Back in the early eighties, I worked as a young paralegal for a legal services program that provided free legal help to economically disadvantaged people in Eastern Kentucky. I spent much of my time helping recently disabled clients make sense of the often-confusing Social Security regulations, and I assisted them with filing and pursuing their disability claims.

It was a real eye-opener. People who were genuinely disabled, who couldn’t work no matter how badly they wanted to, proud people who deserved benefits, were being denied by the Social Security Administration. I was stunned. I was frustrated.

I had taken that comparatively low-paying paralegal job in Eastern Kentucky because I wanted to help underserved people who deserved better. What I found was that I was limited, both by my lack of formal legal training and by the bureaucratic hurdles the SSA put in front of disabled claimants. I realized I could do far more good if I went back to school, earned a law degree, and became a disability attorney, someone who could represent clients through their administrative hearings and, if necessary, all the way to Federal Court.

So in 1985, I moved to Louisville to attend the University of Louisville School of Law (now the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law). Since passing the Bar, I’ve concentrated my practice exclusively on Social Security disability law, representing clients throughout Louisville, Central Kentucky, Shepherdsville, Bardstown, Shelbyville, Frankfort, Lawrenceburg, and Southern Indiana.

Am I happy with that decision? Absolutely. I help people. I change lives. Meet me once and you’ll see how much I enjoy this work. I feel fortunate to have a career built around helping people establish their disability eligibility and get the medical care and benefits they need. In a very real sense, I help keep families intact.

I find satisfaction in every part of my practice, from helping clients understand the rules for qualifying for disability, through filing the initial application, all the way through the disability appeal hearing process.

My Family

My wife, Karen, and I have three children. Our daughter attends the University of Kentucky, and our two sons are six and four. We’re active in the boys’ PTA and spend our non-working hours on family activities. The kids especially love swimming, so our summers tend to be pretty wet.

We recently bought a small sailboat and are looking forward to spending time on the water teaching the kids sailing, navigation, preparedness, and safety skills. I suspect they’ll end up teaching us a few things too.

Education

J.D., University of Louisville School of Law (now the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law), 1985
Admitted to the Kentucky Bar following graduation

Practice Areas

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) claims
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) claims
Initial disability applications and filings
Disability claim denials and reconsideration
Social Security disability appeal hearings
Federal Court appeals of denied disability claims

Professional Affiliations

Admitted to practice before the federal courts in the Eastern District of Kentucky, the Western District of Kentucky, and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
Member in good standing with the Kentucky Bar Association and the Louisville Bar Association
Former chairman, Social Security Section, Louisville Bar Association
Sustaining member, National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives
Published in the Northern Kentucky Law Review