Read Our Reviews

Call Now! 855-780-4357

I Received a Complaint Saying My Creditors Are Suing Me, What Do I Do Now?

If you received a lawsuit document indicating the creditor is attempting to sue you, it can be a worrisome situation. When you receive the initial complaint, it indicates a law firm is representing the creditor to further pursue their claim against you.

The first step in the process is for the creditor to serve you with a “Summons and Complaint” document indicating the nature of the lawsuit. In the paperwork, it will set forth the factual allegations and legal complaints against you. They can “serve” the lawsuit on you in one of two ways:

  • by delivering it to you personally or leaving it at your home with a person of suitable age and discretion; or
  • by mail, if you agreed in writing to accept service of the Summons and Complaint by mail and signs a form that indicates your acceptance.

 

If you wish to contest the lawsuit, you need to serve the creditor’s attorney with a form called an “Answer.” If you do not provide the Answer in the time period of 20 days, the creditor may enter a default judgment against you which allows them to take further action.

There are several defenses against the lawsuit; however, not being able to afford to pay the debt is not a defense. Some of the available defenses are: improper service, statute of limitations, FDCPA violations, lack of standing, proof of payment, fraud, mistaken identity and lastly bankruptcy.

Filing bankruptcy is a protection against a lawsuit served upon you and can be used as a defense to stop any further action. When you receive any lawsuit document, it is important to consult with an attorney who can give you advice about your specific situation. One of our experienced bankruptcy attorneys can sit down with you and review the lawsuit to give you the best advice towards your next steps.

 

By Ann Hagerty

Social Security Domain #4 – Health and Physical Well-Being

If a child has a severe impairment(s) that does not meet or medically equal any listing, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will then look to see if the child functionally equals the listings.  To functionally equal the listing, the child’s impairments must result in marked limitations in two domains, or extreme limitation in one domain.

The fourth domain used by SSA is called 4. Health and Physical Well-Being.  In this domain, SSA considers the physical effects of physical and mental impairments of the child.  Unlike the other domains, this domain does not address typical development and functioning.  This domain addresses how such things as recurrent illness, the side effects of medication, and the need for ongoing treatment affect a child’s body.

It is important to remember that the cumulative physical effects of a child’s physical or mental impairment(s) can vary in kind and intensity, and can affect each child in a different way.  As with all other domains, SSA does not consider the limitations in this domain unless it results from a medically determinable impairment(s).  However, it is very unlikely that a child who has a significant problem in this domain does not have an impairment that causes the problem.

 

For more information, please contact one of the attorneys at Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik.

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →

Social Security Domain #3 – Interacting and Relating with Others

If a child has a severe impairment(s) that does not meet or medically equal any listing, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will then look to see if the child functionally equals the listings.  To functionally equal the listing, the child’s impairments must result in marked limitations in two domains, or extreme limitation in one domain.

The third domain used by SSA is called 3. Interacting and Relating to Others.  In this domain, SSA will consider the child’s ability to initiate and respond to exchanges with other people, and to form and sustain relationships with family members, friends, and other people.  This would include all aspects of social interaction in all different areas of the child’s life.

Also, because communication is essential to both interacting and relating, SSA considers speech and language skills that a child would need to speak intelligibly and to understand and use language of their community.  The ability to interact and relate with others begins at birth.  A child begins to us his/her ability in early infancy when they bond with a caregiver.

As with limitations in any domain, SSA does not consider a limitation in the domain unless it results from a medically determinable impairment(s).

For more information, please contact one of the attorneys at Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik.

 

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →

What is a Bankruptcy Trustee and what does it have to do with my Bankruptcy Case?

When you file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, not only will you be working with an attorney, you will also work with bankruptcy trustee. While you will be working closely with your attorney throughout the whole filing process, you will not meet the trustee until the meeting of the creditors (also known as your 341 hearing).

The trustee is a third party, appointed by the United States Trustee, she herself is not a government employee. She does not represent you and she does not represent your creditors. The trustee represents the bankruptcy estate, and has several duties in doing so.

The trustee’s duties include:

  1. Conducting the meeting of creditors;
  2. Investigating your assets and claimed exemptions;
  3. Checking for fraud or inaccuracies and making objections when appropriate;
  4. Reviewing your right to a discharge;
  5. Sending any required notices related to domestic support obligations;
  6. Determining whether there any non-exempt assets to liquidate and distribute amongst your creditors;
  7. Gathering, protecting and preserving any non-exempt assets of the estate, or
  8. Ensuring statement of intention provisions are followed;
  9. If applicable, filing a report stating that no assets have been found

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →

How Will a Bankruptcy Affect my Credit?

People often wonder how filing for bankruptcy will affect their long term credit. Some have the misconception that a bankruptcy will ruin their chances of ever having a good credit score. While it is true that a bankruptcy will stay on a credit report for ten years it is not the end for a person’s chances at having good credit.

In the short term a person’s credit might take a drastic hit after filing for bankruptcy. This depends on the credit score at the time of filing. The higher the score before filing the further it will fall. For example a person with a score of 680 before filing could see it fall to 550 while a person with a score of 780 could fall to 560. If a score is in the 500s or lower at the time of filing there may not be much change.

After the bankruptcy a person can begin to rebuild. Having a bankruptcy on your record will be a negative mark for some potential creditors. It may take some time after filing before a person is able to get a new loan. However, many people are surprised to find they are able to get car loans and new credit cards relatively quickly. The interest rates may be high and the credit limits low, but it is a start. By being careful and paying back any new debt on time a credit score can start to rebuild. While the bankruptcy may show up on a credit report for ten years a score can be repaired within a few years. The bankruptcy is a fresh start for people looking to build a secure financial future.

Sources:

Bankruptcy timeline: Rebuilding credit

https://www.bankrate.com/finance/debt/bankruptcy-timeline-rebuilding-credit-1.aspx

How to Rebuild Your Credit After Bankruptcy—Fast

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/curtis-arnold/how-to-rebuild-your-credi_b_5790860.html

Credit Report Q&A

https://www.myfico.com/crediteducation/questions/credit_problem_comparison.aspx

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →

Pancreatitis and Disability

Pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas, is a condition that may either be acute, having a short and severe episode, or chronic, with frequent flare-ups. The main symptoms are abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Because of the pancreatitis, someone might also have unexplained weight loss, or may develop diabetes. For most people, these episodes are manageable, but for others, it may be so severe as to interfere with their daily functioning and result in a permanent disability.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) does not have specific rules or listings for pancreatitis. It is evaluated on how the symptoms from the disease affect your daily activities. Social Security Ruling 14-3p sets out guidelines to how they evaluate disorders similar to pancreatitis. First, they will consider the medical evidence that supports the diagnosis. Next, they will consider the effect your disease has on your body, and whether those symptoms meet a Listing for disability. For example, if your pancreatitis has caused you to lose weight, your weight loss may be evaluated to see if you meet Listing 5.08, and if the SSA finds your condition meets those guidelines, you may be found disabled. If they don’t find your condition meets a Listing, then they evaluate the combined effect of the condition and the effect it has on your physical activities and your limitations because of it.

Of course, a condition like pancreatitis affects everyone differently, and your symptoms may be different from others. If you have other conditions in addition to the pancreatitis, those conditions will be evaluated in a similar way for SSA to find how it affects you and your daily functioning.

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →

Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction and Its Role in an Administrative Hearing

Lefmaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT) or by a nuclear medical scan.2

There are numerous symptoms that could notify a doctor to order one of these tests-including, but not limited to: shortness of breath, persistent coughing, a build-up of fluid (edema), fatigue, and/or chest pain.3 These symptoms also play an impact on a social security disability claim. For example, a person with shortness of breath may have difficulty walking long distances or have difficulty lifting. An administrative law judge analyzes a person’s case by reviewing all the medical data, which would include both a person’s symptoms and also the objective evidence (i.e. an echocardiogram).

In determining if a person is disabled, an administrative law judge reviews the “Listing of Impairments” and compares the medical evidence with the listings. For a person with a low left ventricular ejection fraction, the administrative law judge will compare the claimant’s percentage to what is discussed in the listings. The judge will review the listings under section 4.00: Cardiovascular System. In section 4.02 it discusses if a person has severe ejection fraction of 30% or lower and has one of three: persistent symptoms of heart failure, three or more separate episodes of acute congestive heart failure within 12 months, or an inability to perform a stress test at 5 METs or less due various reasons.4 If an administrative law judge finds that all criteria are met in the listing, a favorable decision is granted.

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →

Should I Cash Out My Retirement Account to Pay Off Debt?

Taking withdrawals from an IRA before you’re retired is something you should do only as a last resort. There are a few reasons why.

If you withdraw money from a traditional IRA before you turn 59 ½, you must pay a 10% tax penalty in most cases, in addition to regular income taxes. Plus, the IRA withdrawal would be taxed as regular income, and could possibly push you into a higher tax bracket, costing you even more.

Though the federal government allow you to withdraw contributions from a Roth IRA without incurring a penalty, you will owe a penalty (and taxes) if you withdraw the earnings on those contributions.

In addition, money you take out of an IRA cannot be replaced, since you would still be restricted to yearly contribution limits for future years. So even if you withdraw only a small amount, factor in the years of compounding interest you would be forgoing, and that small withdrawal could end up costing you a small fortune in your golden years.

In both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies, IRAs, 401(k)s, and most retirement accounts are protected. This means you have the possibility of discharging your debt while still having a nest egg for your retirement. Before you cash out your accounts to pay off debt, set up an appointment with Hoglund Law Office where an experienced bankruptcy attorney will meet with you to discuss the possibility of bankruptcy as a viable option rather than losing the money you’ve worked hard to set aside for retirement.

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →

Social Security Disability and Cystic Fibrosis

Recently, I represented a 10-year-old girl diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. According to the Mayo Clinic, cystic fibrosis is a “life-threatening disorder that causes severe damage to the lungs and digestive system…it affects the cells that produce the mucus, sweat, and digestive juices.”1 My client battled with breathing, producing phlegm, maintaining her weight, and staying healthy among other symptoms. In addition, she requires numerous daily breathing treatments that take her out of the classroom and away from her studies. Her condition and symptoms could result in her being found disabled.

In my client’s claim, and in all claims, Social Security will look at the medical evidence to determine the impairments and the severity of the impairments. There are three arguments that could be made for my client: one, she meet’s listing 103.04 (Cystic Fibrosis Listing), which is that she meets the very specific criteria to be approved; two, that is she is markedly impaired under at least two of six domains; or three, she is extremely impaired in one domain.

Since my client’s medical evidence did not support the required evidence of a listing, we argued that she marked in two domains. Specifically, we argued she was marked in domains two: attending and completing tasks and six: health and physical well-being. In domain two, the child is out of the classroom three times a day receiving breathing treatments. In addition, whenever she has an breathing attack and required further treatment she again is outside the classroom; this occurs at least one or two more times a week. The client is unable to participate in any physical activities and is not learning in those settings. She is continually falling behind in her school work due to nurse visits, not being able to participate, and absences. In domain six, this child had numerous visits to the school nurse, she has been to the emergency room countless times, had pneumonia in the last six months and in the period of her filing date had three hospitalizations. The doctors were concerned with her ability to thrive and grow. The medical records did strongly reflect this child’s struggle with her health.

Due to the severity cystic fibrosis has on a child’s life, seeking disability is warranted.

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →

Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures (PNES) or Psuedo-seizures

Often times, patients or clients are misdiagnosed with seizures, when really they are experiencing manifestations of psychological distress. Epileptic seizures are caused by abnormal brain electrical charges. The PNES attacks look a lot like epileptic seizures. Patients suffering from PNES attacks may experience seizure like activity:

* Convulsions

* Falling

* Shaking

* Temporary loss of attention

* Staring

Physicians often become suspect of the possible misdiagnosis when frequency, duration, triggers, and movements are unusual in comparison to the neurological examinations. It is important to note that EEGs (electroencephalograms) are helpful in diagnosing epilepsy but they often come back normal even in patients with proven epilepsy. The most reliable way to test for PNES is to do an EEG with video monitoring. Through analysis of the video and EEG recording, analysis can be made with near certainty.

PNES or pseudo-seizures are a type of Somatoform Disorder called Conversion Disorder. After patients are diagnosed, they should be referred to a psychiatrist for continuing care. PNES is treatable and should not be concerned about the stigma that comes with mental illness.

The most important thing with anyone applying for Social Security Benefits with this (or any) condition is well documented treatment. If you are not sure if you suffer from PNES or physical epilepsy, continue to treat for epilepsy but seek help from a mental health professional. Talk to your doctor about your concerns. Document any seizure like activity in a seizure diary. Track when the episodes happen, how often, and what symptoms or activities occur in this diary. Treating with specialists, using a seizure diary, and following any recommended treatment plans by your doctors, are all important steps in proving your disability claim.

We can help you with these questions and more. Please contact us at Hoglund, Chwialkowski, and Mrozik law office to discuss your Social Security Claim possibilities further.

Written by Hoglund Law

The attorneys of Hoglund law are licensed in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC is based in Roseville, Minnesota. In addition to handling cases involving bankruptcy & social security, Hoglund, Chwialkowski & Mrozik, PLLC handles faulty drugs and toxic exposure.

View all author posts →