Eileen P. Sweeney Awards Given to Outstanding Disability Advocates

During the welcoming session of NOSSCR’s 42nd annual conference, Executive Director Barbara Silverstone presented NOSSCR’s Eileen P. Sweeney Distinguished Service Award to four worthy recipients: Thomas Sutton, Esq., Paul Eaglin, Esq., Arpit Garg, Esq., and Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP.

The Eileen P. Sweeney Distinguished Service Award is presented to those whose outstanding service has resulted in a significant improvement in the quality of advocacy for Social Security claimants, increased the availability of advocacy for Social Security claimants or improvement in the Social Security adjudicatory process. Special consideration is given to service provided on a pro bono basis.

Tom Sutton is an extraordinary long-time leader in the Social Security advocacy community. He has served as NOSSCR’s president and representative for the third circuit and is extremely generous with his time and guidance for advocates. He has also testified before Congress on Social Security issues at NOSSCR’s request. He is one of the nation’s foremost Social Security disability litigators and has contributed to many important precedent-setting cases including major (and rare) federal class action SSD/SSDI actions.

Paul Eaglin is a long-standing member of NOSSCR and served on the board of directors for several years representing first the ninth circuit and then the second circuit. Paul has practiced in North Carolina, Alaska, and New York, and represents plaintiffs for Social Security benefits at the appellate level in multiple Federal Circuit and District courts nationwide. Paul is never too busy to help NOSSCR members with questions or issues and gives freely of his time and knowledge. He possesses a deep commitment to people with disabilities and fellow disability attorneys.

Arpit Garg is currently at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), but received this award for work he performed while at the law firm of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP in Washington, DC. Arpit has been involved in several cases on behalf of thousands of claimants who were subjected to fraud redeterminations through no fault of their own and had their benefits terminated. He and his team assisted on a pro bono basis and filed several successful class-action lawsuits. Hundreds of claimants had their benefits retroactively reinstated or reversed and remanded for further administrative proceedings.

We are incredibly proud of these worthy award recipients; they join a long line of great advocates who have also received this award. To nominate an outstanding disability advocate for this award, click here.

To view a PDF version of this release, click here.