at a community gathering among neighbors.
NOTE: The "Disinissues Good Lawyer List" is not to be reproduced in part or whole,
or referred to, with the intention of use for profit. The list was compiled by clients, for clients, and should not be construed in any way as a solicitation for services by the lawyers named..
-- Note:
If your state isn't listed, then no one has recommended a lawyer yet.
To recommend a lawyer, write to
the webmaster. Remember, you can always call
Trial Lawyers of America at 1-800-424-2725, or
Trial Lawyers for Public Justice at 1-202-797-8000
and ask for a lawyer who deals with CFIDS and or FM in your area.
Frank Darras
Shernoff, Bidart, Darras & Dillon
600 South Indian Hill Blvd.
Claremont CA 91711
Telephone: 800-458-3386
Comments: "This group is the "creme-de-la-creme" for disability
insurance." "Shernoff wrote a book on disability law.
Frank Darras is the best privagte Disability
lawyer I know."
Charles B. Perkins
Flynn, Rose and Perkins
51 University Avenue, Suite H
Los Gatos, California 95030
(408) 399-4566
Comments: For private Long-Term Disability Insurance cases; thorough knowledge of ERISA; instrumental in getting Standard to reinstate a CFS claim after a new claims investigator had suddenly denied it; has also been successful with UNUM.
Comments: Area of Specialty: First party insurance claims: Health, Life & Disability, under
both ERISA and California Common Law (bad faith); Has helped many
members of the Disinissues discussion list.
Sacramento, CA
Elizabeth L. Gade, Attorney at Law
Law Offices of Olson Hagel & Fishburn LLP
Plaza Towers
555 Capitol Mall, Suite 1425
Sacramento, CA 95814-4602
Main office:
380 S. Melrose Drive, Ste. 333
Vista, CA 92081
Tel: (760) 942-7848
Satellite office:
16870 West Bernardo Drive, Ste. 400
San Diego, CA 92127
Tel: (858) 485-8830
Fax (common to both addresses): (760) 942-7849
Email: hbhellen@gmail.com
Comments: Co-counsel on the
Lang v Standard Ins. Case that was successfully
won in Southern California's 9th Circuit Court (Pasadena) in 1997. Handles both Erisa and non-Erisa private long-term disability insurance cases.
San Diego, CA [2 of 3]
Harold O. McNeil
Attorney At Law
3659 Adams Ave.
San Diego, CA 92116
Telephone: (619) 280-6565
Comments: SSDI attorney; previously worked for SSA so understands
the system
San Diego, CA [3 of 3]
Law Offices of Sean Simpson
401 West "A" Street, Suite 2350
San Diego, CA 92101
Telephone: (619)236-9696
FAX: (619)234-7334
San Francisco, CA
Nancy McCombs
Patterson & McCombs
1700 California St. Suite 410
San Francisco, CA 94109-4586
Comments: Mr. Johnston has been on both sides of insurance litigation,
having previously represented insurance companies, and now advocating
for claimants.. He knows the law and court systems well, has
experience with both ERISA and non-ERISA cases. He is polite and
friendly and listens to his clients, and goes to bat for them, usually
on a contingency basis. He fights the good fight, and does it well.
Comments: Paul Proto is a paralegal who does only Social Security and works
nationally, paying his own travel expenses. He is particularly familiar
with CFS cases and the difficulties that we have.
Comments: "Specializes in Social Security Disability claims. He
advocates for Social Security claimants. He has been representing claimants
with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia since the early 90's with
exceptional success." "He has helped many in our support group."
Ms. Elizabeth K. Ebitz
15 Columbia St
P.O. Box 641
Bangor, Maine 04402-0641
Tel: 207-947-8666
Fax: 207-947-3859
Comments: "This lawyer helped me a great deal in obtaining SS Disability Benefits. She said she has not lost a case in eleven years! She is very tenacious and I would highly recommend her."
Comments: Has been successful helping people with chronic fatigue and immune
dysfunction syndrome (cfids) and fibromyalgia (fms) file for Social
Security Disability.
Comments: "I found this attorney to be very professional and personable.
He handled himself very well with the judge, doctor & career counselor
at my hearing."
Comments: Has been successful with both SSDI and private disability cases involving fibromyalgia.
Syracuse (2)
Ross Andrews
Satter and Andrews
217 Salina Street
Syracuse, NY 13202
Phone: 315-471-0405
Comments: "Over the past 9 years he has helped me fight and win SSD
and also helped me win back my private disability insurance ...
His rates are reasonable, he is very cfs knowledgeable and an
all-around kind, considerate and compassionate man.
Comments: "... hardest working, most compassionate, knowledgeable,
caring ERISA attorneys ... will work on contingency and their fees
are very reasonable.
Comments: Mark and his brother, Doug, have a small law firm in downtown Dallas.
His fees are reasonable and he doesn't carry the enormous overhead of a
large firm. He has no fear of UNUM.
Carter & Coleman
602 Cameron Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Contact: Ms. Juliane C. Miller, Esq
(703) 739-4200
"Carter and Coleman is a well regarded ERISA law firm that has litigated
precedent setting ERISA cases. They are well versed in the latest medical and
legal issues of CFS/CFIDS .... recently helped me with my CFS case against Metlife."
Fairfax, VA
Sheri Abrams
Attorney at Law
4015 Chain Bridge Road
Suite I
Fairfax, VA 22030
Keith Buccholz
6538 Libby Road NE
Olympia, WA 98506
(360) 956-0613
Comments: SSDI case: "Keith is very familiar with CFS/FMS and was wonderful to work with. He keeps
you informed on the case every step of the way. He was always available to
talk to and spent hours on the phone with me. He is a one-man office with a
secretary, thus I was always able to talk with him rather than a paralegal."
Seattle, WA (1 of 2)
Steve Krafchick, MPH 1974, JD 1983
Krafchick Law Firm
Legal Services for Injured People
2701 First Avenue, Suite 340
Seattle, WA 98121
James Oswald
1218 Third Ave, Suite 1500
Seattle WA 98101
206-264-8558
Comments: "He does work in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. He does ERISA law. He is the most pleasant to work with
lawyer on the face of the earth. He is incredibly smart and really knows his stuff. He allowed me to work with
him gathering materials, which most wouldn't. He won my case with my LTD when they were determined to dump me.
He is a very good lawyer."