3.4 based on 8 reviews

24 Comments

  1. Anonymous says:

    I have been handling Social Security cases for over 20 years. I have heard all of the nightmare/horror stories about Judge Thompson. And don’t get me wrong, I understand he has a low approval rating, but I am going to point out some positives. Judge Thompson is probably the smartest Judge in the area. Maybe this is bad for your case, but if you have a legitimate case, and your client has truly suffered from what they say and they have taken the necessary medications to try to get better, you will appreciate his knowledge. He knows that based on a diagnosis, where you should and should not have pain. He does all of the questioning, this is not the case with all Judge’s, and when you have a Judge that does do questions, they ask the questions that paint your client in the worst light, then your representative has to go back over everything, often frustrating some judges. Judge Thompson asks questions of the claimant even if it is possible the answer is going to help your case. Now I know many people probably think that because I gave Judge Thompson 4 stars, and was not completely negative, that someone must be doing this review on behalf of Judge. I do not know him personally, I have just taken clients in front of him. I have seen him deny files that should be approved, and I do understand that this is unfair. But I also believe that as you read all of these reviews that it is also unfair not to acknowledge the places where he excels. So I would like to Thank Judge Thompson, for being dedicated to your work, and making sure you have the medical knowledge that even most medical experts do not have.

  2. Angela says:

    Zero stars. John D. Thompson Jr. is racist against Native Americans. I’ve been declared disabled by TWO Doctors. He couldn’t have cared less about their observations. TWO Occupational Therapists explained that I would NOT be able to maintain gainful employment. He ignored them as well.

  3. Jack says:

    I went before Judge Thompson in 2012. My medical file is 4850 pages. I was hit by a bus. He treated me like a criminal, dismissed ALL of my treating physicians. He relied solely upon his Dr. Who couldn’t tell me my eye or hair color. I had an independent Medical Evaluation declared 100% disabled. The State has me listed as disabled. I had emergency neck surgery the day after my hearing where he declared me fit for duty. Also his expert on work that I can do was 2 jobs that doesn’t even exist in our state . No evidence of mine was considered he literally had to stick papers to his coke bottle glasses and still couldn’t read. I’m trying again different ALJ, my date of accident was 9-13-2006. He ruled that my back pay scratched and ordered it not to be found disabled and it cannot go back to date of accident rather it goes back to to 90 days after my hearing in 2012. This man is a disgrace to the system. You cannot get a Lawyer to take a case vs him as they know he is lowest approval in the US! He yelled at me when I crossed his expert witnesses and I began reading all of the qualifying adult disabilities that I have in black and white and in pictures. Broken neck, sternum, ribs, broken lumbar, both hips, both shoulders. My nose was ripped off my face and I also suffered from open skull fracture and left front lobe injury, or TBI. If you are assigned this ALJ scrub your claim and start fresh and hope he doesn’t draw you again. I have suffered enormously due to his inability to do his job professionally or legally!

  4. Anonymous says:

    Went before this judge, and as it turned out he omitted a lot of the evidence stating I was disabled. My lawyer flatout told me the guy had, had his mind made up and simply ignored everything before him. He is also a fairly condescending, and rude judge. I also have to agree with some of the others on here. He CANNOT see, when I saw him staring at a page, he had it within two inches of his face. This isn’t a man, or judge you want to review your case. Not only will he show bias and ignore evidence, he is clearly incapable of performing his duties due to his own handicap.

  5. Anonymous says:

    This judge yelled at me for two hours. I thought I was a criminal. He cannot see more than two inches away from the documents he is reading. He should be terminated for his disability. I am filing a complaint and an appeal.

  6. Anonymous says:

    We won our case with 5 years of back pay awarded, plus medicare right away.
    Why does Judge Thompson rate 1 star, then?

    During the hearing, it became fairly obvious Judge Thompson had read nothing
    of all the evidence provided. He is visually disabled and just doesn’t read anything.
    But there is only so far an ALJ like this man can go – the regulations
    of 20 CFR must be upheld. During my research for this case I had discovered the “Worn-out
    WORKER” Rule. The claimant fit right into it – almost to the word. The ALJ had to declare her
    disabled on her 55th birthday, which was 5 years ago. Game – set – match, Judge Thompson

    The key to winning is having a check-mat position up your sleeve, i.e. selecting the right CFR
    Regulation and building your position around it. Thorough research is what wins – hard work
    and covering every base.

  7. Gary Wagner says:

    Judge Thompson proved to be an excellent and compassionate judge. He based his decision purely on the testimony of a medical expert and the medical evidence. He rendered his decision the day of the hearing and offered me hope for a possible recovery. He treated me with respect at all times. I can not praise this man enough.

  8. Anonymous says:

    By the numbers the second worst judge in the nation. By experience, one of the most disrespectful and unprofessional judges I have ever appeared in front of (22 year attorney). You have virtually no chance before this judge AND will be treated poorly.

  9. Harry says:

    This is a judge that commonly makes mistakes that are easily recognizable. In my decision form the Appeals Council they discovered at least 6 obvious mistakes. The judge did not even consider 5 years of medical records from my regular doctor which were submitted. Additionally, he misquoted his own medical expert and blatantly ignored evidence in his final decision. Without explanation he gives limitations that are different than those provided by my doctor and even their consultative doctor. Where does he get his information? Out of thin air it seems. I just wonder now how much longer I will have to wait for a new hearing. I sure hope I see another judge, but that is unlikely. The appeals council generally called him out for every mistake he made, thank God. At some point the SSA needs to recognize that this judge is not doing his job properly. His approval ratings are at best 1/2 of the other judges. That should show that he denies people who are actually entitled to receive benefits.

  10. Anonymous says:

    THIS JUDGE WAS A VERY GOOD JUDGE HIS EXPERT DR WITNESS WAS GREAT THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS THE VOCATIONAL REHAB EXPERT WHO DOESNT KNOW JACK THE JUDGE HAD TO KEEP ASKING HIM IF HE WAS TAKING NOTES ON WHAT THE DR WAS SAYING OTHER THEN THAT HE WAS A GREAT JUDGE AND I WAS THERE WITH OUT AN ATTORNEY KEEP GOING JUDGE

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