Suit filed against Eastern Kentucky disability lawyer as legal aid group offers help to hundreds facing suspension of benefits
About 900 former clients of Conn recently received notices from the
The complaint, prepared by
The action seeks an unspecified amount of compensation for them, damages to punish Conn and attorney fees.
The suit was the latest development in a controversy that has mushroomed this week in
"
Also Friday, Republican U.S. Reps.
On another front, a legal aid group in
About 1,200
There are two programs at issue in the mass re-determination process. One is
Benefits for those receiving
Those under review have been given 10 days to supply medical evidence supporting their claim that they were disabled at the time they were awarded benefits.
"Ten days, out of the blue, 10 days for people to try and to get medical records ... that's not a significant amount of time," said AppalReD executive director
AppalReD will do its best to find representation for those who seek help, but "we can't possibly handle everything," Johns said.
The agency is recruiting private attorneys to help provide voluntary representation for those affected.
AppalReD will also help people sign up for
Johns said about 150 people have already asked the group for help, and they're expecting many more.
"We expect hundreds of people who may need lawyers," Johns said.
The group provides free legal help in civil cases in 37 counties in
The agency advised people to continue following the directions on their notices and to send in their medical records as soon as possible, even if they get an extension.
A
Conn received
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