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My Current Practice

I lead many of our most complex ERISA long term disability cases in federal court while supervising our appeals and claims advocacy teams to ensure consistency and quality across all matters.

Since joining the firm in 2016 and becoming a Partner in 2020, I’ve helped guide hundreds of professionals and executives through their ERISA long term disability and life insurance claims — from early-stage strategy and claim filings to administrative appeals, pre-litigation resolution, and full-scale federal litigation.

I focus exclusively on representing claimants and plaintiffs, never insurance companies. Whether we’re navigating around a mental illness limitation, preparing for a Change in Definition, or holding an insurer accountable for an unfair denial, I approach every case with a clear plan and practical strategy.

My Philosophy

Most of our clients come to us during times of extreme uncertainty — worried about their income, their health, and their future. I take that trust seriously.

My philosophy is simple: be clear, be responsive, and never let the client feel alone in the process. When someone hires us, they’re trusting us to carry the legal weight so they can focus on their health. That means giving them honest answers, preparing them for what’s next, and making sure they’re never left wondering what’s going on with their case.

Clients deserve to be heard, involved, and confident that their attorney is fully in control of the process.

Leadership & Litigation

• Ensure every client receives top-notch, empathetic service in line with our firm’s mission and values

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the firm, including attorney supervision and litigation strategy

• Serve as lead counsel on ERISA long term disability litigation in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) and 2nd Circuit

• Oversee high-value cases involving ERISA LTD benefit eligibility, traumatic brain injury (TBI) claims, underpayment disputes, change in definition of disability transitions, mental illness limitations, and medical-vocational assessments

• Guide internal procedures for claim success, appeal development, benefit protection, and quality control

My Experience With Brain Injury and Complex Neurological Disability Claims

Brain injury and complex neurological disability claims are an important focus of my litigation practice and our firm's work at Riemer Hess. I have extensive experience representing professionals and executives whose careers have been affected by traumatic brain injuries (TBI), strokes, brain aneurysms, brain tumors, and other complex neurological conditions.

Our firm handles these claims at every stage, from initial long term disability applications and administrative appeals to pre-litigation resolutions, negotiated settlements, and federal court litigation. We have successfully represented numerous clients with brain injuries and neurological conditions without the need for litigation, including obtaining benefit approvals, overturning denials, and negotiating favorable settlements.

I have also been involved in numerous federal court cases concerning brain injuries and neurological conditions, including:

• Marino v. CIGNA Life Insurance Company of New York (2018)
• Betancourt v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company (2020)
• Schuyler v. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (2020)
• Israel v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America (2021)
• Rhodes v. First Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company (2022)
• Quigley v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America (2022)
• Wudke v. The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company (2023)
• Wanger v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America (2024)
• Terzulli v. Prudential Insurance Company of America (2025)

These matters require a careful understanding of how neurological conditions affect a person's ability to perform demanding professional work. Cognitive fatigue, memory impairment, executive dysfunction, vision/vestibular issues, headaches, and difficulties with concentration can substantially interfere with occupational responsibilities, even when conventional medical testing does not fully capture the severity of these limitations. I work with our firm's attorneys, treating providers, and appropriate medical and vocational experts to develop evidence connecting our clients' medical conditions to the specific demands of their occupations.

I am also a . Beyond my casework, I have contributed to educating other attorneys about brain injury and disability insurance claims. I authored A Personal Injury Attorney's Guide to TBI LTD Claims (2024) and published Tackling Disability Defenses in TBI Cases in the American Association for Justice's TRIAL magazine (2024).

Our firm has also developed a comprehensive Traumatic Brain Injury Disability Claim Center, offering educational resources for individuals and families navigating long term disability claims involving TBI, including information about medical evidence, insurer evaluations, and common reasons for claim denials.

Publications & Presentations

I am a regular writer and lecturer on long term disability topics. 

Books:

• • A Personal Injury Attorney's Guide to TBI LTD Claims: Traumatic Brain Injury in Long Term Disability Claims: Strategies for Success (2024)

  • ERISA Disability Claims and Litigation (2021)

Articles: 

• • Tackling Disability Defenses in TBI Cases (2024, American Association for Justice Trial Magazine)
  • Assessing the 2018 ERISA LTD Claims Regulations: Five Years Later (2024, American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal)
  • What Every Employment Attorney Advising Individuals Should Know About Long-Term Disability,  (NYSBA) Labor and Employment Law Journal

Continuing Legal Education Courses (CLE): 

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  • What Employment Lawyers Should Know About ERISA Disability Claims (2022, NELA New York Fall Conference 2022, Fordham Law School, updated Version presented virtually in 2025)
    
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Other Webinars & Speaking Engagements 

My Background

I’ve spent over a decade working with individuals facing disability, illness, and injury.

After graduating magna cum laude from Stony Brook University with a B.A. in Political Science, I worked as a legal writer helping people obtain Social Security Disability benefits. While the work was meaningful, I wanted to play a larger role — so I enrolled at St. John’s University School of Law.

After earning my J.D. in 2013, I continued advocating for people with disabilities, both at the administrative level and through federal litigation. That work prepared me for the more complex and faster-moving world of ERISA and private disability insurance. I joined Riemer & Associates (now Riemer Hess) in 2016, drawn by the firm’s values and dedication to doing meaningful work. It was an easy decision — and the right one.

Outside of Our Firm

Most weekends, you’ll find me hiking the trails of the lower Hudson Valley with my husband and our rescue dog. I also enjoy kayaking — especially on the North Fork of Long Island — and I’m an avid fiction reader. I’ve visited over a dozen countries and love discovering new places through walking, paddling, and local food.

Contact our New York Disability Lawyers

If you are in need of a lawyer to represent you or if you have any questions regarding a case, contact our New York Disability Lawyers.  Call us at 212-297-0700.