Properly Filing a First Report of Injury
Hi, I’m Jen Yackley, Partner and Attorney with Meuser, Yackley & Rowland, P.A., and I’m here to talk to you today about filing first reports of injury when you’ve sustained a work-related injury. I’m going to delve a little deeper into this topic because there are a couple of types of claims where you have […]
Basic Items Needed When Filing for PERA
In addition to workers’ compensation benefits, injured police officers, firefighters, and corrections officers may be eligible for significant retirement and disability benefits, and more under the Minnesota Public Employee’s Retirement Association (PERA). To address some frequently asked questions, Meuser, Yackley & Rowland attorney, Katie Ebnet, provides some basic information and documentation required when filing for […]
My Journey
Special feature by John Nordberg, former agent with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and client of Meuser, Yackley & Rowland. I’m not sure when PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) started to creep into my life, however, I know when I began to realize something was wrong. Looking back two, maybe three, years before I found […]
Pre-Existing Conditions: The Truth Shall Set You Free
To offer a different perspective on the subject of pre-existing conditions, we turned to our Legal Analyst with the firm, Vanessa Washington. Vanessa has extensive experience in the insurance industry with a focus on workers’ compensation. Vanessa’s primary role with Meuser, Yackley & Rowland, P.A. is to support the attorneys by analyzing the value of each case, […]
Fired for Cause: The Complex Issue of Misconduct and PTSD in Law Enforcement
Allegations of misconduct are not necessarily a barrier to asserting a claim for workers’ compensation and PERA/MSRS Duty Disability benefits for Minnesota police officers and firefighters. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is finally getting recognition as a serious problem for Minnesota’s law enforcement officers. Since October 2013, Minnesota worker’ compensation law now recognizes PTSD as a compensable injury, as does PERA and MSRS for purposes […]
Delta Flight Attendants are Experiencing Reactions to New Uniforms
Delta provided its flight attendants with new uniforms over the summer of 2018. Unfortunately, after the change to the new uniforms, many employees have become sick. They’ve been experiencing physical symptoms, such as rashes, chaffing, eye issues, nose bleeds, headaches, and even breathing problems. In the past American Airlines struggled with a similar issue when […]
What I Wish My Clients Knew
Report, report, report your injury! Let’s say you have been a St. Paul firefighter for 18+ years and you have lived through numerous explosions or a Minneapolis police officer who has wrestled numerous suspects or kicked in doors, that does not mean the lingering ache in your low back or sharp pop in your shoulder […]
Can I be Fired for Reporting a Work Injury?
The short answer is yes—but not without recourse. An employer can fire you for any reason; however, there is recourse that can be taken if an employer fires you, or even threatens to fire you, for reporting your work-related injury. The legislature in Minnesota Statutes § 176.82 provides this recourse in subdivision 1, stating that an employer who […]
Third-Party Claims and Workers’ Compensation Subrogation
In certain limited circumstances, injured workers may bring a civil claim arising out of the incident that caused his or her work injury. These civil claims may include pain and suffering and other types of monetary damages not available under the Minnesota Workers’ Compensation system. The employee may not sue his or her employer for causing his or her […]
Did My Employer Correctly Calculate My Average Weekly Wage?
Average Weekly Wage (AWW) is the rate used to determine compensation in the Minnesota work comp system, including temporary total, temporary partial, and permanent total disability benefits. You may see your average weekly wage displayed on your First Report of Injury, Notice of Benefits Paid, or Notice of Primary Liability Determination. In the Minnesota workers’ compensation system the date of an […]
