The widow and widower of two people who committed suicide in June of 2015 have filed a federal lawsuit against the Social Security Administration claiming that Social Security’s decision to take away disability benefits from the two people who took their own lives is partly responsible for the suicides.
The decision to take away benefits from Melissa Jude and Leroy Burchett, the two people who committed suicide, was part of fraud allegations levied against Eric Conn, a Social Security disability attorney who has been accused of collaborating with former Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) David Daugherty to improperly award disability benefits to hundreds of applicants from 2006 to 2010, according to a congressional report.
Reacting to the claim, Social Security, in May of 2015, notified hundreds of Conn’s former clients that their disability benefits would be discontinued until Social Security made new determinations of whether these clients were eligible to receive benefits.
Typically, if Social Security comes to a conclusion that a person receiving benefits is no longer disabled, the beneficiary is given the opportunity to continue to receive benefits while the appeal process continues, but initially Social Security did not provide this option to Jude, Burchett or hundreds of other clients Conn represented in Eastern Kentucky.
After the suicides occurred U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers requested that Social Security continue benefits of Conn’s clients where potential fraud was alleged during the phase where Social Security makes a new determination. Social Security did relent and continued benefits.
The lawsuit, which is asking for an unspecified amount of damages, alleges that sending out hundreds of immediate suspension letters to vulnerable people, many with mental disabilities, would lead to suicides.
Accusations and suits are still pending against Conn, but his law office is still representing Social Security disability claimants.
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