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Craig Jarvis

Attorney at Law

I moved to Vermont in 2000 after completing law school in Colorado. I immediately began representing injured workers pursuing Workers’ Compensation claims, as well as individuals suffering personal injuries caused by the fault of others. Soon after, I also began representing disabled individuals in Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York in claims for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). I have been recognized by the national publication Super Lawyers as one of the top attorneys practicing Social Security Disability law in all of New England. I am also recognized as an expert in the complex relationship between Workers’ Compensation and Social Security Disability benefits. I have taught attorneys from across the country about how these two systems interact, and I regularly consult with lawyers in Vermont and other states on how to structure Workers’ Compensation settlements to maximize their clients’ benefits.

At Jarvis & Modun, we take a different approach to client representation. When someone is injured or becomes disabled, they may be entitled to compensation or benefits from multiple sources. Many law firms only handle one type of claim—whether it be personal injury, Workers’ Compensation, or Social Security Disability. I represent injured and disabled clients in nearly all major areas of injury and disability law. I often pursue multiple types of claims for the same client: personal injury and Workers’ Compensation, Social Security Disability and Long-Term Disability, and most frequently, Workers’ Compensation and Social Security Disability. The interaction between these areas can be complicated, and my clients appreciate being able to rely on a single attorney who understands the relationships between different benefit systems and can pursue multiple claims on their behalf.

I represent clients at all stages of the Social Security disability process. Unlike some firms, Jarvis & Modun never sends a paralegal or non-attorney representative to a Social Security hearing. We understand how important these cases are to our clients’ lives, and we believe they deserve to be represented by a trained attorney. Personally, I have represented clients from the initial application all the way through hearings before Administrative Law Judges (ALJs), in U.S. District Courts, and even in the United States Court of Appeals. I believe these programs are a vital safety net for people who are unable to work through no fault of their own—and I fight hard for my clients.

Some of the most rewarding cases I’ve handled have involved clients with intellectual disabilities. One that stands out involved a young man with microcephaly that caused both visual impairment and an intellectual disability. He had briefly worked at a grocery store but lost the job due to difficulties with his personal appearance. His IQ had been tested using an outdated test, and medical literature suggested that the results from that test tended to overestimate IQ. I raised this issue before the ALJ, but the judge did not accept the argument and denied the claim. I appealed to the U.S. District Court, which ordered the ALJ to re-examine the case. Before the second hearing, we had my client retested using a current test, which showed significantly lower IQ scores—consistent with intellectual disability under Social Security’s rules. The ALJ awarded him benefits.

In Workers’ Compensation, I have tried and argued cases before the Vermont Department of Labor, Vermont Superior Courts, and the Vermont Supreme Court. I take great pride in holding insurance carriers accountable and ensuring that injured workers receive the benefits they deserve.

One Workers’ Compensation case that stands out involved a woman who twisted her knee at work. I represented her throughout her initial claim and helped her receive the benefits she was entitled to. At the end of her claim, her doctor warned that she was at increased risk of needing a total knee replacement in the future. A few years later, her knee condition worsened and she needed the surgery. We asked the insurer to cover the procedure, but it sent her to an “independent” medical exam with a doctor it hired. That doctor claimed that her knee condition was no longer work-related—even though her pain had persisted and worsened since the injury. With the support of her treating physician, we challenged the denial. After a formal hearing, the Vermont Department of Labor agreed with us and ordered the insurer to pay for the surgery.

I have represented numerous plaintiffs seeking long- and short-term disability benefits in the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont. I have also represented Vermonters injured because of car crashes, dangerous premises, and medical negligence in state and federal courts.

I dealt with a wide range of serious medical conditions and disabilities, including:

  • Anxiety disorders

  • Asthma

  • Autoimmune disorders

  • Autism and spectrum disorders

  • Back injuries

  • Bipolar disorders

  • Cancers

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)

  • Chemical sensitivities

  • Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

  • Cognitive disorders

  • Connective tissue disorders

  • Crohn’s disease and colitis

  • Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)

  • Cubital tunnel syndrome

  • Cystic fibrosis

  • Degenerative disc disease

  • Depression

  • Diabetes

  • Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and dementia

  • Ehlers-Danlos syndrome

  • Epilepsy & seizure disorders

  • Fibromyalgia

  • Gastrointestinal diseases

  • Hearing impairment

  • Heart disease

  • Hip injuries

  • Intellectual disabilities

  • Kidney disease

  • Knee injuries

  • Learning disabilities

  • Liver disease

  • Long Covid

  • Lupus

  • Lyme disease and post Lyme syndrome

  • Migraine and headaches

  • Multiple sclerosis (MS)

  • Myelopathy

  • Myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)

  • Neuropathies

  • Osteoarthritis

  • Parkinson’s disease and parkinsonism

  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

  • Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)

  • Pulmonary diseases

  • Rheumatoid arthritis

  • Schizophrenia

  • Shoulder injuries

  • Somatoform and conversion disorders

  • Spinal stenosis

  • Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)

  • Vascular disease

  • Vision impairment

  • Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (VHL)

Chances are, if you have a serious medical condition, I’ve represented someone with the same or a similar diagnosis. If you have a disability or injury and want to know whether you might be entitled to damages for personal injury, Workers’ Compensation, Social Security Disability benefits, or long-term disability benefits, call me at (802) 540-1030 for a free consultation.

When I’m not practicing law, I enjoy spending time with my wife—who is also my law partner—and our four children. I love cooking and baking for friends and family, and I stay active with skiing, hiking, biking, and playing music.

Awards:

Named one of the top lawyers in New England practicing in the area of Social Security Disability law by the national publication, Super Lawyers, 2012 – 2015, 2018.

Jurisdictions:

All Vermont Courts
United States District Court for the District of Vermont
United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Untied States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

Education:

Bachelor of Arts, 1993, from the University of California, Berkeley, graduated magna cum laude.
Juris Doctor, 2000, University of Colorado, Boulder, awarded order of the coif for academic achievement.

Memberships:

National Organization of Social Security Claimant’s Representatives, Sustaining Member
Vermont Association for Justice
Vermont Bar Association