Disability Claims in a Down Economy, ALI ABA Web Seminar May 22, 2009

New Jersey Disability lawyer Bonny Rafel was a featured speaker and moderator at the American Law Institutes‘ ABA Web Seminar on Disability in a Down Economy. A group of experienced attorneys recognized as the top in their field of long term disability, discussed vocational, occupational issues and medical problems that commonly arise in disability claims to an audience of 60 listeners. Highlights included analysis of current case law, trends in the industry, how to prepare a claim based on medical conditions related to illnesses such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, parkinson’s disease and other maladies.

Ms. Rafel discussed how disability insurance companies deny claims by ignoring valid, reliable evidence provided by the disabled and under valuing statements of friends, family and treating doctors. Ms. Rafels’ focus on insurance company misleading medical examinations and the limits of “functional capacity examinations” were discussed and court battles analyzed. more Bonny Rafel was the moderator of the session on FCEs