I am thankful for the favorable decisions and attorney fee awards we have received from federal court judges. However, I am equally thankful for the many hundreds of cases we litigated successfully or settled without the need to go to court. Let us obtain the best result possible for your case. Below are some of our notable cases:
Lisa E. v. Commissioner of Social Security, No. C19-0254 BHS (W.D. Wash. Aug. 21, 2019)
The federal court granted our client a new hearing because the Administrative Law Judges “continued to ignore the Court’s direction on evaluating the opinion” of the examining physician.
Whalen v. McMullen, 907 F.3d 1139 (9th Cir. 2018)
The Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit found, although the detective had qualified immunity, the tactics of a detective working for Social Security’s Cooperative Disability Investigations Unit (CDIU) violated our client’s Fourth Amendment’s right to be free of unreasonable search and seizures after entering her home without a warrant.
Ford v. Saul, 950 F.3d 1141 (9th Cir. 2020)
(the Ninth Circuit, in a poorly reasoned decision that violates Supreme Court precedent, determined that the ALJ did not err in failing to respond to our client’s post-hearing request for a subpoena to challenge the vocational expert’s testimony.)
Lagois Ex Rel. Gross v. Berryhill, No. C17-310-MJP (W.D. Wash. Nov. 27, 2017)
Mr. Lagois won a reversal and an order for a calculation of benefits after three previous orders from the federal court. In immediately awarding disability benefits, “the Court finds that a fourth administrative hearing would not serve a useful purpose.”
Houghton v. The Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company, No. C16-1186RAJ (W.D. Wash. Aug. 31, 2017)
In a case involving diabetes, Houghton’s receipt of unemployment insurance benefits and certification that she was “able and available for work,” did not render her ineligible for the Hartford’s long term disability benefits.
Gurwell v. Berryhill, No. 2: 16-cv-01799 JRC (W.D. Wash. June 23, 2017)
In a case involving fibromyalgia, the court reversed SSA for failing to adequately review the medical evidence.
Young v. United of Omaha Life Ins. Co., 165 F. Supp. 3d 984 (E.D. Wash. 2016)
Ms. Young prevailed over United of Omaha long-term disability insurance company. Her case case was remanded for a calculation of benefits for the 24 month own-occupation definition of disability.
Dawson v. Colvin, No. C14-501-BJR (W.D. Wash. Mar. 11, 2015)
The federal court agreed that SSA failed to properly evaluate IQ test scores and granted Dawson a new hearing
Lagois v. Colvin, No. C14-475-MJP-BAT (W.D. Wash. Oct. 23, 2014)
In a case involving a combination of mental and physical impairments, case reversed and remanded for new hearing as requested by Defendant
Spytek v. Astrue, No. C08-421-JCC-JPD (W.D. Wash. July 14, 2008)
Federal court determined that that the 2 1/2 year delay by SSA was a violation of due process.
Bowman v. J Callahan, 124 F3d 210 (9th Cir. 1997)
In a case involving multiple sclerosis, the federal court reversed and remanded the case for a new hearing to properly determine the onset of Ms. Bowman’s multiple sclerosis..