Melissa M. Haggerty

I came down with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, which is a very controversial medical condition that many doctors don't even believe is real. I know it is because i can barely feed myself sometimes. Many doctors didn't believe i had a problem, but i was fortunate enough to find a specialist that believed ...me. I think you need two things to win disability for a problem that isn't well understood by the medical community, a good doctor and a good lawyer. I found Melissa Haggerty by randomly searching the internet for legal experience with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I was very fortunate, since she won my case. I was so impressed with how intelligent and efficient she was as she dealt with my case. I was happy to be dealing with her and her legal assistant, because they always got back to me and took the time to explain all of the confusing aspects along the way. They took the time to include my, which is much more than i can say for some law firms. She spends her life helping people that deserve it to win disability. I feel ill every day of my life, and i can't change that. My case came down to determining whether I became completely broke and barely able to survive, or still suffering but getting disability, which means i can feed my self and have a place to life. My life is so much easier because of her. I had my life in her hands and she really saved me.

Melissa’s expertise and guidance made all the difference in my case. Her preparation, attention to detail and follow-through are impeccable. She took the time to understand my situation and prepare the strongest case possible. I had a very complicated case and Melissa handled each aspect with care... and professionalism. It has been a privilege to be represented by someone who not only shows compassion to her clients but whose quality of work is outstanding. I have great respect for the work Melissa does and I highly recommend her.

When my girlfriend and I were faced with the insurmountable task of finding a lawyer to represent her disability case, we were fortunate enough to retain the services of Melissa Haggerty. From the first time I met Melissa, I knew that we were in good hands. She came off as incredibly smart, kind and ...strong willed: all qualities that are critical to have in a lawyer. She tirelessly worked on our behalf so that we were as prepared for the hearing as possible, and she encouraged us to reach out whenever we had questions about the process. When we needed to determine the best medical providers, friends and relatives to write a statement on my girlfriend's behalf, she provided feedback to us that was both constructive and helpful. People don't realize that there are a lot of lawyers who meet their client for the first time right before the case, often making it very improbable for a favorable decision. When you retain Melissa's services, you are ensuring that you will be represented by an honest, dedicated and head-strong lawyer who has your best interest in mind. Melissa helped my girlfriend win her disability case, and we will be forever grateful to her for this. I highly recommend that you hire Melissa as your lawyer. Sincerely, Kevin

It was difficult for me to get to a point where I realized that I was no longer physically or mentally able to support myself as I once had, and to admit that I needed help. Physically and emotionally drained, I was unable to advocate for myself, and desperately needed someone to navigate the complic...ated and frequently frustrating journey through the Social Security Disability system on my behalf. Equally as important, I needed someone to believe that, based on my medical records and history, I was deserving of this critical assistance. After having spoken with two or three other SSDI attorneys with whom I was not entirely comfortable, I was referred to Swanson, Thomas, Coon and Newton where I was introduced to Melissa. From our first meeting, she was straight forward, thorough, professional, and--most important to me at the time--compassionate and easy to talk to. Melissa helped me to obtain additional supporting documentation from my providers, and was completely clear in what would be needed or helpful for my case to be successful. She consistently kept me informed of our progress, and was always patient with my frequent inquiries. I especially appreciated that she informed me of ALL possible outcomes, and that she helped me to set reasonable expectations, not only for what may happen, but how long it may take. In virtually every step of the process, her assessments were accurate, and frequently exceeded what I could have hoped for. It was a long, drawn out process, but Melissa managed to help me to sustain a sense of hope throughout, even when a second hearing was required to finally decide my case. We finally received a "Fully Favorable" decision, and I don't believe that I'm exaggerating when I say that it literally saved my life. Would my case have been as successful had I stayed with any of the other attorneys? I honestly don't know. But what I DO know is that working with Melissa and her caring, responsive staff instilled a comfort and confidence in me that helped me through one of the most difficult times of my life. I would not hesitate to recommend Melissa to anyone seeking competent, compassionate assistance with their SSDI claim.