Terminated From Your Job and Interviewing for a New One?

If you were terminated from your job, and are wondering what to say when interviewing for a new one, please check out this website:  http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewquestionsanswers/a/interviewfired.htm.  It provides guidance in how to respond to questions about the termination.  Whatever you say, do not say anything negative about your previous employer--it will make YOU look bad, not your previous employer. 

OAH & DOLI Are Up and Running Again

As many of you know, the State, including the Office of Adminstrative Hearings (OAH) and Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI), were shut down due to the budget debate.  Now that that is resolved, OAH and DOLI are up and running again.  But, they have a lot to catch up on after being closed which will take some time.  They are opening mail in chronological order of when it was received, and they are in the process of rescheduling hearings and adminstrative conferences which were cancelled. 

Baehman Law B-Mod Challenge

For another year, Baehman Law is hosting the Baehman Law B-Mod Challenge at Mississippi Thunder Speedway on June 24, 2011, starting at 6:00 p.m.  Jack Baehman has been a lifelong race fan, and a tremendous supporter of Mississippi Thunder for the past couple of years.  He races his own race car!  For more information, please see their website:  www.mississippithunder.com.

Potential Disruption in State Operations

If the Minnesota Legislature does not resolve the budget issues, most of the services provided by the Department of Labor and Industry (DOLI) and the Office of Adminstrative Hearings (OAH) will cease.  Both operate on a biennial budget with each fiscal year ending on June 30.  In the absence of legislation specifically appropriating funds for the continuing operations of DOLI and OAH for the next biennium, they will have no or very limited authority to continue operations.  For further information, please see their websites:  www.dli.mn.gov and www.oah.state.mn.us.  

Another new workers' compensation judge at OAH

William J. Marshall has been appointed as a workers' compensation judge to the Office of Administrative Hearings in June 2011.  Mr. Marshall has experience on both the employer and employee side.  Bill worked for Target in Assets Protection while completing his Masters degree in Industrial Safety. Bill then relocated to the Twin Cities and worked as a Safety and Security Manager/Employee Relations Representative at North Star Steel Co. (a Division of Cargill).  After graduating from law school he worked as an attorney at Midwest Disability, P.A. representing those with disabilities in workers' compensation, long/short-term disability, Veteran's benefits, and Social Security. 

New workers' compensation judges appointed to OAH

John R. Baumgarth and Miriam P. Rykken have been appointed as workers' compensation judges to the Office of Adminstrative Hearings as of June 8, 2011.  Mr. Baumgarth is currently an attorney at the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry and represents the Special Compensation Fund.  Ms. Rykken most recently was a judge with the Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals (1999 - May of 2011).

Gov. Mark Dayton appoints Judge Milun to the WCCA

On Thursday, April 7, 2011, Gov. Mark Dayton appointed The Honorable Patricia Milun as Chief Judge of the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals.  Judge Milun will be replacing Judge Miriam Rykken on the Court, and will be succeeding Judge Thomas Johnson as Chief Judge.  Judge Johnson will continue to serve his term on the Court.  The Court has statewide appellate jurisdiction over all workers’ compensation appeals, and is made up of five judges, appointed by the governor, who serve a term of six years.

Social Security Scam

If you are receiving Social Security benefits, please be cautious of a new scam of identity theft.  Scammers are calling people identifying themselves as being from the Social Security Administration claiming they are sending out new Social Security cards.  They will then ask for you to get a pencil, pad of paper, and a blank check.  They will then ask for your routing number on the check.  They explain that the need for the routing information is so that they can deposit additional benefits into the account.  In reality, they are asking for the information to take money OUT of the the account.  If a scammer calls you, please report it to the Social Security Adminstration at:  800-772-1213.   

Mileage for Attending Appointments

Claimants in personal injury and workers' compensation cases can claim mileage for going to and from medical appointments.  Claimants in workers' compensation cases can also claim mileage in their job search efforts.  The mileage rate as of January 1, 2011, is $.51 per mile.  We encourage all of our clients to keep track of their mileage because it adds up!  If you need a mileage sheet, please contact our office. 

"The Gap" is Gone in Personal Injury Medical Damages

In the past, an injured plaintiff could recover for himself the difference in what was paid by his health insurance company to a medical provider and what the medical provider would typical charge for a service to the public at large--"the gap."  Health insurance companies typically negotiate reduced rates with medical providers for its insureds.   Now, pursuant to Swanson v. Brewster, the injured plaintiff is no longer entitled to this recovery.

Social Security Checks Go Paperless

The Social Security Adminstration will no longer be mailing benefit checks; they will be directly depositing them into a bank account or crediting a debit card.  Starting May 1, 2011, new recipients of Social Security benefits will have to accept paperless payments.  Those already on Social Security will have until March 1, 2013, to make the switch to direct deposit or a debit card.