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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor=white background="file:///C:\Program%20Files%20(x86)\Common%20Files\Microsoft%20Shared\Stationery\SoftBlue.jpg" lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>If you can help me with a referral to an attorney to help a client with the following scenario, please contact me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'> </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>Employed by the City of Tacoma since 2002 as an electrician for Tacoma Fire Department<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'> </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>Diagnosed with Dupuytren’s in 2015 and had surgery on his hand in October---returned to work in January of 2016, but then took a leave of absence after being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and extreme fatigue as well---and kept dropping tools (not good to drop a tool into an open panel….boom!) He left on FMLA.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'> </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>RA doctor (Rheumatologist) told him (and put in writing) that he could not return to work—he should apply for disability as of 2/16<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'> </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>He sought disability from the City of Tacoma and early pension plan distribution<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'> </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>City’s long term disability plan began paying out $900 per month in disability (Standard Insurance)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'> </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>COT Board for the pension made him go to a IME----who indicated he could work so long as it was a desk job and only needed the use of one hand<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'> A</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>ppealed as his doctor said he could not work at all---pension board sent him to a second IME who indicated he could work<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'> </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>By this time, client has been diagnosed with RA, Osteo Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Crohns and Dupuytren’s (the surgery was not successful and his other fingers began to contract)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'> </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>The Retirement Director has not allowed the Retirement Board to look at any of the information from John’s physicians---only from the IMEs---and he contacted the first IME and asked him to change his report to say John could work<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'> </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>The City of Tacoma will not let him work because his doctor says he can not work<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'> </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>The Retirement Board will not give him his pension because their “independent medical examiners” say he can work. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'> </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>The City of Tacoma finally cut him from the job.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'> </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>A few hours after the last appeal hearing, the dogs started barking and John looked out the window to see a city employee opening his mailbox and putting something in it. When he went out to check, he found the decline letter had been put in there (without postage) by a city employee.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'> </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>He has one more shot at the early retirement through his last appeal. This will require him to go to a third IME. (though they don’t seem to be independent if the director tells them to change their report)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'> </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>The Union, the fire department personnel and the city staff HR department all support him, but he can not work there due to his doctor’s note and yet the retirement board won’t give him his pension. (he is fully vested)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in'><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>·</span><span style='font-size:7.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'> </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>He is working with a SS attorney to request SS benefits.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D'>Can you recommend someone to assist with the retirement board appeal as he feels he needs to be represented for this third and final appeal?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>With kindest regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Jenny Rydberg <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.jcrlaw.com/"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=249 height=52 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.jpg@01D327F1.E06D7DF0" alt="JCR logo ver 1"></span></a><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><a href="http://www.jcrlaw.com/"><span style='color:black;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=250 height=150 id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D327F1.E06D7DF0"></span></a><a name="Jennifer_C__Rydberg__JD"></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-C-Rydberg-Attorney-at-Law/202026819930339?fref=ts"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image003.gif@01D327F1.E06D7DF0" alt=Facebook></span></a><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/company/jennifer-c.-rydberg-attorney-at-law"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 id="Picture_x0020_4" src="cid:image004.gif@01D327F1.E06D7DF0" alt=LinkedIn></span></a><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/JCRLaw"><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:blue;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=24 height=24 id="Picture_x0020_5" src="cid:image005.gif@01D327F1.E06D7DF0" alt=Twitter></span></a><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black'>NOTICE: This communication may contain privileged or other confidential information. If you have received it in error, please advise the sender by reply email and immediately delete the message and any attachments without copying or disclosing the contents. Thank You.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>