Welcome to the Riemer Hess Quarterly Report. This newsletter is intended to cover the Firm’s most relevant highlights of 2025 Q2. Below you’ll find news updates, recent educational outreach performed by the firm, client success stories, and a litigation roundup from this quarter.
Following our Q1 relocation, the team continued to settle into our new office at 110 East 42nd Street, Suite 1418. By Q2, we completed most setup and decor efforts, creating a space that feels both welcoming and functional. The location—just across from the main entrance of Grand Central Station in the heart of Manhattan—offers convenience for clients and staff alike. The hybrid hot desk model is working well for our NYC team, and enhanced security features help ensure a safe and private environment for all.
Our client, a young and ambitious IT professional, was thriving in his career and on track for rapid advancement when his life was suddenly upended. What was supposed to be a routine gastric bypass surgery led to devastating complications. Multiple follow-up surgeries followed, each leaving him weaker than before. Eventually, he suffered serious digestive complications and was forced to live with relentless and unpredictable symptoms—severe abdominal pain, nausea, difficulty eating, profound fatigue, body pain, and nutritional deficiencies.
The toll was staggering. The life he had worked so hard to build was derailed, and even the simplest daily tasks became overwhelming. Yet in the face of this extraordinary hardship, he demonstrated unwavering determination and courage.
When it came time to pursue his long term disability (“LTD”) claim, he chose to retain Riemer Hess for assistance. Together, we partnered closely with him—collecting comprehensive medical evidence, guiding him through rigorous objective testing, securing strong provider support, and helping him craft a personal statement that conveyed not just the extent of his condition, but also how it affected his ability to work.
As his advocates, we stood as a shield between him and the insurance company—ensuring that his vulnerable condition was never exploited, and that his claim received the respect and fairness it deserved.
Thanks to his resilience and our shared efforts, we were able to secure the LTD benefits he rightfully earned. This vital financial support gives him the stability to focus on what matters most: treatment, healing, and rebuilding his life.
His story is a powerful reminder that even in the face of unimaginable adversity, perseverance and advocacy can change the course of someone’s future. We are deeply honored to have played a role in helping him move forward with dignity and financial security.
We welcomed Adriana Garcia as our new Intake Specialist this quarter. Adriana is often the first point of contact for prospective clients, bringing warmth, clarity, and professionalism to every conversation. She draws on her background in legal intake and pre-litigation work—along with a degree in kinesiology—to help clients feel understood and supported from the start. Her addition has already made a strong impact on our intake process and client experience.
In Q2 2025, Partner Scott Riemer spoke at the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) annual conference in Washington, D.C. He participated in a panel discussion on what employment attorneys need to know about long term disability claims, covering malpractice risks, offsets, waivers of claims, overlapping benefits, and common pitfalls. The presentation reinforced the importance of early coordination between employment and disability counsel.
The firm also concluded its educational series for financial advisors this quarter. Senior Associate Ryan McIntyre presented several webinars designed to help advisors better understand LTD policy terms and avoid common insurer misapplications. The series strengthened our relationships within the financial advisor community and helped promote better outcomes for claimants from the outset.
This case involved a professional living with severe depression and anxiety who filed her long term disability claim under a pseudonym due to the sensitive nature of her condition. In Q1, the court directed Doe to file a motion to continue proceeding anonymously. The firm submitted updated letters from her treating psychiatrist and neuropsychologist detailing the serious risk of harm if she were required to proceed under her legal name.
In Q2 2025, the matter was successfully resolved before the court issued a ruling on the pseudonym motion. We’re pleased that the client was satisfied with the outcome. The case was handled by Partner Jennifer Hess and Associate Jennifer Manger, with continued support from Senior Paralegal Michele Wagner.
This case involved a disabled attorney who was denied long term disability benefits by Unum, despite a well-supported appeal and substantial medical evidence. In Q1, the firm was actively engaged in discovery, including disputes over Unum’s failure to respond fully and its use of overly broad objections.
In Q2 2025, just as the firm was preparing for dispositive briefing, the matter was successfully resolved. The client is pleased with the outcome. The litigation was led by Partner Jennifer Hess and Associate Samantha Wladich, with support from Paralegals Michele Wagner, Georgette Pascual, and Sam Cornielle-Renner.
This case involves a professional with a mental health disability whose long term disability claim was denied by Unum. The district court ruled against our client in Q1 2025, largely based on the application of the arbitrary and capricious standard of review—a conclusion we believe was legally incorrect and outcome-determinative.
In Q2 2025, Riemer Hess filed the opening appellate brief with the Second Circuit. Unum’s response is due in late August, and the case is expected to be fully briefed by mid-September. We anticipate oral argument will be scheduled in spring 2026. The appeal is being led by Partners Scott Riemer and Jennifer Hess, together with Senior Associate Ryan McIntyre and Associate Samantha Wladich. Paralegals Michele Wagner and Georgette Pascual continue to provide support.
McLaughlin v. First Unum Life Insurance Company has been fully briefed and is awaiting a decision in federal court in Manhattan. The case, brought on behalf of a prominent law attorney, is being handled by Riemer Hess as local counsel in collaboration with ERISA colleagues based in Chicago. Partner Jennifer Hess and Associate Ryan McIntyre continue to oversee the matter locally as the parties await the court’s ruling.
On April 21 2025, the Court ruled in favor of Mr. Rappaport following a bench trial. The Court agreed with our position that Mr. Rappaport’s K-1 earnings were included in the definition of Insured Earnings in his LTD policy. As a result the Court ordered Guardian to recalculate the benefits owed to Mr. Rappaport.
Since this ruling, Riemer Hess has identified multiple issues with Guardian’s revised calculations and has submitted briefs to the Court regarding these calculation errors. The Court will hold an oral argument on September 3, 2025 regarding these outstanding issues.
The litigation team is led by Partner Scott Riemer and Senior Associate Ryan McIntyre, with Partner Jennifer Hess supporting briefing efforts throughout.
This case involves a client with disabling vestibular, visual, and headache-related impairments that prevent her from working. Riemer Hess filed suit in federal court in Q1 2025 after Prudential denied her long term disability claim.
In Q2, Prudential filed its answer. The case is now in discovery, with the firm concurrently preparing for dispositive briefing. An initial court conference is scheduled for September 2025. The litigation is being led by Senior Associate Ryan McIntyre, with support from Senior Paralegal Hannah Cochrane and Paralegal Georgette Pascual.
This case involved a senior manager tax attorney with complex medical impairments—including visual disturbances, vestibular dysfunction, headaches, and fatigue—who was denied long term disability benefits by Unum despite substantial medical support.
In Q2 2025, the case was successfully resolved. The litigation was led by Partner Jennifer Hess and Associate Ryan McIntyre, with support from Paralegals Hannah Cochrane and Sam Cornielle-Renner.
As we closed out the second quarter of 2025, we reflected on a period of continued progress and meaningful resolution. This quarter brought the successful conclusion of several long-standing litigation matters, the completion of our advisor education initiative, and ongoing momentum in both active litigation and client outreach.
We also expanded our team, continued refining our new office space, and remained focused on providing the high-quality, client-centered advocacy that defines our work. Thank you to our clients, colleagues, and partners for your ongoing trust and support.
— The Riemer Hess Team