Federal employee was denied disability retirement by OPM. Our firm assisted this clients in obtaining his retirement through a request for reconsideration.
Federal supervisor received proposed discipline. Our firm represented client on both oral and written responses. Management withdrew proposed action when our presentations demonstrated the action was unfounded.
Federal employee with a back injury came to us because for many years OWCP had reduced his benefits, claiming one of his doctors had stated he could do some minimal work as a phone solicitor. Due to heavy medication for severe pain the client could not work in any capacity. We were successful in obtaining medical evidence sufficient to cause OWCP to re-evaluate their reduction of his benefit and reinstate his full wage replacement benefit.
Federal supervisor received a minimally acceptable performance rating which was used as the basis for denying him his within grade increase. He retained our services to challenge the denial of the WIGI. We were successful in getting the agency to admit they lacked proper performance documentation to issue the low appraisal rating and to withhold the WIGI. The agency was therefore compelled to issue a fully successful performance rating and grant the WIGI retroactively with interest.
Postal employee was injured on the job in 2006. The Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) initially accepted his claim. However, when the client attempted to return to duty for a few days after the injury, he could not continue due to pain from the original injury. He continues to be totally disabled for work, due partly from the original injury and partly from an adverse reaction to medications prescribed to treat that injury. He filed a recurrence which was denied by OWCP. Our firm filed a Request for Reconsideration which OWCP granted. The client received retroactive payments in excess of $130,000 and continued wage replacement benefits.
2008
Mail carrier came to us with aggravation of a knee injury. Her claim to OWCP had been denied due to lack of medical documentation. We obtained approval of her claim through a Request for Reconsideration. She was awarded two years of back wage replacement benefits, future wage replacement benefits, and vocational rehabilitation through a local trade school.
OWCP denied a Federal employee’s claim for wage replacement benefits on the grounds that employee refused a suitable modified job offer made by the employing agency. Our firm was successful in obtaining sufficient medical documentation to show that the agency’s job offer was not suitable. The client was awarded back wage replacement benefits and future wage replacement benefits.
2007
Our staff assisted an injured Postal employee to receive a schedule award for his carpal tunnel injury and to obtain an increase of a previous schedule award for his shoulder injury.
Mr. Nivens assisted a national Guard Technician by recovering attorney fees which had been unjustly withheld when she prevailed in her appeal of a wrongful termination.
Federal law enforcement officer received a proposed removal from supervisor for serious misconduct and security breaches. Mr. Nivens and his staff prepared an effective response to the action, causing the deciding official to mitigate the penalty to a minor suspension.
2006
Federal employee was removed from her position without proper procedures. Mr. Nivens filed an MSPB appeal and obtained reinstatement with full back pay and benefits.
Federal employee was removed from his position because his back injury prevented him from performing normal duties. Although he filed a workers’ compensation claim for the injury, OWCP denied it. Working with employee’s physicians, Mr. Nivens and his staff obtained needed medical documentation and submitted a request for reconsideration which resulted in full wage replacement and other benefits from OWCP.
Federal supervisor received a proposed removal for poor performance. Through thorough investigation, Mr. Nivens and his staff discovered disabling condition was cause of his problems and requested accommodation and withdrawal of proposed removal. Management complied.
A Federal attorney who represented herself in an EEO complaint received compensatory damages. She felt the award was too low and retained Mr. Nivens to appeal the damages award. On appeal, Mr. Nivens obtained an award doubling the damages award while recovering attorney fees.
2005
A rural letter carrier with the USPS filed a workers’ compensation claim because of hip injury. When claim denied, Mr. Nivens and his staff obtained reversal. Employee received medical benefits, a large schedule award, and wage replacement.
A DoD employee received a proposed removal for allegedly embezzling agency funds. Quick in-depth investigation revealed that an overzealous management official misinterpreted employee’s actions and wrongly accused him. The proposed removal was withdrawn.
Postal employee with bi-lateral carpal tunnel injury filed claim with OWCP. It was rejected because medical information was insufficient. Mr. Nivens and his staff worked with client’s doctors to provide adequate documentation. Claim was approved and client received back wage replacement and medical benefits.
2004Employee removed from her position as National Guard Technician based on charges of misconduct. After thorough investigation by Mr. Nivens and his staff, he disproved charges at hearing. Employee was reinstated with full backpay and benefits with clean record.
Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) issued decision denying compensation for an injury to claimant’s right rotator cuff because medical evidence was not sufficient. Mr. Nivens guided employee’s physician in providing supplemental report and then submitted a Request for Reconsideration of the Decision denying benefits. DOL reversed its decision and compensation benefits were paid.
OWCP issued a Proposed Termination of Benefits to injured worker suffering from Thoracic Outlet Syndrome after OWCP obtained “Independent Medical Evaluation (IME)” of the worker’s condition. The IME concluded that the worker was no longer totally disabled. Mr. Nivens worked with physicians to show that the worker was still totally disabled. OWCP did not terminate benefits.