Joseph Jonathan Duerst

I hired Joseph Duerst to represent me in my SSDI disability appeal. During his representation I discovered that the SSA had scheduled a consultative examination with a physician who lacked the required credentials for the specialty evaluation he was contracted to perform. When I brought this to Mr. D...uerst’s attention with documented evidence, he dismissed my concerns entirely, told me I was “spinning my wheels,” and refused to take any action to protect my case. He also failed to submit my most recent medical records to SSA — records I had provided to him directly and that he confirmed had been sent. They were not. I only discovered this by obtaining and reviewing my own case file after his withdrawal. Communication via phone was also a consistent problem. Despite leaving multiple messages about a few questions/concerns I had regarding my case, he still refused to return my call. Instead, I was told to send my questions through the “case status” portal. Perhaps most troubling: Mr. Duerst had appointed himself as my representative on my SSI claim while simultaneously telling me to handle that claim entirely on my own. I did all of the work myself — yet he was positioned to collect a 25% fee on any award. He never explained how his name ended up on that claim or why he felt entitled to a fee for work he never performed. For every critical step, such as filing objections, submitting medical records, responding to fraudulent examiners, claimants are on their own. When I pushed back and demanded he do his job, he withdrew from my case and appeal, leaving me without representation at a critical stage with no accountability. I was left to file my own complaints with the SSA Office of Inspector General and handle critical case documentation entirely on my own. Other disability claimants deserve an attorney who will actually fight for them. Mr. Duerst is NOT that attorney.