Metropolitan Ft. Lauderdale, within Broward County is home to many famous attractions, including Butterfly World, Sawgrass Mills and the Florida Panthers. It is the home to over 1.6 million persons, with the County Seat in Fort Lauderdale. The Art Institute of Florida and Nova University are among its world class universities.
Ft. Lauderdale and Broward CountySocial Security Disability Attorney Randy Zeldin, Esq. is available to represent claimants who seek to appeal a Social Security Disability application, which has been denied. The Office of Disability Adjudication and Review, (ODAR) where Social Security Judges are situated, is located at New River Center, Suite 1550 200 E. Las Olas Boulevard, Ft Lauderdale, Florida 33301 phone: (877) 839-4243 -- Fax: (954) 356-7901. The average waiting time for a hearing in Ft. Lauderdale is 13 months, which is close to the national average. There are 13 Social Security Judges in the ODAR Ft. Lauderdale office. Of the cases heard at Ft. Lauderdale ODAR, 48% are approved and 32% are denied. The average processing time is 398 days. There are currently 10, 738 cases pending. Most hearings in Ft. Lauderdale, 85% are in person, while 15% are video teleconferencing hearings.
The Social Security Judges in Ft. Lauderdale ODAR are Thurman Anderson; James Andres; Mary Brennan; Rossana D'Alessio; Dean Determan; D.K. Dugan; M.D. Evans; Robert Gill; Jennifer Millington; Denise Pasvantis; Jose Perez-Gonzalez; Valencia Jarvis.; Donald Smith; Robert Spurlin; Scott Tews; Sarah Cyrus.
At hearing, Social Security Judges may consider what is known as "lay testimony." That means testimony of non-expert witnesses, who have detailed and probative knowledge of an applicant's condition. Friends and relatives may submit letters and/or live testimony about subjective symptoms, descriptions of seizures; problems performing certain activities; assistance given to the claimant to handle activities of daily living, etc. Social Security Disability Attorney Randy Zeldin, Esq. of Ft. Lauderdale and Broward County will assess the utilization of lay witness testimony for each case.
Ft. Lauderdale Social Security Judges often allow testimony, particularly of expert witnesses such as Expert Medical Examiners and Vocational Experts. This testimony is increasingly allowed through telephone or other electronic media. The current regulations allow expert telephone testimony, if notice is given to the parties. Similarly, regulations also allow telephonic testimony by the claimant or other witnesses, if notice is provided. Telephone testimony of the claimant would only be allowed in extraordinary circumstances, which prevent the witness from appearing in person. Ft. Lauderdale and Broward County Social Security Disability Attorney Randy Zeldin, Esq., participates with his clients, in Video Teleconferencing hearings throughout the United States.
Social Security Disability hearings are private and unlike most cases in civil or criminal court, are not open to the public. Persons typically present with the Social Security Judge, the Judge’s assistant to operate recording and technical equipment, the claimant and his or her attorney. Any outside observer can only be present with explicit permission by the Judge and the Claimant. Usually, witnesses are sequestered in a waiting area prior to their testimony. The purpose of sequestering is to prevent a witness from hearing other persons testify, which information may shape or influence their own testimony and ultimately a witnesses’ credibility. Sometimes a Claimant with significant mental impairments, may be shielded from unpleasant testimony and allowed to leave the hearing room while expert or lay witnesses are testifying.
Attorney Randy Zeldin, Esq., provides expert and caring representation in Social Security Disability Claims to residents of greater Ft. Lauderdale. All attorney fees are contingent and there are never out of pocket fees. A free case review can be arranged in one of the convenient offices of the firm.
Please contact Ft. Lauderdale Social Security Disability Attorney and Lawyer Randy Zeldin, Esq. at (877) 839-4243.