About Jeff Skarda

SkardaThe practice of Jeff Skarda concentrates on medicaid nursing home eligibility, social security, workers compensation, civil rights, civil appellate law, criminal law, federal civil practice, appellate law, family law, employment defense, litigation, probate law, administrative law and welfare law.

Knowledgeable in Spanish. Seventeen years experience with civil legal aid, mainly with Lone Star Legal Aid (formerly Gulf Coast Legal Foundation). Twenty-two years private practice.

Licensed by the Texas Supreme Court 1970.

Board certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization 1987. TDRPC rule 7.04(b)(3)&(c). 53 TBJ 1023, 1028 (1990).

OFFICER AND BOARD MEMBER

Interfaith Ministries, Houston Bar Elder Law Committee past cochair, Texas Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys past treasurer, Houston Bar Social Security Section past council member. Former counsel for the Houston Welfare Rights Organization.

Biographical information: born and raised in Clovis, New Mexico. Graduated from Washington and Lee University, Lexington, Virginia, in 1966 with a B.A. cum laude. Graduated from Columbia University School of Law with a J.D. in 1969. Father of three children.

LECTURES AND PUBLICATIONS ON MEDICAID AND SSI

  • Assistant professor, Marshall School of Law Texas Southern University (1970-1972), Graduate School of Social Work, University/ Houston (1974-1976), Disability clinic, South Texas College/Law (1990).
  • Welfare rights handbook (Houston WRO from 1971 to 1990). Public benefits training (Austin: Texas Legal Services Center from 1972 to 1990).
  • “Planning for long term care,” (Houston CPA Foundation: 1999) and 1995.
  • “Trusts for medicaid and SSI planning in Texas,” Women Attorneys in Tax and Probate (Sept. 1994), Texas Bankers Ass’n 2000. Also 1997 and 1998 published.

CASES ON MEDICAID AND SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI)

In the Marriage of McFadden, No. 98-16007 (312th Dist. Ct. 1998). Court expanded excess spousal resource allowance. “(T)he income of a non-institutionalized spouse can (not) be considered on the basis of an irrebuttable presumption.” Burns v. Vowell, 424 F.Supp. 1135, 1141 (S.D.Tex. 1976).

SSI hearing decisions on trusts under sec. 867 and sec. 142 in Aug. 99 and Mar. 98. Vela v. Vowell, 415 U.S. 953 (1974), cert. den — medicaid vendor drugs. Hawkins v. Johnston, No. 90-2004 (5th Cir. 1990) — medicaid siblings, settled. Cervantes v. Schweiker, No. 81-2290 (5th Cir. 1982) — intent to return home. Porter v. Sullivan, No. 91-2603 (5th Cir. 1991) — zero value property.
Vital considerations…elderly,” & “Ethics for elder law,” Texas Elder Law (Eau Claire: National Business Institute (NBI) 1997 & 1999

CONTACT US

St. Joseph’s Medical Plaza
2101 Crawford Street Rm. 200
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 223-5301 (phone)
(713) 223-4333 (fax)
jskarda3@yahoo.com