Approval rates
Richard P. Laverdure's 57% approval rate on record since 2016 sits within the 26% to 84% range observed among the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is Oakland. This range reflects the diversity of decision-making patterns across the bench. These figures represent historical data rather than a forecast for your specific case.
SSA has not published a latest-period approval, fully favorable or denial breakdown for Judge Laverdure. The most recent period with decisions on record is September 28, 2018. Those rows are left out rather than estimated.
Approval rate over time
Year-over-year approval rate across Judge Laverdure's docket. Annual rates fluctuate with the mix of cases SSA assigns; the longer-run pattern is more informative than any single year.
Decision pattern
The 814 decisions on record for Richard P. Laverdure since 2016 show a fluctuating pattern. The approval rate was 53% in 2016, 63% in 2017, and 53% in 2018. These shifts reflect the unique mix of evidence and testimony presented in each year's caseload.
Preparing for an SSDI hearing
The guidance below applies to any SSDI hearing, not specifically to Judge Laverdure's bench. Judge-specific preparation guidance requires a corpus of public Appeals Council decisions involving each judge, which we haven't built yet.
- Bring a clean treating-physician record. Longitudinal primary-care or specialist notes spanning the disability period, with consistent symptom documentation, are typically the strongest evidence at hearing. A single month's records usually aren't enough.
- Don't rely on consultative exams alone. If your medical evidence is built primarily around a one-time CE finding, expect detailed questioning. Supplement with treating-source statements where possible.
- Prepare for daily-activity questions. Have honest, specific answers about a typical day. Answers that conflict with the medical record (in either direction) tend to hurt credibility.
- Expect transferable-skills probing. A vocational expert will usually testify about jobs available to someone with your limitations. Your representative should be prepared to cross-examine.
About the Oakland hearing office
Richard P. Laverdure's most recent SSA record (September 2018) is at the Oakland hearing office. This office is associated with 16 judges whose most recent office on record is this location. You can view the Oakland hearing office page for the full roster of judges.
Other judges whose most recent office on record is Oakland
The Social Security Administration uses a workload-balancing algorithm to assign cases, meaning your judge is assigned randomly. There are 16 judges whose most recent office on record is Oakland, with approval rates ranging from 26% to 84% on their since-2016 records. Because each judge maintains their own approach to evaluating evidence, the specific judge you draw can influence the path of your case.
Approval rates change with a lawyer
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-18-37. The 3× gap is a population-wide average across all judges; individual outcomes vary.
Frequently asked questions
Richard P. Laverdure has an approval rate of 57% on record since 2016. This falls within the 26% to 84% range of approval rates for the 16 judges whose most recent office on record is Oakland. An attorney can help you prepare your case for this specific bench.
Richard P. Laverdure's approval rate was 53% in 2016, 63% in 2017, and 53% in 2018. These shifts demonstrate that approval rates are not static. An attorney can help you understand how these trends might relate to your specific hearing.
No. The Social Security Administration assigns cases using a workload-balancing algorithm. You cannot choose your judge, which is why it is important to be prepared for any ALJ. An attorney can help you prepare for the specific requirements of an SSDI hearing.
An SSDI hearing is a formal proceeding where an ALJ reviews your medical records and hears testimony. You may be questioned by the judge or a vocational expert about your ability to perform work. An attorney can help you navigate these questions and present your case effectively.
The 57% approval rate on record for Richard P. Laverdure is a statistical observation of past decisions, not a prediction of your outcome. Your success depends primarily on the quality of your medical evidence and your ability to prove your disability. An attorney can help you build a strong case regardless of the assigned judge.
