Attorney Ashley Biermann Secures Huge Win for First Responders

In a bustling city like Minneapolis, police officers face tough situations every day. They bravely protect and serve despite the great risks to their health and safety. But what happens when the job takes a toll on their mental health?

When injuries, both seen and unseen, threaten our first responders, they can turn to trusted allies like Attorney Ashley N. Biermann. As a partner with Meshbesher & Spence, Ashley has made it her mission to return the favor and fight for first responders, just as they do for the public every day. 

Ashley’s dedication is history in the making. For example, her recent work on a case in which she secured justice for an officer grappling with PTSD inspired new workers’ compensation laws for Minnesota’s first responders. 

Many first responders delay seeking help for PTSD until their condition has become severe and debilitating.

At Meshbesher & Spence, we have over six decades of legal experience and have devoted much of our efforts to improving workers’ compensation benefits for our first responders. Contact us online at (612) 339-9121 to discover how we can fight for you.

Understanding the Damaging Effects of PTSD 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), can affect anyone who has undergone a traumatic event, even police officers. PTSD can be especially common among first responders because they are regularly exposed to dangerous situations on the job. 

For officers, these events might include confronting armed suspects, experiencing violence firsthand, or witnessing tragic accidents or medical emergencies while on duty. PTSD can cause intense feelings of fear, anxiety, and distress, making it difficult to work or even carry out daily activities.

Sadly, police officers face unique challenges when seeking help for their PTSD. They might be concerned about being judged by their peers or how it could affect their careers. 

Shouldn’t Workers’ Compensation Benefits Cover Psychological Injuries?

Workers’ compensation benefits are designed to help employees who get sick or injured because of their job. These benefits can cover medical expenses and provide financial support if employees can’t work temporarily or permanently. 

Given that PTSD can deeply affect first responders’ ability to work and live normally as they did before they experienced traumatic events, you would think workers’ compensation benefits would cover first responders with PTSD injuries.

Unfortunately, workers’ compensation laws in some states do not cover psychological conditions like PTSD because they can be harder to prove than physical injuries. 

Employers and insurance companies might worry about false claims or the long-term costs of treating mental health conditions. This makes it challenging for first responders to receive the support they need when dealing with the mental impacts of their jobs.

First responders have an unimaginably tough job. That’s why they need a partner who will be just as tough about protecting their rights.

The team at Meshbesher & Spence is honored to support first responders in receiving the justice they uphold in their daily service to our communities. Contact us online or call (612) 339-9121 to learn how we can help you.

Ashley Biermann Changes the Tide for First Responders in Minnesota

Partner Ashley Biermann recently achieved a significant victory for a Minneapolis police officer battling PTSD. Despite the officer’s clear diagnosis of work-related PTSD, the city refused to provide the officer with workers’ compensation benefits. 

Thankfully, Ashley took on the challenge and triumphed in trial court, where she not only secured all owed benefits but also held the city accountable by securing penalties against the City for unjustly denying the officer’s claim. 

Although the city attempted to appeal the decision, Ashley was undeterred and continued to fight for her client. Recently, the Workers’ Compensation Court of Appeals (WCCA) upheld the trial court’s decision, affirming the officer’s PTSD stemmed from his job.

You can watch the historic decision that took place in court below: 

http://stream5.video.state.mn.us:8080/MNIT/wcca_01-08-24-PETERSON.html

How the Landmark Case Is Changing Lives for Minnesota’s First Responders 

This monumental ruling that delivered justice to this particular officer also paved the way for fair treatment for all first responders facing with PTSD injuries.

In a unanimous decision, the WCCA recognized for the first time that psychological conditions caused by PTSD resulting from the job can be compensated. 

The WCCA also held that injured workers suffering from PTSD, as diagnosed under the lifetime diagnosis criteria in the DSM-V-TR (a manual used by doctors to diagnose mental health conditions), are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits.

About Attorney Ashley Biermann

Ashley is a partner with Meshbesher & Spence, focusing on workers’ compensation and disability cases for first responders in Minnesota. She has handled numerous hearings and trials, advocating for injured police officers, firefighters, and other emergency personnel. 

Furthermore, this case is just one of the many where Ashley has fought for a favorable outcome for her clients. Other notable verdicts or settlements led by Ashley include: 

• A $200,000.00 workers’ compensation settlement for a Minneapolis Police Officer with PTSD
• A $400,000.00 healthcare continuation/workers’ compensation settlement for a Bloomington officer struggling with PTSD.
• A $1,000.000.00 personal injury settlement for an officer in greater Minnesota involved in a motor vehicle collision.
• A workers’ compensation verdict following a two-day hearing, entitling a Minneapolis Police Officer with PTSD to nearly $200,000.00 in past due benefits.
• Another recent WCCA case, Rowe v. City of Minneapolis, overturning the findings at hearing and determining Rowe has work-related PTSD and is entitled to benefits.

Her knowledge extends to cases involving PTSD, orthopedic injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and chemical exposures. Ashley’s commitment to supporting first responders has led her to serve on the Executive Board of the Invisible Wounds Project for many years.

Ashley’s tireless work on this case has not only helped one officer but has also set an example that ensures better protection and help for Minnesota’s first responders.

Meshbesher & Spence Is Proud to Support First Responders

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), roughly 1 in 3 first responders develop PTSD. Our legal team knows the realities of PTSD and never underestimates the horrors first responders have endured. 

The attorneys at Meshbesher & Spence have represented hundreds of first responders with PTSD. Contact us online or call (612) 339-9121 if you are a first responder battling work-related PTSD.