Alan J. Swotes v. John W. Gardner, Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare

OPINION OF THE COURT

GERALD McLAUGHLIN, Circuit Judge.

Appellant is an experienced Philadelphia lawyer, of deservedly excellent reputation. In 1964 he was engaged by Mrs. Ruth Thomas to represent her and her son, Darrell Thomas, in their Social Security claims for Mother’s Insurance Benefits and Child’s Insurance Benefits arising out of the death of her husband, John W. Thomas. At that stage, the claims originally and on reconsideration had been denied by the Agency. The basis of the denial as to the boy had been in the holding that he was not an adopted child of John W. Thomas, the deceased…