Dale Buchanan & Associates PC

I used Dale Buchanan & Associates twice. My first lawyer from this group didn't speak up for me in my hearing yet I won my case. I chose to go back to work and contribute to society. Big mistake. I had to file again which has now taken over four years to receive my disability. Please don't make the same mistake of going back to work. Michael Buchanan was my lawyer the second time in my phone hearing. He did speak up for me which I feel helped. Cleta has been wonderful -so cheerful each time I've called. The only problem I had was right before my hearing...all of my medical records had not been gathered. I don't know where the ball was dropped but after waiting so long for a hearing it was disheartening. Overall, yes...I would use this group.

Dale Buchanan and Associates helped me get my disability benefits. Their services we're great they were extremely fast in getting me approved. They were by my side every step of the way. The whole staff are extremely experienced in what they do. I would so recommend Dale Buchanan and Associates to anyone who may be considering applying for the benefits of they deserve

If I could rate them a -0- I definitely would. Don't walk but run away from this firm as fast as you can. In my case they didn't submit all of my medical records when they said they did, causing my denial by the judge. After telling me they couldn't "find" my functional capacity evaluation, it took me 2 minutes to call Siskin Hospital where it was performed at, told them to start making copies of it, that I was on my way to pick it up. I took it to Buchanan and Associates and told them this is what you couldn't "find." After this was submitted, my case went into remand and it took 2 more years before I could go before the judge again. When your case goes into remand, you can forget that $6,000 cap they tell you on their fees. It may be more now, but in your case does go into remand, they can take 25% of your back pay when you are awarded your disability. One thing I did find out in this long, drawn out process is this. The last time I went to court, I asked the judge why she remanded my case and she said it was because the functional capacity evaluation was submitted. I told her that Buchanan's office had told me they had submitted everything, which they hadn't. The judge actually apologized to me for it taking 2 years to get back to court. Also, one last thing. It's the judge who actually sets the attorney fees, so instead of Buchanan's office getting $9,000 of my back pay, the judge set their fee at a little over $1,000. It was almost worth the extra 2 years it took me to get it.

Michael seems very compassionate and is great at what he does. The staff, not so much. My paralegal even admitted to not calling me back because she thought I was mad(I was not, but this admission sure got me there!) She never received my emails(of which I sent after every Dr. visit) Michael asked me to call someone specifically to get something straightened out, lady on the phone wouldn't let me speak to her but put me through to my paralegal again which only told me to call the social security office which was no help at all.

Very disappointed in the efforts made. My court hearing the attorney didn’t really nothing but made his presence, I was denied and told it would go to appeals and assured that it most likely won’t be overturned as it rarely is that my case would continue on to a appeal for civil so I felt assured this was procedure. Next thing I know is appeals made their denial and Im receiving a letter certified Mail that dale Buchanan and associates is dropping me as a client that they aren’t investing any more time and per my contract I owe fees for medicals records they requested. Not so much as a phone call, a email, nothing just boom a letter saying they’re done. 3 years I feel like they did the minimum and if they have to work for it they aren’t willing too. They made the statement that I needed a dr to write a medical opinion form or they wouldn’t take the case as they only take cases they can easily win. That should have been the first red flag but i didn’t have concern as my dr provided such. If you ever have a concern and need to call in you’ll talk to Claita who is reception and a pleasure on the phone but good luck getting a call back from your attorney. Notice they follow all the reviews up with “please contact us Im familiar with what your case was about etc etc.” BS… they drop you and don’t even pick up the phone to say so! You just find it in the mail.