Mel L. Crawford

After my disability insurance company denied my short term claim I started looking for a lawyer. Finding a lawyer that specializes in Employee benefits for the employee are hard to find. I was eventually pointed to the Washington Employment Law Association website. I started through the list from ...the top, and stopped for the night in the C's with no one that specialized in disability benefits. The next day, I started from the bottom of the list. Eventually I got back to the C''s and still hadn't found anyone… Then I found Mel's information and I knew I had found the person I needed to contact. And after the initial phone consultation, I knew I had found the right person to help me. Mel was very caring and confident I should win the case. He had prior experience with this company and definitely knew how they operated. When my FMLA ended, I was unable to return to work and we had notified the company of my intent to appeal, they failed to let HR know. HR wanted me to be terminated due to "job abandonment". Mel immediately sent all the documentation of contacts (and lack of response) with the insurance company.. HR quickly put me on medical administrative leave. Mel also spent time reassuring me. It took almost 6 months from the time I first filed for STD, before they finally approved the appeal. And they approved the long term disability claim without a fight when the short term ended. Every penny I spent was worth the relief and reassurance that someone competent was working on the appeal, especially since I had read many accounts of how the insurance company denied a large percentage of claims. .

I had a Long Term Disability dispute with a well known disability insurance company. Having successfully appealed two previous denials on my own, I hit a brick wall after 2 years. Enter Mel Crawford. Mel is very experienced in the disability insurance space. He is honest and kind. His price st...ructure is fair, easy to understand, and he is worth every penny. I felt confident handing off my appeal to Mel and he did not disappoint. We won the appeal first try! The only thing I regret, is not hiring Mel sooner. I like his location in north Seattle, so I didn’t have to drive into Downtown. It is such a relief knowing that I can go back to Mel if/when I get another heart-stopping letter of denial.

I had been beaten up for several years by an insurance company that was supposed to provide disability income when I became ill. Several lawyers looked at the case, but no one seemed to understand the complexity of the issues. It was impossible to carry this huge burden in addition to having a new di...sability, and it was frighteningly close to the end of the line. I had spoken with people about letting my house go because I could not pay the mortgage. Mel stepped in at my lowest point and changed everything. When I left his office the first time, I felt a monumental weight lifted from my shoulders. And then, he resolved the case with full benefits and interest (including back pay) without going to trial - in a very short period of time. There are no adequate words to describe the level of understanding, intelligence, energy and dedication that Mel showed while literally saving me. He was able to do what other lawyers could not even understand. He knew the law. He knew the players. He knew what to do when. The case was over the day I met him. I cannot imagine what my life would be now if I had not hired Mel to be my attorney.

Hiring Mel was without question the most game-changing decision I ever made. I thought my disability insurance was an excessive safety net that I would never need to use. When a disabling health crisis struck, I was shocked by a system that has been carefully designed to kick people out when they are... already down. When a friend of a friend sent me Mel’s information, I would quickly learn what a gift I had been given. The difference between Mel and the other attorneys I interviewed was immediately clear. Mel not only had an ideal track record and in-depth knowledge of this labyrinthine system, he also had empathy. It is clear when speaking to Mel that this is not just a business. He is on a mission to truly help people that are suffering injustice, and he knows how to fight for them and win! This is what everyone seeks as an ideal when they find themselves in need of an advocate, and few are so fortunate to find. If you are fortunate enough to have found Mel, congratulations! You are in excellent hands.

Mel Crawford is the kind of lawyer that truly stands out. He is honest, is dedicated to his client’s interests, and is knowledgeable in the field of long and short term disability claims. I contacted Mr. Crawford when I was denied long term disability benefits that were part of my employment packag...e. Without his skillful handling of my case, I would not have received my benefits. He worked tirelessly with me to understand the legal process, the time frame for my case and his expected outcomes. I never doubted that he would be successful. Mel Crawford has my implicit trust. I would recommend him in a heartbeat as an exceptional lawyer and person.