Breaking the Silence: Firefighters and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
For over a decade, the attorneys at Meuser Law Office, P.A., have been fighting to help our state’s first responders get access to help for work-related mental health conditions – most prominently post-traumatic stress disorder. We have helped hundreds of police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and corrections officers obtain workers’ compensation benefits, including medical expense, wage loss, and rehabilitation benefits, […]
MN Legislature Passes New First Responder Work Comp PTSD Bill
Great news for Minnesota’s first responders! A bill has been passed by both the House and Senate, and is expected to be signed by the Governor, that adds additional workers’ compensation rights for our state’s first responders who are suffering from mental illness. House Bill HF 3873 and the companion Bill in the Senate SF3420 […]
Meuser Law Attorneys Speak to Burnsville Police Officers and Firefighters
We are pleased to share that Ron Meuser, Jennifer Yackley, Mary Beth Boyce and Ashley Biermann of Meuser Law Office, P.A. were invited recently to speak to the City of Burnsville police officers, firefighters and HR Generalists. Ron and his team of experienced attorneys were asked to educate the group of first responders and HR […]
Don’t Miss the PERA Police and Fire Plan Deadline
There are several important deadlines that Minnesota police officers and firefighters need to be aware of when filing a PERA disability benefits claim, including the 18-month post-termination filing deadline. Applications for Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) Police and Fire Plan Duty or Regular Disability Benefits MUST be filed within 18 months after the person’s termination from public service. If an application is not filed within 18 […]
Independent Psychological Evaluations
When do I have to submit to an IPE? An independent psychological evaluation (IPE) may be required for mental disability claims. Under the Workers’ Compensation Act, only certain mental disorders are compensable. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is defined by Minn. Stat. 176.11, subd. 15 as the condition described in the most recently published addition of the DSM-V. […]
Sustained an Injury in the Line of Duty?
If you have sustained an injury in the line of duty, you may be entitled to hundreds of thousands of dollars-worth of benefits. There are several types of benefits available to Minnesota’s first responders who have been injured in the line of duty, depending on the individual circumstances of the case. It can be complicated to coordinate all […]
What if the Critical Incidents Which Cause PTSD Happen Prior To October 1, 2013?
Frequently, Minnesota police officers, firefighters, and corrections officers worry that they may not be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits arising out of his or her employment because the critical incidents pre-date October 1, 2013. Due to the nature of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), classifying PTSD as a specific injury with a specific “exposure” date may be illogical, especially in cases involving […]
PERA Permanent and Total Disability vs PERA Duty Disability
PERA Duty Disability benefits and PERA Permanent Total Disability benefits entitle qualified members to 60% of the member’s average salary over his or her five highest-paid consecutive years of service, which is the equivalent to a retirement benefit based on 20 years of service. If members have in excess of 20 years of qualifying service he […]
Important Changes Regarding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Law Enforcement: DSM-V vs. DSM-IV-TR PTSD Diagnostic Criteria
This article was originally published in December, 2015 in the Minnesota Police Journal. PTSD was and continues to be an important topic with major implications for Minnesota’s first responders who suffer from PTSD. In October of 2013, the Minnesota workers’ compensation law recognized post-traumatic stress disorder as a covered or compensable injury for purposes of workers’ compensation […]
Cumulative Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Police Officers
**As of January 1, 2019, a new law has gone into effect that may drastically change the way work-related PTSD claims are handled in Minnesota. For PTSD injuries that occur on or after January 1, 2019, there is now a presumption for first responders that their PTSD is work-related. Click here to learn more. ** Ten […]