NEWS

**In October of 2007, it was my privilege to sponsor an exciting art show at the Cherry Lion Sculpture Studio in Atlanta.  A mixed-media show, the participating artists offered pieces which captured the pain and challenges associated with disability, as well as the hope and healing.  The month-long event began with a media preview show on Thursday, October 4th, followed by the opening gala in the evening on Friday, October 5th, and closed with a masked Halloween gala the evening of Wednesday, October 31st.  With entertainment including professional belly dancers on Halloween, wine and hors d’oeuvres, a raffle, and silent auction, the month-long event was tremendously fun and rewarding.  Proceeds from the auction were donated to one of the fibromyalgia support groups of Georgia.  For more information regarding the show and for a sample of some of the artists’ work, please visit the website of Emerge Art Management at http://www.emergeartmanagement.com/news.html, or call Janessa Dauberman at (678) 910-5837.

**In the past, I have successfully represented individuals throughout the south, who have had claims involving overpayments, continuing disability reviews, and who have an attorney or other non-attorney, but have wanted to change counsel.  As my business has grown, I have had to make several difficult decisions to ensure that my service to my clients stays at the level each and every one of them deserves.  Therefore, I have decided to limit my practice to claimants residing in Georgia, and will no longer accept new clients with claims involving overpayments or continuing disability review.  The hardest decision involves individuals who contact me, expressing unhappiness with the attorney or non-attorney currently handling their claim.  It is my firm belief that every claimant deserves to have a representative who is skilled, knowledgeable, dedicated, and involved.  The unfortunate truth is that not all representatives choosing to handle Social Security Disability claims are qualified, and many handle so many clients at once that they do not provide very good service.  THESE ARE VERY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR A CLAIMANT TO ASK OF ANY REPRESENTATIVE, BEFORE HIRING ONE.  Although Social Security allows claimants to change representatives, it complicates the claim and makes it far more difficult for subsequent counsel to get paid.  Consequently, I have decided that I will no longer accept clients with former counsel, unless the claimant first receives a written statement from that representative withdrawing as counsel, AND WAIVING HIS/HER RIGHT TO CHARGE AND COLLECT A FEE FOR WORK THEY PERFORMED.

**While many individuals who have filed Social Security Disability Claims are aware that the process can be quite delayed, a recent article in USA Today underscored just how badly claimants in the Atlanta area have it:  Atlanta’s hearing offices earned the dubious distinction of being the most backlogged offices in the nation, with claimants waiting an average of 932 days for a hearing, from the date the Request for Hearing is filed.  To read the full article, please visit http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-07-29-disabilityinside_N.htm.

**In November of 2002, my uncle, Dannie Mayes, died from complications of leukemia.  Each summer since 2003, his friends and family have held a memorial golf tournament in his honor, with proceeds supporting the James Cancer Hospital in Columbus Ohio.  It was my great privilege to be one of the sponsor’s for the 2007 tournament.