Attorney Gregory Dell

Gregory Michael Dell is a Partner and the Managing Attorney of the Disability Income Division of Dell & Schaefer, Chartered. The firm’s disability income division is comprised of eight attorneys who represent claimants throughout all stages (i.e. applications, denials, appeals, litigation, & lump-sum policy buyouts) of a claim for individual or group (ERISA) long-term disability benefits.

Gregory Dell received his B.S./B.A. in Accounting at Washington University in St. Louis and his J.D. from Benjamin Cardozo School of Law in New York City. Following law school, Mr. Dell spent several years developing his trial skills as an Assistant State Attorney in Broward County Florida, where he handled thousands of criminal cases and participated in more than 50 jury trials.

After joining Dell & Schaefer, Mr. Dell easily transitioned into the civil arena and dedicated his legal career to fighting for the rights of individuals against insurance companies. He has litigated against every major disability insurance company throughout the country. In 2006, Mr. Dell was selected by the nation’s largest legal publication company (Thomson Reuters) to author a treatise on long-term disability insurance law. The book is published each year and is intended to be used as an authoritative source on disability insurance law by attorneys and judges. Mr. Dell’s articles on long-term disability benefits have appeared in nationwide publications.

Mr. Dell is admitted to the Florida, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Texas, and New York State Bar Associations, as well as multiple federal district courts throughout the nation. At a national level, Mr. Dell is a member of the American Association for Justice (formerly known as Association of Trial Lawyers of America), American Bar Association Health and Disability Insurance Law Committee, and the American Health Lawyers Association. Mr. Dell is the founder of the Attorneys Dell & Schaefer Charitable Foundation, a not for profit organization which was formed to promote health and safety in our communities to improve lives of individuals.

Outside the practice of law, Mr. Dell is a husband and father of three boys. Mr. Dell believes that exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, and while some may say he takes exercise to an extreme, his dedication and commitment is demonstrated by his completion of the Ironman Florida triathlon, 5 Half-Ironman triathlons, and multiple marathons including New York City, Chicago and San Diego.

Attorney Gregory Dell

Get to Know Attorney Gregory Dell

Gregory's Client Reviews
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Gregory's Resolved Cases
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Showing 8 of 84 Disability Cases

Project Manager with Migraines Gets NY Life Disability Benefit Denial Reversed

Disability due to migraines is very common, but many disability insurance claims deny these long term disability claims because there is no objective evidence of migraines. New York Life will commonly try to limit disability benefits to 24 months and claim that your medical condition is mental and not physical.We were able to stop that from happening in this... Read More >

Dell Disability Lawyers successfully appeal denial of benefits to claimant with CRPS/RSD

Ms. S contacted our firm after receiving a letter from her disability carrier, Cigna, denying her claim for short term disability benefits under her employer sponsored disability plan. Ms. S was suffering from multiple ailments including a rare, often misunderstood condition called Complex Regional Pain syndrome (CRPS), also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD). At the start of the claim, Cigna accepted... Read More >

Dell Disability Lawyers Refuses to Allow Prudential to Force Claimant Into Submission

A recent denial overturned by Prudential illustrates the value of having an attorney manage your claim for you in the long run.Since March 31, 2012, Ms. V has been unable to perform the material and substantial duties of her regular occupation or any occupation. Benefits were initially paid to Ms. V due to her debilitating pain; however, almost immediately, Prudential began its attempts to categorize Ms. V... Read More >

Dell Disability Lawyers Successfully Appeals Denial Of Benefits To Former Trial Attorney

Gastrointestinal issues are very common and often conditions that people don’t like to discuss in detail. They are also often downplayed by disability carriers as conditions that are not disabling as long as the claimant can take bathroom breaks. Insurance companies will regularly ignore the secondary issues that come along with having even minor gastrointestinal problems.One of our clients recently cont... Read More >

Dell Disability Lawyers Successfully Appeals Denial of Benefits to Former Clinical Therapist

Mr. S contacted our firm for help fighting CIGNA after receiving a letter cutting off his benefits. He had received less than a year of benefits when CIGNA scheduled an Independent Medical Examination (IME) due to a lack of response from Mr. S’s treating physicians.Some carriers, like CIGNA, will immediately exercise their right to schedule an IME if they request claim forms from doctors and do not recei... Read More >

Dell Disability Lawyers Successfully Appeals Metlife Denial of Benefits to Veteran

Mr. A contacted our firm after being denied benefits by his employer’s group disability carrier, MetLife. He had been working as a supervisor for a large manufacturer of heavy duty automotive components. His job required him to perform prolonged physical activities like climbing, kneeling, standing, pulling grasping, lifting and working with various tools.He was suffering from a long list of medical cond... Read More >

Metlife Overturns Denial on Appeal by Dell Disability Lawyers

Mr. W was working as a Quality Assurance Engineer for a major technology company when he was forced to stop working at the age of 52. He had been suffering from severe heart disease and co-morbid complications. He also suffered a heart attack and had a progressively worsening diabetic foot ulcer which required him to use a knee scooter to ambulate.After filing a claim for disability benefits under his empl... Read More >

Standard Overturns Denial of Benefits to Shareholder of Major Law Firm

When Mr. L contacted us he had recently left a major law firm where he had been working for 27 years. Mr. L, a commercial finance and real estate transaction attorney, was forced to stop working due to debilitating symptoms from several medical conditions. He had been suffering from these conditions for several years but his symptoms had gradually worsened over time and eventually reached the point where he wa... Read More >
Gregory's Answered Questions
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Showing 8 of 155 Answered Questions

Q: Can they offset my ltd by my whole ss retirement payment?

Answered on August 21st 2024 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: Lisa:Unfortunately it is legal for your disability company to offset your Social Security Retirement Bene... Read More >

Q: What if I never received longterm policy and I never agreed or signed agreement fee with disability insurance company?

Answered on August 19th 2024 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: Erica:The repayment of government benefits such as ssdi or state disability benefits is allowed if your po... Read More >

Q: How do I get my Dr. to give Voya more info backing his claim?

Answered on May 28th 2024 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: Renae:Migraines are very challenging claims and it sounds like your doctor is frustrated. When we handle ... Read More >

Q: Prudential denied me STD due to a doctor who wrote personal things about me, like I still drive.

Answered on May 27th 2024 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: We are sorry to hear about your denial. Please contact us and we will review your denial letter. We can discus... Read More >

Q: Prudential is sending me to an IME but refuses to allow recording. Should I refuse to go to the IME?

Answered on May 7th 2024 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: Mike:This is always a tough situation. You cannot refuse to go. I would show up with a witness and a recor... Read More >

Q: Will Mass Mutual pay my disability claim if I become disabled while on unemployment?

A: LisaYour husband has a complicated fact pattern and you should call us to discuss the claim. You may still... Read More >

Q: NYL LTD also have LLC

Answered on April 12th 2024 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: LLC and LTD,If you receive active income, meaning its not considered passive investment income from the LLC ... Read More >

Q: Do I have an option after my appeal is denied?

Answered on April 10th 2024 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: Lauren:If your appeal is denied by MetLife then you have the option to file lawsuit in federal court. Read More >
Gregory's Disability Videos
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Showing 12 of 608 Videos
Gregory's Disability Benefit Tips
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Showing 8 of 211 Benefit Tips

Why Must Your Disability Insurance Lawyer Understand Your Disabling Condition?

When it comes to securing your disability insurance benefits, it's vitally important that your disability insurance lawyer thoroughly understands the symptoms and impact of your disabling condition. Doctors can help you create strong medical records, but they're not accustomed to dealing with the rigorous documentation disability insurance companies require. Lea... Read More >

Disability Benefit Denial Reason #5 – Your Medical Evidence is Weak

If you're seeking long term disability benefits from an insurance company, you may be concerned that you're facing an uphill battle. Fortunately, the stronger your medical evidence, the greater the odds that your claim will be approved. On the other side of the coin, one of the most common reasons for denial of long term disability benefits involves too-weak med... Read More >

Disability Benefit Denial Reason #4 - Your Doctor Is Misled By the Disability Company

When you're seeking disability insurance benefits, your medical records and treating physician's statement are two of the most important components of your claim. But because the insurance company has a vested interest in denying your disability insurance claim, it often will rely on tactics like ambushing your doctor with a phone call in an attempt to get them ... Read More >

Disability Benefit Denial Reason #3 - Video & Social Media Surveillance

One thing many disability insurance claimants don't know about (or expect) from the claims review process involves video and social media surveillance. Disability insurance carriers often hire people to follow claimants around with a telephoto lens - or even send social media friend requests from fake accounts - to glean whatever information they can about the c... Read More >

How Do You Fight a Long-Term Disability Denial?

Getting a denial letter from your disability insurance company is one of the ultimate insults. You are sick and not able to work, yet your disability insurance company is telling you to return to work. The disability insurance company has denied your disability benefit claim and is basically calling you a liar. When receiving a disability denial letter or a ph... Read More >

How to Apply for Reliance Standard Disability Benefits & Top 5 Reasons for a Claim Denial

At Dell & Schaefer we’ve handled hundreds of long term disability insurance claims against Reliance Standard, and have learned a few things in the process. When you’re experiencing an injury or illness that makes it difficult (or impossible) to work, it can be tempting to file a claim as quickly as possible – but unless a claimant has all their ducks in a row, this could actually delay the ultimate r... Read More >

Application Tips: Northwestern Mutual Disability Benefits - Top Denial Reasons

Every disability insurance policy is different, and whether your disability insurance claim is approved depends on many factors: the definition of disability in your policy, your medical condition, the thoroughness of your treating physicians in documenting your claims, and more. Our disability insurance attorneys at Dell & Schaefer have helped hundreds of p... Read More >

Is UNUM a Good Insurance Company?

One common question the attorneys here at Dell Disability Lawyers receive comes from policyholders with UNUM long term disability policies. These claimants want to know, “Is UNUM a "good" insurance company?” But what is this question really asking? Learn more about what claimants may be able to expect when filing a&nbs... Read More >
Gregory's Disability Lawsuit Stories
(243)
Showing 8 of 243 Lawsuit Stories

Reliance Standard Disability Denial Upheld Due to Claimant's Lack of Strong Medical Record Support

In the case of Amy Wright v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company (Reliance), Plaintiff was the vice-president of health information services at Integrity Health Care when she stopped working on August 7, 2017. She brought claims for benefits under an LTD insurance policy and a waiver of premiums under a life insurance policy.In order to be approved for LTD benefits, Plaintiff ... Read More >

Court Finds Irregularities in Procter & Gamble Disability Insurance Benefit Denial

In ERISA cases filed in a district court asking for judicial review of a plan administrator's denial of benefits, the court is generally limited to considering only the administrative record that was before the plan administrator. The case of Robert Stallings v. The Proctor & Gamble Disability, Committee, et al., is an example of how plaintiffs with cases filed in a District Court that is under the jurisdi... Read More >

Federal Judge Makes Companion Life Insurance Pay Disability Benefits

Companion Life tried to play games and deny disability insurance benefits, but thankfully a New Mexico Federal Judge made them pay disability benefits and attorney fees. The Plaintiff, Mr. Paul Chandhok, was recently awarded disability benefits in a decision by The United States District Court for the District of New Mexico, in a case decided on August 13, 2021. What makes this decision important for plaintif... Read More >

NFL Disability Review Board Ignores Evidence of Disability and Appeal Court Reverses Lower Court Decision

In Darren Mickell v. Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle NFL Players Retirement Plan (Plan), Mickell spent nine years in the NFL as a defensive end. He was repeatedly subjected to high speed contact hits which caused multiple orthopedic injuries to his “back, ribs, shoulders, arms, hands, knees, hips, legs, and feet." He had multiple orthopedic surgeries. Mickell also sustained multiple blows to his head t... Read More >

Judge Agrees that MetLife's Denial of Long Term Disability Benefits was Reasonable

In Anne Ehlert v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife), Ehlert was a consulting pension actuary for pension plans at Towers Watson. Her first day of work with Towers was September 8, 2003. Her last day of work was December 23, 2015. In August 2016, she applied for long-term disability (LTD) benefits under her employer’s disability insurance benefit plan which was administered by MetLife.In thi... Read More >

Court Ordered Aetna to Pay LTD Benefits to Computer Engineer

In Darren Cohen v. Aetna Life Insurance Company [Aetna], Plaintiff was employed by STEC, Inc. as a Computer Systems Engineer where he worked on his computer for 6-8 hours a day. STEC, Inc. is a computer data storage technology company.Plaintiff was injured while driving a Go-Kart at an employer-sponsored event. He suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord compression. He had pre-exi... Read More >

California Federal Judge Orders Standard Insurance Company to Pay Disability Benefits to Teacher with Lyme Disease

In Tisha Entz v. Standard Insurance Company, Plaintiff Entz was a classroom teacher in Victorville, California from 1997 until she became too ill to work following the end of the 2014-2015 school year on June 10, 2015. She applied for her disability insurance benefit provided by her employer. She alleged in her claim for disability insurance benefits that her first day off work should be August ... Read More >

Court Orders Aetna to Pay LTD Benefits to Plaintiff Suffering from CFS

In Nancy Devries v. Aetna Life Insurance Company (Aetna) plaintiff worked as First American as a Senior Business Analyst until August 19, 2016. On that day, she stopped working. A few days later, she filed a claim for short term disability (STD) benefits.Plaintiff was under continuous care of her primary care physician, an immunologist, and a physician’s assistant (PA). She had freque... Read More >

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5 Ways We Help Get Your Benefits Paid

Get Your Disability Application Approved

Our goal is to get your application for disability income benefits approved. Applying for disability insurance benefits can be a difficult process and the information you provide is critical. Most disability insurance companies look at your application in hopes of finding a reason to deny your claim. Your disability company will ask you to complete numerous forms, interview you, request lots of information, speak with your doctors and possibly request to have you examined by their "hired gun" doctor.

Through our experience of having helped thousands of disability insurance claimants, our disability insurance lawyers will guide you through the entire application process and give you the best chance to get your disability claim approved the first time.

Submit A Strong Appeal Package

If your disability insurance benefits have been wrongfully denied, then our disability insurance lawyers know exactly what it takes to get your disability claim approved. You only get once chance to submit an Appeal, therefore every piece of evidence that will support your disability claim must be included. The goal is to win your disability benefits at the Appeal level, but while preparing your Appeal you must consider how a federal judge will review your disability claim if your benefit denial is upheld.

Preparing a strong disability appeal package is an art that requires you to understand how the courts interpret your disability policy language, ERISA regulations / laws, and how to strategically present evidence in support of your definition of "disability". We encourage you to contact any of our attorneys for a free immediate review of your disability denial.

Sue Your Disability Company

98% of the disability insurance lawsuits filed by our law firm have resulted in either the payment of benefits or a lump-sum settlement agreement. Our disability insurance attorneys have filed ERISA governed and private policy long term disability insurance lawsuits against every major disability insurance company in state and federal courts nationwide and we love fighting for the "little guy" against the multi-billion dollar insurance company giants.

We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients and we would like the opportunity to provide you with a free review of your disability benefit denial. There are many complex factors in a disability benefit lawsuit and the legal battle to win long term disability benefits can be fierce.

Prevent A Disability Benefit Denial

Approval of long-term disability is a continuous process as every disability insurance company will evaluate your eligibility for benefits on a monthly basis. You can never let your guard down and assume that your disability company will continue to pay your benefits for as long as you think you need them.

Our disability insurance law firm offers a reasonable flat fee monthly claim handling service in which we handle every aspect of your long-term disability claim and do whatever it takes to make sure you are paid every month.

Negotiate a Lump-Sum Settlement

Let's discuss if a lump-sum settlement or buyout of your disability insurance claim is both available and makes financial sense for you. Our disability insurance lawyers have negotiated more than five-hundred million dollars in disability insurance buyouts and we know how to get you a maximum settlement. A disability insurance company is not required to offer a buyout and not every disability company offers them.

Questions About Hiring Us

Who are Dell Disability Lawyers?

We are disability insurance attorneys that know how to get your short or long term disability benefits paid. As a nationwide law firm we have helped thousands of disability insurance claimants throughout the United States to collect hundreds of millions of dollars of disability insurance benefits from every major disability insurance company.

In more than 98% of our cases, our attorneys have been able to either get our clients paid monthly disability benefits or obtain a one-time lump-sum settlement. Our disability insurance lawyers have seen it all when it comes to disability insurance claims and we know exactly what it takes for your disability claim to be approved.

We offer disability insurance attorney representation nationwide and we welcome you to contact any of our lawyers for a free immediate review of your disability claim. We also invite you to visit and subscribe to our YouTube channel where we have more than 850 videos and regularly provide tips to help protect your disability benefits.

Who do you help?

Our disability insurance attorneys help individuals that have either purchased a long term disability insurance policy from an insurance company or obtained short or long term disability insurance coverage as a benefit from their employer. We have helped individuals in almost every type of occupation with monthly disability benefit payments ranging from $1,500 to $50,000.

Our clients include all types of employees ranging from retail associates, sales representatives, government employees, police officers, teachers, janitors, nurses, pilots, truck drivers, financial advisors, doctors, dentists, veterinarians, lawyers, consultants, IT professionals, engineers, professional athletes, business owners, and high level executives.

A strong understanding and presentation of the duties of your occupation is essential for securing disability insurance benefits.

Do you work in my state?

Yes. We are a national disability insurance law firm that is available to represent you regardless of where you live in the United States. We have partner lawyers in every state and we have filed lawsuits in most federal courts nationwide. Our disability insurance lawyers represent disability claimants at all stages of a claim for disability insurance benefits. There is nothing that our lawyers have not seen in the disability insurance world.

What are your fees?

Since we represent disability insurance claimants at different stages of a disability insurance claim we offer a variety of different fee options. We understand that claimants living on disability insurance benefits have a limited source of income; therefore we always try to work with the claimant to make our attorney fees as affordable as possible.

The three available fee options are a contingency fee agreement (no attorney fee or cost unless we make a recovery), hourly fee or fixed flat rate.

In every case we provide each client with a written fee agreement detailing the terms and conditions. We always offer a free initial phone consultation and we appreciate the opportunity to work with you in obtaining payment of your disability insurance benefits.

Do I have to come to your office to work with your law firm?

No. For purposes of efficiency and to reduce expenses for our clients we have found that 99% of our clients prefer to communicate via phone, email, fax, or video conferencing sessions. If you prefer an initial in-person meeting please let us know. A disability company will never require you to come to their office and similarly we are set up so that we handle your entire claim without the need for you to come to our office.

How can I contact you?

When you call us during normal business hours you will immediately speak with a disability insurance attorney. We can be reached at 800-698-9159 or by email. Lawyers and staff must return all client calls same day. Client emails are usually replied to within the same business day and seem to be the preferred and most efficient method of communication for most clients.

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