GH Wins $318,000 in Overdue Service-Connected Disability Benefits for Wichita Fireman

This is an update to a previous blog entry. As we reported then, Graybill & Hazlewood had prevailed in Sedgwick County District Court on a Wichita fireman’s claim for a service-connected disability pension. It appeared that the case, which had involved over 6 years of litigation, was finally over and our client would begin to receive benefits. But the Wichita Police & Fire Retirement System Board appealed the award of benefits to the Kansas Court of Appeals. After extensive briefing, in August 2019 the Court of Appeals – for a second time – ruled in our client’s favor. The pension board then petitioned the Kansas Supreme Court to take the case. On December 17, 2019 the Kansas Supreme Court denied the Board’s petition and the case is finally over. Our client will finally receive his long-overdue benefits. In addition to receiving back benefits of $318,000 and reinstatement to monthly benefits, the client received over $130,000 in interest. Few cases take this long, but GH is prepared to play “the long game” if necessary for our clients.

If you have questions about the denial of pension or disability insurance benefits, please contact Don Peterson, Sean McGivern, or Nathan Elliott at GH.