Special Benefits for Minnesota Police Officers, Firefighters, State Troopers, and Corrections Officers
If you are a police officer, firefighter, first responder, or correctional officer, and pay into Public Employee Retirement Association (PERA) or Minnesota State Retirement System (MSRS) you are entitled to different benefits depending on your plan type. There are different plans and benefits that are available to members when they become ill or are injured, […]
Repetitive Injuries Common in Patrol Officers
As you are aware, patrol officers spend large amounts of time performing duties within their cruiser and are required to wear duty belts and vests that cause a high prevalence of musculoskeletal problems over time. These repetitive type injuries occur as a result of the culmination of forces inflicted by the required equipment as well […]
The Timeline to Expect When a PERA Claim is Filed
Once you decide to file for PERA Duty Disability, the next question that is frequently asked is How long is this going to take? The reason for that question is obvious. We all have expenses that need to be paid. We have mortgages, we have rent, we have kids, we have college, we have bills […]
The Pitfalls of the Proposed PTSD Legislation
Mental health concerns, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), are endemic among law enforcement officers, firefighters, and correctional officers. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “[l]aw enforcement officers and firefighters are more likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty.”[1] Unfortunately, mental health concerns among first responders are often […]
What Are Indemnity Benefits?
In short, indemnity benefits are monetary payments you may be entitled to receive as compensation for lost wages or damages related to your workers’ compensation claim. There are different categories of benefits that injured workers are entitled to depending on the severity of their injury, and their position in the recovery process. These benefits include […]
The Personal Injury Component in a Work Comp Case
In many workers’ compensation cases there is a personal injury component. This most often rises out of car accidents or motor vehicle accidents that you are involved in during the course and scope of your employment. We are able to settle your personal injury action either before, during or after the work comp settlement. Whenever […]
Duty Disability Benefits: What PERA Members Will Receive
Police officers, firefighters, Hennepin County paramedics, and correctional officers who sustain a work-related injury or suffer from a work-related mental health condition may apply for Duty Disability benefits under their PERA pension plan. In order to qualify for Duty Disability benefits under either the PERA Police and Fire Plan or the PERA Correctional Plan, the […]
Contingency Fees in a Worker’s Compensation Claim
All work comp attorneys in the state of Minnesota are paid in the same way. Workers’ compensation fees in the state of Minnesota are what’s called contingency fees. That means attorneys are only paid if they help you recover benefits. If you don’t recover benefits, the attorney doesn’t get paid. If the attorney does help […]
Minnesota State Highway Patrol Duty Disability Basics
As a State Highway Patrol Officer, you have agreed to serve your community and perform duties that are considered inherently dangerous. If through your dedicated service to the community you sustain an injury or illness that was incurred while performing these inherently dangerous duties specific to a State Highway Patrol Officer you may be eligible […]
Through Grief and Struggles, Heroes Helping Heroes Was Born
By now, many know my story. My name is Samantha Steward and I am an attorney at Meuser, Yackley & Rowland, P.A. I am also the wife of a retired Minneapolis police sergeant. While my husband, Chris, was going through the workers’ compensation process, I often felt like I was not doing enough for my […]