Shawn E. McDermott

Shawn E. McDermott

also known as McDermott Law LLC

5.0
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 33 years

Insurance Lawyer at Denver, CO
Practice Areas: Insurance, Employee Benefits, Personal Injury, Life Insurance

4600 S. Ulster Street, Suite 800, Denver, CO

About Shawn

Biography

Practice Areas

4

Practice Areas

Insurance 45%

lo Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, Accidental Death and Long-Term Care claims and denials, including ERISA claims. We assist insureds whose claims have been denied. We have handled many insurance claim denials including bad faith claims.

33 years | 1,000 cases

45%
Employee Benefits 35%

In addition to wages, many employees receive benefits such as health, disability and life insurance. Most such benefit claims are governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”). Our practice emphasizes representation of individuals whose claims have been denied by the employer or, most often, the insurance company who handled the claim. We can assist with your internal appeal of such claim or pursue litigation if necessary.

33 years | 1,000 cases

35%
Life Insurance 10%

33 years | 50 cases

10%
Personal Injury 10%

We handle a wide range of personal injury matters, including auto accident claims, motorcylcle accidents, trucking injuries, slip and fall, skiing injuries and wrongful death.

33 years | 200 cases

10%

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


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Licenses

Licensed in Colorado for 33 years

State: Colorado

Acquired: 1992

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Shawn E McDermott

4600 S. Ulster Street, Suite 800, Denver, CO, 80237

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Shawn E. McDermott's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

22 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (22) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 reviews | Responsiveness

Posted by Tom | March 26, 2023 | Hired Attorney | Insurance

Disability Claims

Shawn and Lisa were amazing from my first call to them throughout the entire process. I felt fully prepared for the entire process, understood all the potential ways things could go sideways, and gameplans if they did. Any time I had worries or concerns or questions they were just a phone call or ema...il away to ease my fears, provide me with advice to guide decisions and handle all interactions with the insurance companies. In the end my claims process was successful and straightforward...in large part because of their guidance and hard work. I truly felt they were my partners in this process with my best interest at heart.

Posted by anonymous | January 09, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Health Insurance

ERISA LTD reinstatement

If you have an LTD case and have been terminated and need an attorney to look out for you I strongly recommend Shawn, Mary Sue and Shannon! They successfully appealed the termination of my LTD benefits and continued to work with me as the insurance completed their 24 month review to any occupation. ... The McDermott team are very communicative, caring and always make themselves available to answer your questions and concerns. I am grateful I have them working with me!

Posted by Carolyn | June 24, 2014 | Insurance

Shawn Mcdermott is that one-in-a-million lawyer...

I HIGHLY recommend Mr Mcdermott and his team. I am disabled and my LTD company was trying everything to drop me from their coverage. I believe Mr Mcdermott and his team saved me. He was upfront about his experience with the insurance company I was fighting and had even finished a case (successfully) ...for an individual with the same rare condition I have and the same insurance company I was fighting! He set my expectations realistically by explaining his past experience with this insurance company. I was worried that they would need a lot of involvement from me but they are a well oiled machine. He, the junior attorney and paralegal diligently kept me apprised of everything going on and answered every question I could possibly think of. He is remarkable. He handily won my case and did it with excellent economy of my money. Highly knowledgeable, expedient, experts in ERISA law, outstanding quality of work, excellent use of time/money, kind and always available to the client--these are just a few of his outstanding qualities. During one of the worst experiences of my life, he took control of everything and allowed me to focus on healing while eviscerating the opposing case. A good lawyer is like the lost city of Atlantis. You've heard of it, but doubtful you'd ever find it. Shawn Mcdermott is that lawyer and winning never felt so good.

Posted by Maggie | October 19, 2012 | Insurance

Excellent Disability Attorney

If you are battling an insurance company, you NEED Shawn McDermott. There is no way for the "little person" to have success against the "Big Insurance Companies" going it alone. Mr. McDermott is a shining star in his field. His knowledge of the laws necessary for fighting insurance companies is outst...anding, especially ERISA and a disability claim. Not every attorney has the expertise when it comes to actually knowing much in this area. He is also very personable and cares about his clients. The entire staff at the McDermott Law Firm work together to help you win your case. They are always prompt in answering questions, phone calls and emails. I highly recommend Shawn McDermott, Esq. to anyone needing help in winning a case against an insurance company.

Posted by anonymous | February 03, 2011 | Lawsuits & Disputes

Very personable and knowledgeable lawyer & staff!

Shawn McDermott and his staff helped me with a successful outcome to my lawsuit. Being involved in a lawsuit is a very time consuming and stressful process.. Shawn and his staff made the process less stressful because they always kept me in the loop, always responded to my inquiries in a timely fas...hion and made me feel I was part of the team. Shawn is extremely knowledge in LTD/ERISA cases and I would highly recommend Shawn to anyone that is considering a lawsuit against their LTD carrier. He is very passsionate in what he does and it shows! Shawn always told it to me straight, gave me every option and let me decide. He's very easy to talk to and will talk to you in laymen terms. His low key, unassuming, but very professional demenor, made him and his staff a pleasure to work with. Again I would l highly recommend Shawn McDermott to represent you.

See All Client Reviews

Shawn E. McDermott's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Shawn
Dallas Daniel Norton headshot
Dallas Norton

Personal injury lawyer | Jun 25

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Shawn is a well respected lawyer in Colorado and represents his clients well. I would not hesitate to refer my family or friends to him."

Mary Susan Kern headshot
Mary Kern

Insurance lawyer | Jan 18

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. McDermott has initiated and defended cases involving personal injury, products liability, medical malpractice, insurance coverage, bad faith, employee benefits, disability, life and accident insurance claims (involving both ERISA and non-ERISA claims), workers’ compensation, and wrongful death. The emphasis of his practice more than a decade has related almost exclusively to disability and life insurance coverage and bad faith disputes. On numerous occasions over the past 20 plus years, he have acted as lead counsel in state and federal courts litigating benefit claims disputes, arising under ERISA plans, private insurance plans, and the Colorado Public Employee’s Retirement Association (PERA) Disability Retirement Program. At least 90% of his current practice is devoted to disability, life, and accidental death insurance claims disputes. The majority of those claims are governed by ERISA. He has handled hundreds of matters on behalf of ERISA claimants."

Michael S. Waddington headshot
Michael Waddington

Personal injury lawyer | May 26

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Shawn. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."

Patricia M Jarzobski headshot
Patricia Jarzobski

Insurance lawyer | Aug 21

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Shawn is the go to lawyer in Denver on Plaintiff's insurance disability cases. He knows the law, he has the experience, and he gets great results for his clients."

Jennifer Lee Donaldson headshot
Jennifer Donaldson

Insurance lawyer | May 17

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. McDermott is one of the leading lawyers in Colorado in disability law. His knowledge of disability benefits and law including, ERISA and PERA, is extensive. I highly recommend Shawn McDermott for any dispute involving insurance issues."

James Todd Tenge headshot
James Tenge

Personal injury lawyer | Feb 08

Relationship: Friend

"I fully endorse Shawn McDermott. He is smart, diligent and not afraid to take on the big insurance companies. Shawn has earned a reputation throughout Denver for his exceptional work in disability insurance claims. I recommend Shawn without hesitation."

Bruce Jeffrey Kaye headshot
Bruce Kaye

Insurance lawyer | Feb 03

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. McDermott is one of the leading attorneys in Colorado in the field of disability insurance law including ERISA and PERA related claims. I highly recommend his firm for these matters."

William P Godsman headshot
William Godsman

Employee benefits lawyer | Jan 21

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. Shawn McDermott is one of the few lawyers in Denver who is very knowledgable about the laws governing employee benefits and the Judges and Migistrates who decide these cases. He is very effective in obtaining employee benefits - especially disability benefits - for his clients. He knows many of the attorneys representing the disability insurance companies. More importantly, they know him and that he is very good at representing persons seeking such benefits. He has educated me on the difficulties faced by someone trying to obtain disability benefits and the importance of retaining a lawyer who works in this area of the law on a daily basis, as he does."

View All Endorsements
Patricia M Jarzobski headshot
Patricia Jarzobski

Aviation lawyer

Jennifer Lee Donaldson headshot
Jennifer Donaldson

Personal injury lawyer

William P Godsman headshot
William Godsman

Medical malpractice lawyer

James Todd Tenge headshot
James Tenge

Personal injury lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2022

Super Lawyer, Colorado Super Lawyers

2012

Super Lawyer, Colorado Super Lawyers

2010

Super Lawyer, 2010, Super Lawyers Magazine

1992

Austin W. Scott, Jr. Award - Best Oral Argument, Univ of Colorado

1992

Rothgerber Moot Court Competition, Winning Team Member, Univ of Colorado

Work Experience

1996 - Present

Senior Attorney, Law Office of Shawn E. McDermott

1992 - 1996

Associate Attorney, Breit Bosch Levin & Coppola

Associations

1992 - Present

Colorado Bar Association

Member

1992 - Present

Colorado Trial Lawyers Association

Board of Directors (1999-2002)

1992 - Present

American Association for Justice

Member

1992 - Present

Denver Bar Association

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

Cherisse Croll v. Connecticut General and LOCKHEED MARTIN GROUP UNIVERSAL LIFE PLAN, 863 F.Supp.2d 1093, 2012 WL 1439172

Order of Judgment in favor of client

Bray v. Sun Life and Health Ins. Co. (U.S.), No. 08-cv-02335-RBJ-CBS, 2012 WL 628611 (D.Colo. Feb. 27, 2012)

Successful result for client on all claims

Bottoms v. Liberty Life, No. 11–cv–01606–PAB–CBS, 2011 WL 6181423 (D.Colo. Dec. 13, 2011)

successful discovery order compelling Liberty Life to produce certain documents

Kohut v. Hartford Life & Accident Ins. Co., No. 08-cv-00669-CMA-MJW, 2008 WL 5246163 (D.Colo. Dec. 16, 2008)

Favorable ERISA discovery order

Progressive Specialty Ins. Co. v. Hartford Underwriters Ins. Co., 148 P.3d 470 (Colo.App. 2006) October 19, 2006 (No. 05CA1161)

Favorable insurance "stacking" of policies decision

McCord v. Affinity Ins. Group, 13 P.3d 1224 (Colo. App. 2000)

Favorable judgment upheld

Meza v. State Farm, Colorado Court of Appeals No.: 06CA2667 (July 3, 2008)

Successful - benefits obtained

Jeffryes v. Hartford Life & Accident Ins. Co., No. 05-cv-01770-EWN-CBS, 2006 WL 1186493 (D.Colo. May 4, 2006)

favorable discovery order

See More Legal Cases

Education

1992

University of Colorado School of Law

Juris Doctor

1988

University of Colorado - Boulder

Bachelor of Science

Speaking Engagements

2008

HB 1407: Insurance Accountability Act Seminar

The Impact of HB 1407 on ERISA Health, Life and Disability Claims

Publications

2013

Trial Talk (CO) Employer-Provided Disability Coverage and Offsets for Other Income Benefits: The Necessary Coordination of Benefits

2010

Colorado Bar Association - The Colorado Lawyer C.R.S. § 10-3-1116, ERISA Preemption, and the Standard of Review

2004

Colorado Bar Association - The Colorado Lawyer Group Long-Term Disability Coverage and ERISA

Languages

English

Activity

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