Harlan Still & Koch - Columbia, MO

Decades of Dedicated Disability and Injury Counsel at Harlan Still and Koch

When an unexpected physical illness, chronic disease, or catastrophic injury brings your professional career to an abrupt halt, obtaining financial relief is vital for survival. Situated at 515 Cherry Street in the historic legal core of downtown Columbia, Missouri, Harlan Still and Koch has fought for the rights of injured and disabled individuals since 1974. With more than fifty years of continuous legal service across Boone County and appellate courts throughout Missouri, the firm has established a formidable reputation for steadfast client advocacy and personalized service. Led by principal attorney Frank T. Koch, who brings over three decades of focused courtroom experience, the firm cuts through red tape and takes charge of complex legal details. Whether you need to hire a disability lawyer to overturn a wrongful benefit rejection or find an attorney in Columbia who understands how federal ERISA regulations govern private insurance policies, Harlan Still and Koch delivers dependable, battle-tested counsel.

Comprehensive Social Security Disability and SSI Legal Services

Navigating the five-step evaluation process established by the Social Security Administration demands deep statutory knowledge and meticulous medical documentation. The firm guides claimants through every administrative checkpoint:

• Initial SSDI and SSI Applications: Assisting claimants with gathering comprehensive clinical records, physician statements, and vocational evidence to avoid common technical pitfalls.
• Appealing Claim Denials: Managing requests for reconsideration and filing timely appeals when initial claims are wrongfully rejected by state disability examiners.
• Administrative Law Judge Hearings: Providing thorough in-person witness preparation, developing persuasive medical theories, and challenging vocational experts before administrative judges.
• Federal Court Appeals: Litigating complex legal errors and procedural violations before the United States District Court and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Long-Term Disability and Complex ERISA Benefit Litigation

Many hardworking professionals maintain private disability insurance policies through their employers, only to find their valid claims abruptly terminated by profit-driven insurance giants. Governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), these disputes involve rigid administrative appeal deadlines and strict limitations on introducing new evidence in court. Operating alongside seasoned employment and labor lawyers and wrongful termination lawyers, attorney Frank Koch prepares exhaustive administrative appeal records, compelling insurance carriers to honor their policy contracts or face federal litigation.

Dedicated Advocacy from Workers' Compensation Lawyers

Catastrophic injuries suffered in the workplace frequently require concurrent legal strategies. Serving as knowledgeable workers' compensation lawyers and accident and injury lawyers, Harlan Still and Koch understands the critical interplay between state workers compensation settlements and federal disability benefits. A poorly drafted workers compensation settlement can trigger substantial reductions in Social Security disability monthly payments. The firm structures settlements carefully with proper lifetime amortization language, protecting clients from harmful benefit offsets and maximizing total financial recovery.

Direct Attorney Access with Contingency-Based Representation

Harlan Still and Koch firmly believes that legal representation should be accessible to everyone regardless of current economic circumstances. The firm handles all disability and injury matters on a strict contingency-fee basis, meaning you pay zero upfront costs and owe no attorney fees unless they secure a successful recovery. Backed by active memberships in the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys and the National Association of Social Security Claimants' Representatives, the firm ensures direct communication from your very first consultation. If you urgently need legal representation in Missouri, contact Harlan Still and Koch in Columbia today for your free, confidential evaluation.