PRESTONSBURG, Ky. –It appears that the ramifications of former disability attorney Eric C. Conn’s wrongdoing are far from over for his former clients.

EKB News has confirmed with Prestonsburg attorney Ned Pillersdorf that he was told today that about 2,000 more of Conn’s former clients will be forced to go through redetermination hearings to learn if they will keep or lose their disability benefits.

EKB News also contacted Congressman Hal Rogers’ office to confirm the news and was told that Pillersdorf’s information is correct.

In 2015, over 1,500 other clients received letters. About 800 of those people lost their benefits, while around 700 kept them. Two people took their lives after receiving the letters.

Pillersdorf has been a leader in enlisting attorneys to volunteer to help the first round of clients through their hearings. He said he has been told that about half of this latest round are based on the same information as the first group. The other half are based at least partially on new allegations that Conn bribed one or more other judges.

EKB News has learned that, unlike the earlier letters, the new letters will not go out all at once, but will be spaced out over a period of time. Those who receive the letters will continue to receive their benefits during the process. Those who receive letters will have 30 days to obtain medical evidence to prove that they were disabled at the time they began receiving benefits. They will also be allowed to file new disability claims at the same time that their previous claims are being reviewed.

Congressman Rogers’ office released a statement regarding today’s news.

“It is heartbreaking to witness the tragic impact that Eric C. Conn’s fraud scheme continues to have on the lives of people living in Eastern Kentucky, who had entrusted him with this vital source of income,” Rogers said. “While I appreciate notification from the Social Security Administration, I question the need for additional redetermination hearings while litigation is still pending in the federal court system.

“That said, I am pleased that the SSA has once again honored my request to ensure disability payments will continue throughout the redetermination process, and also that the notifications will slowly be released to allow attorneys and Administrative Law Judges additional time to process the large influx of cases. As always, my office will be available to answer any questions and to help my constituents through this difficult process in any way possible.”

EKB News will continue to monitor this story and provide more information, as soon as it is available.