Does Workers’ Compensation Cover the Lingering Effects from a COVID-19 Diagnosis?

There’s a growing body of evidence to suggest that COVID-19 continues to impact some patients long after the acute illness has resolved in the body. These ongoing symptoms have been categorized as “long COVID” or “long COVID-19”. At Meuser, Yackley & Rowland, we are representing a number of clients who are experiencing the lingering effects […]

I Am a Minnesota Corrections Officer Who Contracted COVID-19. Do I Have a Work Comp Claim?

A corrections officer escorts a handcuffed individual through a secure facility.

The general answer is yes, and the employee’s burden of proof to establish a workers’ compensation claim was just reduced for first responders, including Corrections Officers, who work at Minnesota’s 11 correctional facilities. Typically, to be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits for an occupational disease, Minnesota workers must prove that that their condition arose out of their […]

Is an EMT Who Contracts COVID-19 Covered Under Minnesota Workers’ Compensation?

Two EMTs stand in front of an ambulance on the street for the camera.

Working as a paramedic, EMT or EMS poses inherent dangers, especially during the Coronavirus pandemic. As part of your duties, you are required to go into homes that are not your own and administer hands-on medical assistance to individuals in need. The Minnesota legislature acknowledged these inherent risks and recently passed HF 4537. Effective April 8, 2020, […]

Are Minnesota Nurses Who Contract Coronavirus Eligible for Workers’ Compensation?

A nurse wearing an orange mask smiles for the camera with her eyes.

As Coronavirus-related restrictions phase-out, more Minnesotans, including a significant number of healthcare workers, including nurses, are contracting Coronavirus (COVID-19). In fact, on May 20, 2020, the Star Tribune reported that “health care workers constitute 1,949 of Minnesota’s 17,029 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19.” [1]   Minnesota nurses, from Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) in Minneapolis to St. […]

Minnesota First Responder COVID-19 Workers’ Compensation Presumption Statute – What We Know and What We Don’t

As Minnesota first responders may know, the Minnesota legislature recently passed legislation to create a workers’ compensation statutory presumption for those individuals who contract COVID-19 while performing first responder duties (Minn. Stat. § 176.011). Hopefully, this legislation will serve to provide immediate workers’ compensation medical expense and wage loss coverage for our State’s first responders who are at greatest […]

New COVID-19 Legislation for Minnesota’s First Responders

In response to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, our state government has taken swift and decisive action to financially protect Minnesota’s first responders who contract the virus. Governor Tim Walz signed into law a revision to the Minnesota’s workers’ compensation statute that creates a presumption that COVID-19 is a work-related occupational disease for first responders. This revision increases […]

The Impact of Coronavirus (Covid-19) on Workers’ Compensation in Minnesota – Part 3

Will my case be delayed due to Coronavirus? Now that “social distancing” and “flatten the curve” have become part of the collective consciousness, many employees are asking how the efforts to contain Covid-19 will impact their pending workers’ compensation case. Here is an overview of what to expect. E-filing will continue, but expect disruptions and delays in […]

The Impact of Coronavirus (Covid-19) on Workers’ Compensation in Minnesota – Part 2

Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs) may be cancelled or delayed One of the most immediate impacts on pending workers’ compensation cases is that Independent Medical Evaluations (IMEs) and Independent Psychological Evaluations (IPEs) that have already been scheduled, are now being cancelled. Given the CDC’s guidance regarding social distancing, encouraging people to maintain 6-feet of distance between one another, it […]

The Impact of Coronavirus (Covid-19) on Workers’ Compensation in Minnesota – Part 1

Will I still get paid? Whether or not you continue to get paid wage-loss benefits will vary case-by-case depending on your situation. A description of the most common situations is included below. The attorneys at Meuser, Yackley & Rowland, P.A. are available throughout the crisis, via phone and email, to answer any questions you have about the impact that […]

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and First Responders: Work Comp Coverage

At Meuser, Yackley & Rowland, P.A. we are keeping a very close eye on the evolving situation regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on our clients. Please keep in mind that as the situation changes, we all are prepared to adjust and be flexible. We are fielding a lot of questions lately about what options our law […]