Legal Question in Disability Law in Georgia

forced into Disability retirement

I was a senior Env. Engineer with a federal agency for 21 years. I had a documented history of recurrent, treatment-resistant Major Depression and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. On Sept. 11, 2001, I was 1/4 mile from the Pentagon. I started to have panic attacks at work and developed a Depressive episode that was no longer responding to treatment. I was accommodated informally for about a year (I also had 6 major surgeries starting that year through 2006). Due to reorganization, I wound up working for a manager with an axe to grind with me. He determined I needed to be held ''accountable'', that I had no disability, I was just an uppity employee needing to be disciplined. All reasonable accommodations were rescinded (of course, there was no record, they were ''informal'') and things got really ugly. After a stint in a partial hospitalization program I tried to come back. It became clear nothing had changed. I went through the EEO process and have now filed suit in federal court. I was granted ''pauper'' status (I am a pauper), but was denied my request to have an attorney appointed. I have high hopes DOJ will settle when they review the case. What are my options? Is this something I might be able to do on my own?


Asked on 7/18/09, 5:15 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Scott Riddle Law Office of Scott B. Riddle, LLC

Re: forced into Disability retirement

If you have a strong case, lawyers will take it. Did you consult with any? Lawyers are not appointed for civil cases, as you have found. It is rare for a pro se party to come out well in a lawsuit, as you have already found by your lack of knowledge of the rules. See a qualified lawyer to handle your case.

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Answered on 7/18/09, 5:23 pm


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