| Welcome to Bendalin & Smelkinson, LLC. |
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| Offering Competent, Conscientious, & Experienced Legal Advice |
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| Biography |
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| SHERMAN R. BENDALIN |
Sherman Bendalin has practiced law in Arizona since 1969. He has been president of Sherman R. Bendalin, P.C., since 1982. His main emphasis has been on representing claimants and plaintiffs for benefits based on bodily injuries such as automobile accidents and on-the-job injuries. He also has represented clients with serious mental and physical impairments in pursuing disability and retirement claims. Since 1971, he has represented applicants for all available benefits under the Social Security Act, as amended. He has a particular interest helping persons engaged in family businesses to apply and qualify for Old-Age/Retirement Benefits under the Act. He represents claimants with short-term and long-term (L.T.D.) claims and has represented claimants before the Railroad Retirement Board and the Office of Personnel Management. Additionally, he has a long-held interest in mental health, serving on the board of directors and as president of the board of Phoenix South Community Mental Health Center. In the past few years, he has developed an increasing interest and expertise in Elder Law, helping people and families, including families of choice, prepare for the personal and financial stresses of frailty, infirmity, incapacity and death. He has written and spoken widely in his areas of interest.
Sherman Bendalin has been and remains active in community and professional activities. He is a past co-chair of the State Bar of Arizona Section on Mental Health and Elder Law. He is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), and was chairman of the State NAELA section from June 1999 through June 2000. He has been a sustaining member of the National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives (NOSSCR) since 1980. He is a member of Social Security Advocates, Phoenix, and served as chairman from October 2002 through October 2004. Sherman Bendalin was the initial Executive Director for the Commission on Judicial Review in Arizona. He was president of Temple Beth Israel from 1987 to 1989. He was a member of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations Board of Trustees (UAHC) from 1996 through 1999. He is a former Big Brother. He served on active duty in the United States Army as a Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers, on active duty from May 1964 through May 1966.
Sherman is a native Arizonian, a graduate of North Phoenix High School, Class of 1959; Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, Class of 1963; and The University of Arizona College of law, Class of 1969. He is a proud Carpenter.
Sherman Bendalin's practice is located in central Phoenix. He and his wife, Evey, for many years owned and operated Lucite, Etc., a custom trophy/display and giftware business located in central Phoenix. They have one child, Karrie.
Bendalin & Smelkinson, LLC, was formed in January 2004. Sherman Bendalin and Paul Smelkinson now practice law as partners.
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| PAUL SMELKINSON |
Paul Smelkinson is a graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland. He also graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law, in Baltimore. While in law school, he worked as a juvenile court social worker and, later, as a probation officer of the Supreme Bench of Baltimore.
After graduation, he entered law practice engaging in the general practice of law as a partner in a law firm. After 13 years of practice, he was appointed as a United States Administrative Law Judge assigned to the Social Security Administration. He was a judge for almost 27 years. During that time, he served for 15 years as Chief Judge of the Office of Hearings and Appeals, in Phoenix.
While a judge, Mr. Smelkinson served for ten years as chairman of the Committee for Professional Standards and Responsibility of the Association of Administrative Law Judges in the Department of Health and Human Services; member of the committee drafting the Model Code of Judicial Conduct for Federal Administrative Law Judges; member of the Federal Administrative Law Judge Conference; and board member of the National Conference of Administrative Law Judges - Judicial Administration Division of the American Bar Association.
In July 2002 - following his judicial retirement in June 2001 - he returned to private practice as counsel to the law firm of Sherman R. Bendalin, P.C. Since January 2004, he has been a partner in Bendalin & Smelkinson, LLC, where he specializes in all types of Social Security cases. He is admitted to law practice in Arizona and Maryland. Paul is a past president of Beth El Congregation in Phoenix. He is married and has three grown children.
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