Key Takeaways
- Marc Whitehead & Associates is headquartered in Houston, Texas, and represents claimants with denied long-term disability claims under both ERISA-governed group plans and individually purchased disability policies.
- DarrasLaw, headquartered in Ontario, California, represents long-term disability claimants nationwide and focuses on ERISA appeals and litigation against disability insurers.
- Dabdoub Law Firm, based in Coral Gables, Florida, with a second office in Orlando, handles long-term, short-term, individual, and life insurance disability denials for clients across the country.
- Fields Disability, headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota, has represented long-term disability claimants nationwide since 2001 and organizes its published case results by state.
Houston’s economy runs on large energy, healthcare, and corporate employers, and most of the long-term disability claims filed by their employees are governed by ERISA, the federal law that controls most employer-sponsored disability plans. Under that framework, an employee’s home state matters less than the internal appeal deadlines and administrative record built during the claims process itself. Individually purchased disability policies are the exception: those are typically evaluated under Texas contract law rather than ERISA, with their own filing deadlines. Both paths require prompt, careful handling, since a denial that isn’t appealed correctly and on time can end a claim for good. The list below looks at how a Houston-based firm and several nationally focused disability firms approach these claims.
| Firm | Focus | Notable Point | Location |
| Marc Whitehead & Associates | Long-Term Disability (ERISA & individual claims), Social Security Disability, Veterans Disability | Headquartered in Houston with additional Texas office locations by appointment | Houston, TX |
| DarrasLaw | Long-term disability & ERISA insurance litigation | Nationwide representation, founded by Frank N. Darras | Ontario, CA |
| Dabdoub Law Firm | Disability & life insurance claim denials (LTD, STD, ERISA) | Nine attorneys serving clients nationwide from two Florida offices | Coral Gables, FL |
| Fields Disability | Long-term disability & ERISA appeals nationwide | Representing LTD claimants in all 50 states since 2001 | Minnetonka, MN |
1. Marc Whitehead & Associates
Focus: Long-Term Disability (ERISA and individual disability claims), Social Security Disability, Veterans Disability
Location: Houston, TX (headquarters), with additional Texas office locations by appointment
Marc Whitehead & Associates is headquartered in Houston and represents claimants whose long-term disability benefits have been denied, delayed, or terminated. The firm’s long-term disability practice covers both employer-sponsored group plans governed by ERISA and individually purchased disability insurance policies, which are handled differently under the law. Alongside long-term disability, the firm also represents claimants in Social Security Disability and Veterans Disability matters.
Marc Whitehead & Associates
403 Heights Blvd, Houston, TX 77007
2. DarrasLaw
Focus: Long-term disability insurance litigation, ERISA claims and appeals, individual disability insurance, long-term care insurance
Location: Ontario, CA (headquarters), with nationwide representation
DarrasLaw is a national disability insurance law firm founded by Frank N. Darras, representing policyholders whose disability benefits have been wrongfully denied or delayed. The firm’s attorneys handle both the administrative appeal stage and federal court litigation for ERISA-governed long-term disability claims, and the firm publishes case outcomes on its own site organized by insurer and claim type.
DarrasLaw
4686 Ontario Mills Pkwy, Suite 201, Ontario, CA 91764
longtermdisabilitylawyer.com
3. Dabdoub Law Firm
Focus: Long-term disability, short-term disability, individual disability insurance, life insurance and AD&D claim denials
Location: Coral Gables, FL (headquarters), with an additional office in Orlando, FL, and nationwide representation
Dabdoub Law Firm, founded by Edward Dabdoub, focuses exclusively on disability and life insurance disputes, including both ERISA and non-ERISA claims. The firm’s attorneys represent clients nationwide against major disability insurers, handling matters from the initial claim and internal appeal through federal litigation.
Dabdoub Law Firm
Coral Gables, FL
longtermdisability.net
4. Fields Disability
Focus: Long-term disability insurance claims and appeals, ERISA administrative appeals and federal litigation
Location: Minnetonka, MN (headquarters), with nationwide representation
Fields Disability has represented long-term disability claimants nationwide since 2001, handling both the administrative appeal process and federal litigation for ERISA-governed claims. The firm represents clients in all 50 states and offers contingency-based representation, meaning clients generally do not pay attorney fees upfront.
Fields Disability
Minnetonka, MN
fieldsdisability.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a deadline to appeal a denied long-term disability claim in Texas?
For claims governed by ERISA, claimants generally have 180 days from the date of a denial letter to file a written internal appeal, and the plan document controls how much time remains to file a lawsuit after that appeal is denied. For individually purchased disability policies that are not governed by ERISA, Texas’s general four-year statute of limitations for breach of contract claims often applies, though the policy itself may set a shorter contractual filing deadline. Because these timelines vary by plan and policy, it’s worth confirming the applicable deadline as soon as a denial is received.
What’s the difference between an ERISA and a non-ERISA long-term disability claim?
ERISA claims arise from group disability plans offered through a private employer and are governed by federal law, which generally limits the evidence a claimant can introduce if the case goes to court and typically does not allow for a jury trial. Non-ERISA claims usually arise from individually purchased disability policies, or certain government and church-plan coverage, and are handled under Texas insurance and contract law, which can allow for different remedies than a federal ERISA claim.
What kind of proof does an insurer look for in a long-term disability claim?
Insurers typically expect detailed medical records, any available objective test results, and statements from treating physicians describing specific functional limitations. Consistency between the medical documentation and the claimant’s reported symptoms matters as well; a claim that relies mainly on subjective complaints without supporting medical evidence is more likely to be challenged or denied on appeal.
How are long-term disability lawyers typically paid?
Many long-term disability attorneys, including several of the firms listed above, handle these cases on a contingency basis, meaning the client generally does not owe attorney fees unless the claim results in payment of benefits. Fee structures can vary depending on whether the case is at the internal appeal stage or has moved into federal litigation, so it’s worth confirming the fee arrangement in writing before hiring any firm.
Final Thoughts
Long-term disability denials in Houston and across the nation involve a mix of federal ERISA procedure and state contract law, and which one applies depends on how the coverage was originally obtained. The firms outlined above range from a Houston-headquartered practice to several nationally focused disability firms, each with its own office footprint and claim focus. Reviewing the plan documents, the denial letter, and the applicable appeal deadline early gives a claimant the clearest picture of which process governs their case and how much time remains to act.
Case results and figures mentioned above for other firms are as published on each firm’s own website and do not guarantee a similar outcome in any other case. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own facts.