2015 Police and Fire Settlements and Awards

• $15,000 Underinsured motorist proceeds recovered on behalf of a Scott County Deputy Sheriff who sustained serious injuries when he was involved in a head-on collision during the course of a high-speed chase. Meuser Law Office previously recovered $1.25 Million in civil liability proceeds on this case against the defendant driver, as well as PERA Duty Disability Benefits and Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits under Minn. Stat.  § 299A.465.

• $650,000 Civil liability settlement secured on behalf of a Minnesota State Trooper who sustained severe neck and shoulder injuries when her marked squad car was hit head on by a civilian who fell asleep at the wheel. Meuser Law Office also secured MSRS State Patrol Plan Duty Disability benefits and Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 299A.465 on behalf of this State Trooper.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $150,000 secured on behalf of a Minneapolis Firefighter who developed a debilitating low back condition which required several surgeries, as the result of a number of work-related injuries. These injuries included an injury while conducting overhaul, searching for extension, and looking for victims inside an actively burning residential structure, an injury while carrying a non-ambulatory obese individual up several flights of stairs in a stair-chair, and an injury while lifting a non-ambulatory obese individual who had fallen and become wedged between the toilet and a wall. Meuser Law Office also secured an award of PERA Duty Disability Benefits and Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits on behalf of this firefighter.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $110,000 secured on behalf of a Minneapolis Police Officer who sustained serious injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, when she was thrown from a horse during mounted patrol training. In addition to the workers’ compensation settlement, Meuser Law Office also secured PERA Duty Disability Benefits and Continuation of Health Insurance benefits in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 299A.465 on behalf of this officer.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $100,000 secured on behalf of a Coon Rapids Firefighter who suffered a stroke at the scene of a fire. Meuser Law previously secured an additional $100,000 to-date workers’ compensation settlement on behalf of this firefighter, as well as PERA Duty Disability Benefits and Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 299A.465.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $85,000 secured on behalf of a City of Hibbing Police Officer who sustained a disabling injury while lifting an uncooperative, suicidal suspect. Meuser Law Office also secured PERA Duty Disability and Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits on behalf of this officer.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $82,500 secured on behalf of a Hennepin County Paramedic who suffered a heart attack during the course of an emergency medical call. Meuser Law Office also secured an Award of PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability benefits on behalf of this HCMC paramedic.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits Awarded to a Minneapolis Police Officer who sustained serious injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, when she was thrown from her horse during mounted patrol exercises.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits Awarded to a Minneapolis Police Officer who sustained several work-related back injuries throughout his career.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits Awarded to a City of Columbia Heights Police Officer who sustained injuries when he was engaged in a physical altercation at the scene of a domestic disturbance call.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits Awarded to a Minneapolis Firefighter who sustained several serious knee injuries throughout his career. Despite his efforts to return to work, he was ultimately found unfit for duty.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits Awarded to a Minneapolis Firefighter who sustained neck and knee injuries in the line of duty.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits Awarded to a St. Paul Firefighter who sustained several low back injuries throughout his career as a firefighter.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits Awarded to a Minneapolis Police Officer who developed post-traumatic stress disorder after he was involved in a case where an individual committed suicide by shotgun in the officer’s presence.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits Awarded to a Minneapolis Park & Recreation Police Officer who sustained injuries when she slipped and fell while responding to a complaint within a City park.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $110,000 secured on behalf of a Minneapolis Firefighter who sustained several neck and knee injuries during the course of his firefighting career. Meuser Law Office also secured PERA Duty Disability and Continuation of Health Insurance Coverage benefits on behalf of this firefighter.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits Awarded to a Minneapolis Police Officer who sustained several work-related shoulder injuries, including an injury sustained during an altercation with a suspect, and an injury sustained preventing an individual from jumping off a bridge.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits Awarded to a St. Paul Firefighter who developed non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. For purposes of his PERA Duty Disability claim, we were able to establish that his cancer was the result of his exposures to carcinogens during the course of his career as a firefighter.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $75,000 secured on behalf of a Minneapolis Police Officer who ultimately required a total knee replacement as the result of several work-related knee injuries during the course of her law enforcement career – the most significant of which occurred over 13 years ago.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits Awarded to a Minneapolis Firefighter who sustained numerous injuries throughout her career.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits Awarded to a secured on behalf of a South Lake Minnetonka Police Officer who sustained several low back injuries in the line of duty. Notably, this Officer had a significant pre-existing non-work related low back condition.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits Awarded to a Coon Rapids Firefighter who sustained several work-related low back injuries.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits Awarded to a City of Burnsville Police Officer who developed post-traumatic stress disorder as the result of his involvement in several traumatic incidents during the course of his career.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits Awarded to a Minneapolis Firefighter who sustained serious back injuries while lifting obese emergency medical patients.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits Awarded to a Minneapolis Firefighter who developed serious knee problems as the result of performing heavy manual labor throughout her firefighting career. Notably, this firefighter did not have any specific injuries. Her knee problems developed over the course of many years. Nonetheless, Meuser Law Office successfully argued that the heavy firefighting duties which caused this firefighter’s knee problems were inherently dangerous and specific to firefighters.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits Awarded to a Coon Rapids Firefighter who sustained several low back injuries during the course of his career as a firefighter.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefit Awarded to a City of Hopkins Police Officer who developed post-traumatic stress disorder as the result of his exposure to several traumatic events during his law enforcement career.

• Workers’ compensation settlement on behalf of a City of Montgomery Police Officer who suffered cardiac and pulmonary injuries after he pulled a victim from a burning vehicle following a crash. The workers’ compensation insurer denied that his conditions were work-related. As part of the settlement agreement, the City agreed to pay wage loss benefits for the period of time when the officer was off work and to pay the medical bills he incurred as a result of his cardiac and pulmonary injuries.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits Awarded to a St. Louis County Sheriff’s Deputy who sustained severe neck, shoulder, elbow, and wrist injuries when he was hit by a suspect fleeing on an ATV.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $85,000 secured on behalf of a Minneapolis Police Officer who sustained numerous injuries throughout her 25+ year career with the department. Most notably, she required bilateral total knee replacements as the result of years of wear-and-tear to her knees performing mounted patrol duties.

• Settlement of $72,000 secured on behalf of a City of Brooklyn Park Police Officer who developed post-traumatic stress disorder as the result of numerous traumatic exposures throughout his law enforcement career. After this officer was awarded PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits, the City refused to reinstate his health insurance as required by Minn. Stat. § 299A.465. Meuser Law Office subsequently filed a Summons and Complaint and sued the City. In this case, the Officer had received a monthly stipend in lieu of Health Insurance Coverage, as he was covered under his spouse’s policy. The City argued that since he did not have health insurance coverage through the City – despite paying him a monthly stipend to waive coverage – that it was not obligated to pay for his insurance in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 299A.465. The parties reached a settlement of the claim for $72,000 as the result of mediation.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $90,000 secured on behalf of a Hibbing Police Officer who sustained several work-related back injuries throughout his career.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits secured on behalf of a Woodbury Police Officer who developed post-traumatic stress disorder as the result of his involvement in several traumatic incidents in the line of duty.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $67,500 secured on behalf of a Coon Rapids Firefighter who sustained several low back injuries during the course of his firefighting career. Meuser Law Office also secured an award of PERA Duty Disability and Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits on behalf of this firefighter.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits secured on behalf of a Hibbing Police Officer who sustained several work-related back injuries throughout his career. Meuser Law Office also secured a substantial workers’ compensation settlement on behalf of this officer.

• PERA Corrections Plan Duty Disability Benefits secured on behalf of a Ramsey County Corrections Officer who developed post-traumatic stress disorder after he was assaulted and nearly beaten to death while trapped in a cell with an inmate.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits secured on behalf of a St. Paul Firefighter who suffered a work-related heart attack.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $90,000 secured on behalf of a City of Mounds View Police Officer who suffered a severe shoulder injury after engaging in an altercation with a suspect at the scene of a domestic disturbance call. In addition to the workers’ compensation settlement, Meuser Law previously secured an award of PERA Duty Disability and Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 299A.465 on behalf of this officer.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $97,500 secured on behalf of a Minneapolis Firefighter who sustained several work-related injuries, including a shoulder injury when she fell at the scene of a fire while pulling hose. In addition to the workers’ compensation settlement, Meuser Law Office also secured an award of PERA Duty Disability and Continuation of Health Insurance Coverage on behalf of this firefighter.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $67,500 secured on behalf of a Minneapolis Firefighter who sustained a back injury while performing overhaul duties at the scene of a fire. Meuser Law Office also secured an award of PERA Duty Disability and Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits on behalf of this firefighter.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $57,000 secured on behalf of a Coon Rapids Firefighter who sustained a number of back injuries during the course of his firefighting career. Meuser Law Office also secured and award of PERA Duty Disability Benefits and Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits on behalf of this firefighter.

• PERA Corrections Plan Duty Disability Benefits secured on behalf of a Carlton County Corrections Officer who developed post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of having been taken hostage at knifepoint by an inmate.

• $50,000 Underinsured motorist (UIM) proceeds secured on behalf of a Metro Transit Police Officer who sustained injuries to his neck, back, and shoulder after he was involved in multi-car, rear-end collision while traveling as a passenger in a colleague’s squad car. The UIM proceeds were awarded as the result of a binding “High-Low” Arbitration. Prior to the Arbitration, the UIM insurer offered a max of $20,000 to settle the case. In addition to the $50,000 underinsured motorist proceeds, Meuser Law Office secured a $50,000 civil liability policy-limit settlement as against the at-fault motorist. Meuser Law Office also secured a workers’ compensation settlement of $80,000 on behalf of this police officer.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $80,000 secured on behalf of a Minneapolis Police Officer who developed a disabling shoulder condition as the result of several work related injuries, including an injury while engaging in defensive training tactics, while attempting to prevent a suicidal individual from jumping off a bridge, and while attempting to handcuff a non-compliant shoplifter. In addition to the workers’ compensation settlement, Meuser Law Office also secured an award of PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits and Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 299A.465 on behalf of this police officer.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $50,000 secured on behalf of a Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Police Officer who sustained injury to her knee when she slipped on an icy pathway while investigating a citizen complaint. In addition to the workers’ compensation settlement, Meuser Law Office also secured an award of PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability benefits and Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits on behalf of this police officer.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $102,300 secured on behalf of Coon Rapids Firefighter who developed a debilitating low back condition requiring several back surgeries as the result of several work-related low back injuries, including one when he slipped on ice at the scene of a rollover car accident, and another injury while assisting a medical examiner with lifting a body. In addition to the workers’ compensation settlement, Meuser Law Office also secured an award of PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits and Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits on behalf of this firefighter.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $85,000 secured on behalf of a Minneapolis Police Officer who sustained numerous injuries throughout his career, including an injury while that occurred while he was attempting to kick down a door during execution of high-risk felony narcotics arrest warrant, an injury he sustained when his squad car was t-boned by a civilian as he was responding to a call for backup of a fellow officer who was engaged in a foot pursuit of a suspect, and an injury he incurred when he tackled a fleeing suspect. Meuser Law Office also secured an award of Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 299A.465 on behalf of this police officer.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $30,000 secured on behalf of a Minneapolis Firefighter who sustained several low back injuries – a number of which occurred while lifting heavy patients – which resulted in a disabling low back condition. The City denied that this firefighter’s condition was work-related. In addition to the monetary proceeds, the City agreed to pay in excess of $20,000 in outstanding medical expenses. Meuser Law Office also procured an award of PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits and Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 299A.465 on behalf of this firefighter.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability benefits awarded to a Minneapolis Firefighter who sustained several work-related back and knee injuries, including injuries while lifting emergency medical obese patients, and injuries sustained when he slipped on ice getting out of the rig at the scene of a medical call.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability benefits awarded to a St. Paul Firefighter who developed a debilitating low back condition requiring several surgeries following an injury sustained when he slid down the fire pole at the station while preparing to respond to a fire alarm.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability benefits awarded to a St. Paul Firefighter who sustained a disabling shoulder injury while responding to a call involving a medical emergency. On arrival, responding firefighters discovered that there was a domestic disturbance in progress. The medical patient lashed out violently as the firefighter attempted to physically restrain him to administer aid, resulting in a severe shoulder injury.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability benefits awarded to a former police officer who worked on a part-time basis for two different law enforcement agencies. During the course of his employment with one of the agencies, he responded to a call involving an individual who had made threats of violence. In the course of responding, he engaged in a vehicle pursuit of the suspect, a foot chase, and ultimately an armed stand-off. During the course of the armed standoff, he shot and wounded the suspect. He began to develop symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder, but was not diagnosed until several years after he left law enforcement. By special legislation, this former police officer received authorization to apply for PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability benefits even though the time limit to apply had passed years ago.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $120,000 secured on behalf of a Minneapolis Firefighter who sustained several work-related knee and shoulder injuries throughout her 25+ year career.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $62,500 secured on behalf of a Hennepin County Medical Center Paramedic who sustained a low back injury while lifting a mock patient during the course of participating in an active shooter drill. Notably, this individual also suffered a significant non-work related medical condition that Hennepin County alleged to be the cause of her inability to perform the duties of a Paramedic.

• Settlement of $85,000 for Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits under Minn. Stat. § 299A.465 secured on behalf of a South Lake Minnetonka Police Officer who sustained several low back injuries in the line of duty. Following his award of PERA Duty Disability Benefits, his employer contested his entitlement to Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits, arguing that his low back condition was largely due to a significant pre-existing condition rather than his work-related injuries. The parties subsequently reached a settlement of this claim as the result of mediation. Meuser Law Office also secured a workers’ compensation settlement and an award of PERA Duty Disability benefits on behalf of this police officer.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $80,000 secured on behalf of a City of St. Cloud Police Officer who sustained a low back injury while carrying a restrained, combative suspect on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance. Meuser Law Office also secured an award of PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits and a settlement of Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits on behalf of this police officer.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $150,000 secured on behalf of a Minneapolis Firefighter who sustained several low back and knee injuries during the course of his career. Meuser Law Office also secured an award of PERA Duty Disability benefits and Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 299A.465 on behalf of this firefighter.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability benefits awarded to a Ramsey County Deputy Sheriff who sustained several shoulder and knee injuries throughout his career as the result of physical altercations with non-compliant inmates at the jail and the courthouse.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability benefits awarded to a St. Paul Firefighter who sustained a number of low back injuries throughout his career, including an injury when he slipped on ice at the scene of a massive warehouse fire, and injuries while lifting obese patients.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability benefits awarded to a City of Bloomington Police Officer who sustained a severe low back injury resulting in surgery when he attempted to kick down a door while serving an arrest warrant. Notably, this officer had a significant pre-existing low back condition and the workers’ compensation insurer had denied ongoing benefits.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability benefits awarded to a City of Oakdale Police Officer who developed debilitating post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his involvement in numerous traumatic events throughout his law enforcement career.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability benefits awarded to an Anoka County Deputy Sheriff who developed severe post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of his law enforcement-related traumatic exposures.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability benefits awarded to a City of Duluth Police Officer who developed disabling post-traumatic stress disorder after his involvement in a suicide call where an individual threatening to jump from a 10-story building fell to his death while the officer was directing police activities at the scene.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $48,500 secured on behalf of a Ramsey County Corrections Officer who sustained a significant shoulder injury when he intervened to break up a fight between inmates. Meuser Law Office also secured an award of PERA Corrections Plan Duty Disability benefits on behalf of this corrections officer.

• Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 299A.465 secured on behalf of a Minneapolis Police Officer who developed severe degenerative arthritis in both knees requiring bilateral total knee replacements, as the result of years of wear-and-tear to her knees while performing mounted patrol duties. Despite the absence of a specific injury, PERA determined that this officer’s years of mounted patrol work constituted “inherently dangerous duties” and awarded this police officer Continuation of health Insurance Benefits in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 299A.465. Meuser Law Office also secured a substantial workers’ compensation settlement on behalf of this police officer.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $30,000 secured on behalf of a Minnesota State Trooper who sustained severe neck and shoulder injuries when her squad car was hit head on by a civilian who had fallen asleep at the wheel. In addition to the monetary proceeds, the State agreed to pay over $150,000 in outstanding medical expenses. Meuser Law Office also secured a civil liability settlement of $650,000 as against the at-fault driver, as well as MSRS State Patrol Plan Duty Disability benefits and Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 299A.465 on behalf of this State Trooper. This case involved complex coordination rules between the various sources of benefits.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $50,000 secured on behalf of a Washington County Dispatcher who developed post-traumatic stress disorder in relation to his exposure to traumatic calls throughout his career.

• PERA Coordinated Plan Disability Benefits secured on behalf of a Washington County Dispatcher who developed severely debilitating post-traumatic stress disorder as the result of his exposure to traumatic 911 calls throughout his career.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits awarded to a City of Columbia Heights Police Officer who developed debilitating post-traumatic stress disorder as the result of numerous traumatic exposures throughout his law enforcement career.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits awarded to a City of Newport Police Officer who suffered shoulder and elbow injuries when his squad car struck a suspect’s pickup after the suspect led the officer on a short pursuit before coming to a stop.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits awarded to a City of Fridley Police Officer who developed a debilitating low back condition as the result of several in-the-line-of-duty injuries, including an injury sustained when her squad car was struck by a civilian while she was en route to an emergency call, an injury while practicing defensive training tactics, and an injury while physically extracting a woman who became trapped in her home due to hoarding.

• Workers’ compensation settlement of $67,500 on behalf of a Minneapolis Firefighter who sustained a low back injury while lifting an obese patient at the scene of a medical emergency, and maneuvering that patient on a stretcher through a stairwell.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits awarded to a Minneapolis Firefighter who sustained a disabling low back condition after lifting an obese emergency medical patient who had to be extracted and carried on a stretcher in a stairwell.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits awarded to a City of Big Lake Police Officer who suffered disabling bilateral knee injuries while engaged in foot chase with a suspect, and again while moving a stalled car out of the roadway.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits awarded to a City of Edina Firefighter who suffered nearly a dozen significant work-related back and knee injuries throughout his 30+ year career as a firefighter.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits awarded to a St. Paul Police Officer who developed low back problems, resulting in surgery, as a cumulative result of his motorcycle patrol work. Despite the absence of a specific injury, PERA determined that the motorcycle duties that resulted in the officer’s low back condition were “inherently dangerous duties,” and awarded the officer PERA Duty Disability Benefits as well as Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits in accordance with Minn. Stat. §299A.465.

• Continuation of Health Insurance Benefits in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 299A.465 awarded to a Minneapolis Firefighter who suffered numerous significant back, shoulder, and knee injuries throughout her 25 year firefighting career. Most recently, she sustained a knee injury when she stepped awkwardly getting out of the rig at the scene of a fire alarm at an apartment complex, which resulted in her being deemed unfit for duty.

• $50,000 Civil liability policy limit settlement procured on behalf of a City of Faribault Police Officer who sustained significant injuries when the police vehicle he was riding in as a passenger en route to a call for assistance from the State Patrol was struck by a civilian vehicle.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits awarded to a University of Minnesota Police Officer who sustained a severe shoulder injury when he tripped and fell while chasing a suspect who fled on foot from a stolen vehicle.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits awarded to a Minneapolis Police Officer suffering from debilitating post-traumatic stress disorder as the result of numerous traumatic exposures throughout his career.

• PERA Police and Fire Plan Duty Disability Benefits awarded to a Lakes Area Police Officer who developed severe post-traumatic stress disorder as the result of her exposure to numerous traumatic events throughout her law enforcement career.