Attorney Profiles
Mr. Downard worked for the Social Security Administration for over 11 years prior to receiving his law degree. Since then, he has spent another 8 years handling Social Security and Disability cases. That's nearly 20 years of direct experience working both for and against the Social Security Administration.
At Downard & Associates, our team of lawyers and staff bring similar experience to our other areas of practice as well, including criminal defense, domestic relations, personal injury, and more. Contact us today for more information.
Our goal at Downard & Associates, PLLC is to treat every client with the respect every person deserves. We focus our talents on helping the person and not just handling the case. As our client, you can expect us to resolve your issue promptly in the most favorable manner possible.
Downard & Associates, PLLC is made up of real lawyers working hard for real people. We are not a law firm made of stuffy lawyers, but a team of professionals dedicated to helping our community.
Attorney Profiles
David Downard
Hello,
my name is David Downard. I was born in Springfield, Tennessee in
1968. I would like to tell you why the Disability Program is important
to me. My father died when I was (12) twelve years old and I was raised
by my grandparents. I received Social Security Benefits which in turn,
financially helped me graduate high school.
After I graduated high school, I went to college. While in college I was married, and we had a son that was born with a disability. I worked full time, but we still qualified for SSI and Medicaid. His medical bills were paid (in excess of $1,000,000.00) while I graduated. He died of heart failure in 1991. That year, I decided to work for the Social Security Administration and started as a service representative.
At the same time, my grandmother applied for disability and was denied. I had no idea how to help her win. She gave up on trying to get her disability. She was (60) sixty years old.
I continued working for the Social Security Administration. After awhile, I knew I could help people fight for disability. I enrolled in law school and graduated in 2002.
Since then, I have committed myself to disabled people who need guidance to obtain the monetary and medical benefits they deserve.
Thank you,
David C. Downard
William F. Taylor
Experience Matters
CHIEF JUDGE - SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION – NASHVILLE,
TENNESSEE FROM 2006 TO 2010
MORE THAN 15 TOTAL YEARS AS A SOCIAL SECURITY JUDGE
Honorable Discharge United States Army 1966 (Member of the
American Legion)
1969 Bachelor’s Degree Lambuth College (now University)
1969 to 1971 Manager Montgomery Ward and Company
1973 Doctor of Jurisprudence, University of Tennessee
1974 Licensed to practice law in Tennessee
1974 to 1977 Private practice of law Nashville, Tennessee
1977 to 1978 Assistant District Attorney General, State of
Tennessee
1980 Graduate, The National Institute of Trial Advocacy
1978 to 1994 Trial Attorney U.S. Department of Labor-Office of
the Solicitor
1981 to 1982 Special assignment United States Department of
Justice-Special
Assistant U.S. Attorney, Eastern District of Kentucky
1994 to 2010 Social Security Judge
Chief Judge Social Security Administration Nashville, Tennessee
2006 to 2010
Past Professional Association:
Nashville Bar Association General Session Court Committee
Treasurer Nashville Trial Lawyers Association
Vice President Nashville Trial Lawyers Association
Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association
Federal Bar Association
33 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN FEDERAL DISABILITY LAW
MORE THAN 15 YEARS AS A SOCIAL SECURITY JUDGE
Argued and presented cases in the following Appellate Courts:
Tennessee Court of Appeals
Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals
Tennessee Supreme Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Admitted to Practice Tennessee Supreme Court
Admitted to Practice United States Supreme Court
Robert Parker
Mr. Parker is an associate with the
firm. His practice focuses primarily in the areas of Social Security
Disability/SSI, Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation, Medical
Malpractice, Divorce, and Criminal Defense.
A native of Jackson, Tennessee, Mr. Parker obtained his Bachelor of Science degree from Lambuth University in 2004 and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence in 2008 from the Nashville School of Law.
Mr. Parker is a member of the Nashville Bar Association and the Tennessee Bar Association. He is admitted to practice before all Tennessee trial and appellate courts.
Mr. Parker is currently the #1 ranked tennis player in the South in the5.0 singles division and the 9.0 doubles division.
Support Staff
Caroline S. Palmer—Legal
Secretary
- Caroline Palmer was born August 28, 1980 in Nashville, Tennessee and attended Maplewood Comprehensive High School in 1995. As a child she always wanted to pursue a career in the legal field. She was introduced to Downard and Associates in May of 2006. During the duration of the three years she has learned from the most prestigious attorney standards. In her spare time she enjoys reading, sports, church and taking care of her three beautiful children.
- Legal Support Areas:
- Social Security Disability, Criminal law, Domestic law, Personal Injury, Worker's Compensation
Veronica Dismuke, Paralegal/Office Manager
- Born September 5, 1975 in Nashville, Tennessee
- Degree:
- Kaplan Center Institute College, Nashville, TN
Associate of Applied Science Degree in Paralegal Studies, ABA Approved
3.54 GPA (Honors) in 2008 - Legal Support Areas:
- Social Security Disability, Worker’s Composition, Domestic, Personal Injury, Criminal Law, Bankruptcy Law
Shirley G. Allen, Office
Consultant
- Born November 14, 1946 in Columbia, TN
- Graduate of Columbia Central High School 1964
- Employed by the Federal Government 1964-2005
- Office of Disability Adjudication and Review and the Social Security Administration for more than 30 years
- Legal Support Areas:
- Social Security Disability
Karen K. Chapman, Legal Assistant/Office Manager of
Jackson Office
- Born June 8, 1984 in Jackson, TN
- Graduate of Lambuth University in May 2006
- Bachelor of Science Degree
- Legal Support Areas:
- Social Security Disability
- Crystal D. Knight, Legal Assistant/Intake Specialist
- Born March 29, 1986 in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Crystal graduated in 2004 from Nashville Academy.
- She attended Nashville State Community College.
- Crystal has worked for several major corporations in the Nashville area including: Vanderbilt U.M.C., Gaylord Entertainment and The Nashville SCENE.
- Legal Support Areas:
- Social Security Disability
- Chelsea L. Edwards, Legal Secretary/Intake Specialist
- Born March 11, 1988 in Pulaski, Tennessee.
- Chelsea is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a BS degree in Criminal Justice and Political Science.
- She is currently attending Nashville School of Law.
Jessica H. Donnell, Office Consultant- Born February 29, 1988 in Memphis, Tennessee.
- Jessica graduated in 2006 with a Hancock Scholars Award from Hunters Lane Comprehensive High School.
- She also attended Nossi College of Arts.
Agnese C. Henderson, Legal Assistant/Intake Specialist- Born May 15, 1981 in Tampa , Florida.
- Agnese graduated from Hendersonville High School in 1999.
- She is currently pursuing a degree in Psychology.
- She managed a popular restaurant for five years.
- She enjoys entertaining, sports and spending time with her three children.
Hana A Hurst, Office Consultant- Born on July 4, 1983 in Memphis, Tennessee.
- Hana graduated from McGavock Comprehensive High School.
- She is hard working and loves helping people who are in need.
- Her long work history includes experience in Customer Service Management and Event Coordination.
- In her spare time, she enjoys designing clothes, reading, writing and spending time with her boys.
Celeste Grant, Office Clerk- Born Sept. 23, 1985 in Joshua Tree, California.
- In 1997, she moved to Nashville with her mom and two little sisters.
- After graduating from Gallatin High in 2003, she was manager for Jack-in-the-Box for two years.
- Her goal is to pursue a career in the medical field.
- In her spare time, she enjoys shopping and spending time with friends and family.
