Minneapolis Employment Law Firm

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Employment Law Lawyer for Medical Professionals in Minneapolis

Representing Medical and Mental Health Professionals in Minneapolis

Schaefer Halleen, LLC is privileged to often represent physicians, licensed counselors and therapists, and other medical or mental health professionals. As a result, the Firm has developed a deep expertise in effectively navigating through the legal issues often faced by medical professionals. From Chief Medical Officers, to Department Chairs, to surgeons, psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians, and executive/administrative leadership at all levels, these clients need counsel fully familiar with the complex legal issues which can directly affect employment in this area. In August 2019, Larry Schaefer had an article published in Minnesota Physician titled, Physician employment rights: A new legal landscape.

Peer Review Experience for Physicians in Minneapolis

Physicians subject to peer review and related licensing issues need a lawyer well versed in those processes. Medical staff privileges and licensing are often at issue in peer review. When discrimination, retaliation or antitrust motives taint this process, the tables can be turned on what could otherwise be a career-threatening accusation. An experienced Minneapolis employment lawyer can go on the offensive in these circumstances, and challenge both the confidentiality and immunities which might otherwise apply to the peer review process.  This often results in opportunities to negotiate a reasonable resolution which precludes any license- or privilege- threatening reports, and allows the physician to transition to other opportunities, often with compensation for the improper manipulation of peer review.

MD News Articles on Peer Review

  • Ensuring Due Process during Peer Review, By Larry Schaefer
  • Peer Review and Discrimination: No Place for Employers to Hide Improper Bias, By Larry Schaefer
  • for-medical-professionals

    Representing Medical and Mental Health Professionals

Blog Series on Employment Contracts for MN Doctors

Here’s our take on the most important employment contract issues facing MN Physicians.

  • Why Doctors Should Seek Legal Advice on Their Employment Contracts
  • Contract Law Fundamentals for Doctors
  • Promises Doctors and Employers Exchange in Their Contracts
  • What Doctors’ Contracts Say About Termination and Severance
  • Malpractice Insurance, Non-Competes, and Secrecy Provisions in Doctor’s Contracts
  • What Their Contracts Say About Disagreements Between Doctors and Their Employers
Why Doctors Should Seek Legal Advice on Their Employment Contracts | Schaefer Halleen, LLC

Employment Law Attorneys for Minneapolis Medical Professionals

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Case Results Involving Medical Professionals

Type of Client: Senior Internal Medicine physician at large Twin Cities Hospital

Problem: Our client, who was of Asian Indian national origin, was subject to an inappropriate manipulation of the intake/referral system at the Hospital which steered patients asking for his services to other physicians.  Significant evidence suggested that this may have been motivated by national origin bias.  His complaints about the ongoing manipulation of this system were disregarded without any corrective action taken.  He was terminated for dubious productivity reasons as his practice declined as a direct result of this patient referral manipulation.

Our Approach: When the Hospital would not reinstate our client and agree to reasonable compensation terms, we successfully litigated claims in both state and federal court on his behalf.

The Solution: The state court action involved tort claims for interference with existing and potential business relationships, involving the improper “steering” of referrals to other physicians.  We proved this improper manipulation by offering the testimony of numerous patients who requested the services of our client, but were steered to other providers.  Secured a jury verdict as a result with significant economic loss and emotional distress/damage to reputation compensation to our client.  Thereafter, the federal lawsuit for national origin discrimination settled on very favorable terms.


Type of Client: Surgeon at large rural County Hospital

Problem: Physician who our client was hired to “partner with” in surgical practice and who was to retire after two years of this partnership resisted this arrangement, to the point where he actively defamed our clients to staff and patients, refused to support our client’s practice in any manner (and even refused to do “rounds” on our client’s patients, with life-threatening results.  Client’s frequent complaints to Hospital administration were ignored and instead the offending physician was supported.

Our Approach: Wrote detailed proposal letter to the Hospital CEO and copied Board Members which presented breach of contract, misrepresentations in inducing client to join Hospital, as well as defamation and the ongoing interference with our client’s treatment of and relationship with existing patients.  Followed up with numerous letters describing continuing interference and defamation, as well as retaliation for making initial complaints. Hospital eventually agreed to early mediation.

The Solution: Mediation, which occurred over two days, resulted in agreed upon resignation, payments amounting to approximately five years of compensation to our client, mutual non-disparagement, and limited waiver of non-compete obligation which allowed our client to promptly accept another lucrative position.


Type of Client: Experienced Pediatrician in large multi-clinic facility who was placed on performance improvement plan due to alleged lack of productivity.

Problem: After years of productive service, Clinic administration had changed and new administration alleged our client was failing to meet productivity standards, as measured by “relative value units” (RVUs) assigned to various patient treatment options.

Our Approach: Presented strong evidence that our client was being disfavored, in contrast to younger pediatricians, in types of patient assigned.  Patients likely to generate significant RVUs were directed to younger, more favored physicians.  Our client had also raised complaints in the past about the productivity measurement being inconsistent with providing medical treatment with integrity and a focus on preventative medicine, and was also retaliated against.

The Solution: Contract provided for six month severance in the event of involuntary termination without cause.  Clinic agreed to substantially increase this (to over one year) in light of claims arising from above facts, and agreed to waive non-competition and non –solicitation to allow client to move to nearby clinic and transport many patients to new provider.


Type of Client: Experienced female Radiologist in large out-state medical organization

Problem: After experiencing significant conflict with a far younger radiologist hired into the practice, our client was cited for alleged significant practice errors and subject to potential summary suspension of privileges and termination of her employment.

Approach: The failure to effectively address client’s complaints and more favorable treatment of far younger newly hired radiologist gave rise to age and gender discrimination claims, and the process of raising the alleged patient care concerns bypassed numerous required steps under the Medical Staff Bylaws, further suggesting discriminatory bias. All of these concerns were raised in detailed proposal letter addressed to leadership.

Solution: Successful mediation occurred following proposal letter which allowed peer review process to conclude favorably (with no NPDB report), significant transition pay to client (over a year of compensation), with agreed resignation and future protection against disparagement.

The lawyers at Schaefer Halleen also know how to ensure that physician contracts contain provisions protecting our physician clients when issues arise, and ensure that any restrictive covenants do not impose too great a burden when a transition needs to occur. Our physician contract-review services protect our clients, and are done with an efficiency that comes with extensive experience.

MD News Articles

  • Under the Microscope: A Review of Physicians’ Employment Rights When Complaints Occur
  • Schaefer Halleen LLC: Experienced Counsel for Complex Legal Issues
  • Legal Considerations for Physicians

For more information on MD News, visit their website.

Employment Contracts

Many of these executives, managers and physician employees have employment contracts, usually for a specified term. It is critically important for these contracts to be very clear, for both sides, on:

  • Overall expectations
  • How performance is to be measured and evaluated
  • When and how a potential termination event can occur
  • What benefits are to be provided in this unfortunate circumstance
  • What- if any- post-termination restrictive covenants can be enforced

Schaefer Halleen has unparalleled experience in all of these areas, knows the “state of the art” and other generally accepted language for these items, and can thus negotiate very effectively for our clients in the contract formation period. Clarity at the outset of these relationships protects medical professionals, and reduces the risk that difficult disputes will arise during the employment relationship.

Furthermore, there may come a time during the contract term where our clients want to have an “exit strategy” for moving their practice elsewhere, while maximizing the benefits to which they may be entitled under the contract terms and given events at work which have led them to seek a separation. Schaefer Halleen Minneapolis attorneys for physician can analyze complex facts and contract terms and shape just such a strategy for our clients. Moreover, our reputation with large medical employers and the defense bar often leads to prompt and productive settlement discussions in these difficult situations.

Federal and State Laws Affecting Medical Professionals

There are numerous federal and state laws which have an exclusive or significant impact on medical and mental health professionals. Familiarity with these laws is critical when disputes arise, or in avoiding these disputes developing into litigation. To highlight one such law, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a sweeping federal law protecting, among other things, personal medical information. Alleged HIPAA violations can often be the springboard for employment investigations and sometimes threatened adverse action against our clients. In a similar vein, reporting actual or threatened violations of the privacy required under this law can sometimes provoke a retaliatory response. Familiarity with this law, the authority interpreting it, and the regulatory guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is essential for effectively advocating for our clients when these kinds of issues arise.

The Minnesota Whistleblower Protection Act

The recently amended Minnesota Whistleblower Protection Act, Minn. Stat. §181.932, has numerous provisions directly applicable to the medical and mental health fields. The protection under the Act can provide robust, tort-like damages to our clients when their rights under this statute may have been violated. Our experience, and well-known track record in prosecuting such claims, often leads to very favorable early settlement resolutions for our clients.

Licensure and the Physician-Client Relationship

Understanding the ramifications of both licensure requirements and the unique importance of the physician-patient relationship must be paramount in effectively advocating for our medical industry clients. The former can give rise to defamation and other related claims when false information is provided or threatened to be provided, and the latter can give rise to tortious interference and/or breach of contract or quasi-contract claims when there is a demonstrable interference with this relationship. Schaefer Halleen attorneys for physician have a truly unique expertise, built on years of experience advocating for and advising clients in the medical field, to determine when complex facts may give rise to these kinds of claims and to effectively prosecute these claims, when necessary.

If you are a medical or mental health professional, we would be delighted to deploy our considerable expertise to assist you in whatever employment issue(s) you may face.

Our Services for Medical Professionals in Minneapolis:

  • Advice in reviewing and editing initial employment contract offers and negotiating with the employer on behalf of our client to secure most favorable and detailed terms possible
  • Fashioning an appropriate and achievable “exit strategy” which maximizes benefits available under the contract when seeking to separate during employment
  • Evaluating and prosecuting breach of contract, tort, or statutory claims while seeking a favorable early resolution for our client throughout this process

What Our Clients Say

  • My sister referred me to Schaefer Halleen when I began to experience being “railroaded” out of a position in a large pediatric clinic I had served well and productively in for years, and I’m very grateful to have retained the Firm. The Clinic was represented by one of the largest Firms in the state, and Larry Schaefer stood up to this “defense” in a way that made crystal clear he wasn’t intimidated, and knew more about the legal issues than any other lawyer.   As a result, we achieved my g...

    C.R., ,
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  • Schaefer Halleen was the obvious choice when I was seeking experienced employment counsel to stand up on my behalf to months of interference with my surgical practice and breaches of numerous contract obligations. Larry Schaefer’s aggressive and exhaustive advocacy allowed me to not only get out of this dysfunctional and damaging work environment promptly, but to do so with significant financial security and the damage to my reputation stopped. In mediation, our very experienced mediator d...

    J.S., Surgeon, ,
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  • What I most value is how responsive Lawrence was in every regard- from the very first phone call, to the consultation, and how well he explained the process and all my options.

    L.H.J., ,
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  • I move forward with my life understanding that everything that could be done was done. . . . From the bottom of my heart I thank you for your efforts, understanding, compassion and generosity during this difficult and trying time for me.

    Medical Professional, ,
    |
  • Thank you, Larry and Lauren, for all your advocacy and legal advice. I greatly appreciated your tireless counsel and supreme professionalism. You've demonstrated a superb legal acumen and genuine care for me, and that reinforcement and your reassurance really helped me as the underdog employee.

    I appreciate the truth, risks, and nuances of employment law after working with Schaefer Halleen, and I will never forget your devoted assistance in this troubling matter. Again, thank you f...

    R.S., ,
    |
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Schaefer Halleen Prevails on a $1.38 Million Fraud Claim in Jury Trial

Larry Schaefer and Lauren D’Cruz just completed a four-day jury trial in Denver, Colorado federal district court on behalf of a medical device account executive.  Last Thursday, October 24, 2019, t...

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Larry Schaefer, whose lengthy employment law career has led him to represent many healthcare professionals Minneapolis, is the author of an article recently published in Minnesota Physician concerning...

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Filed Under: All Blog Posts, For Medical Professionals, Lawrence P. Schaefer, Medical Profession

Schaefer Halleen, LLC

Schaefer Halleen, LLC is located at:
412 S 4th St
Suite 1050
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Phone:612-294-2600
Fax:612-294-2640
www.schaeferhalleen.com

Google Rating
4.7
Based on 31 reviews
Schaefer Halleen, LLC
Schaefer Halleen, LLC
4.7
DeAijha Perry
DeAijha Perry
05:22 30 Dec 20
Henry V
Henry V
15:56 25 Sep 20
I worked with Larry Schaefer and Lauren D'Cruz. They enthusiastically took up my case. They showed creativity, good judgment and deep knowledge of the law in formulating the theory of the case. They also struck a fine balance between zealous advocacy and risk management. They were very responsive and provided timely status updates throughout our engagement. They took genuine interest in me as a person. I would recommend Schaefer Halleen to my family and friends without reservation.
Constance Lewis
Constance Lewis
15:46 10 Aug 20
I had the opportunity to work with Peter Christian. He was amazing to work with. He believed in my case from the moment we spoke and was diligent in working for me. He kept me in the loop on every aspect of my case, he allowed me to have input before decisions were made and fought for me from the very beginning to the end. He was prompt and followed through on everything he said he would. Peter was very professional, and timely. I truly appreciate the time and dedication to my case. Thank you Peter for taking the chance with my case and fighting for me. With Peter's expertise, my case was settled with a positive and favorable outcome. You were a pleasure to work with and I would highly recommend your services. Thank you again!
B Bowlby
B Bowlby
15:46 24 Apr 20
I cannot recommend Schaefer Halleen highly enough. I had a particularly hard employment issue and I found the people at S.H. to be excellent to work with. They are all very professional, very intelligent, handled me and my situation with care and always kept me up to date on where my case was at. In the rare instance when I contacted them by either phone or email I received a near immediate response.I was always made to feel that I was important and I always felt I was being given advice I could trust. At the end of the day my case was settled in a very timely manor and I am very pleased with how it turned out.Finally, the lawyers and staff at S.H. are some of the most experienced people in their industry and I was very impressed with their past accomplishments. I knew I could trust S.H. to handle my case after the very first meeting. If you need employment law help, Schaefer Halleen, LLC is the one and only firm I would recommend.
Roland Awasome
Roland Awasome
13:32 02 Apr 20
I am a professional and worked with many attorneys in the past. Peter is hands down the best out there. I can’t recommend him enough .
Laura H
Laura H
14:10 21 Feb 20
I am so thankful I found the Schaefer Hallen team to help me through one of the most difficult times in my life. Lauren always took the time to listen and was respectful and professional. Her attention to detail is impeccable, and she helped organize all my random thoughts and emails to help strengthen my case. Larry and Lauren kept me informed throughout the whole process and always made me feel like I was in control. With their expertise, my case was settled efficiently and with a positive outcome.
Mevhibe Atay
Mevhibe Atay
20:03 19 Feb 20
I had a great experience with the firm. My attorney Darren Sharp was very efficient, knowledgeable and kept me informed at every step. Very trustworthy and professional.
Ioannis Karampelas
Ioannis Karampelas
15:45 12 Sep 19
Extremely professional and humane treatment towards me as a person in severe trouble, perplexed by conditions generated totally out of my control. This law firm is outstanding.
Katy Eagle
Katy Eagle
16:54 16 May 19
Overall, the firm is great! Lauren D'Cruz is organized, thoughtful, and very pleasant to work with. I have enjoyed my interactions with everyone at Schaefer Halleen over the years. I highly recommend the firm and Ms. D'Cruz.
M M
M M
20:11 05 Apr 19
It is with great pleasure that I write this for Mr Schaefer and his capable people comprised of talent and empathy. I had a fear of Attorneys (due to my own weakness, no disrespect to the legal profession), but I felt pleasantly surprised after my visit to his firm located in the heart of Minneapolis - my home city that I am passionate about. Larry's office emblomized everything that I look for. The attorneys, the administrative staff, the decor, it all felt "happy" and "inter-connected". I had thought my case was too too hard to understand by others, however due to Larry's brilliance and savvy, it became evident to me that he understood it very well. He had a clear line of action and a resolve to seek justice with ethics. That was all that I desired. I hope Larry's office continues to serve the disability community, that it prospers, grows, and makes Minneapolis the best city in the world.
Sameh Said
Sameh Said
16:21 04 Apr 19
I am very thankful to Larry for helping me through a very difficult time of my life. My former employer discriminated against me and treated me very badly and I was forced to resign to end my struggle with this employer. I did not know what to do or who I can find to help me getting through this and restore my reputation and my employment. I met with several layers prior to my meeting with Larry and I can tell the difference immediately when I engaged with him. Larry told me what will happen in the first meeting and despite my process took several months, he was able to predict the successful outcome just through listening to me in that very first meeting. He has complete understanding of all employment related issues, he is focused and dedicated to help his clients getting back on track. His strategic thinking and the steps he made were the key to success. He also has a wonderful team that are just the right team to help. Quick response and timely feedback about what is going on with the case so you are always in the loop with the next step. Now I moved on to a new and a better employer and I feel I am beginning a new and a good chapter in my life, and I feel I can't thank Larry or his wonderful team enough for what they did to me and how they supported me to get through probably the worst chapter in my life.Thank you Larry
Rebecca Thavis
Rebecca Thavis
17:14 02 Apr 19
Larry truly went above and beyond. In each step of the case, he made sure I was aware of what was happening and the next steps. He called frequently, and followed my choices, making sure that I felt in control. I never felt like a victim, or less- he helped inspire me to fight for what I needed and deserved. If I had to go through it again, no questions asked, I would want Larry by my side every step of the way. His team is well organized, efficient, kind and discrete. I am forever grateful that Schaefer Halleen represented me, and I highly suggest them for any and all people who need empowering representation.
Joanne Simons
Joanne Simons
21:30 26 Mar 19
Excellent experience, outstanding staff, expedient, caring, respectful.
Jessie Lecy
Jessie Lecy
00:22 18 Mar 19
The humanness and genuine care for their clients separates this firm from others and makes it best in class.
John Styliaras
John Styliaras
23:55 17 Mar 19
Larry and his team at Schaefer Halleen helped bring to resolution issues at the workplace in an amicable manner. When I first approached Larry, I was not even sure what steps to take, what to do, did not even know if I needed a lawyer, or why I needed a lawyer. All I knew was that friends and colleagues told me to reach out to a lawyer. And when I asked around, his name and his firm's name kept on being mentioned by many. And the reputation was well deserved.Larry patiently and deliberately listened to my story, and then explained to me exactly why I needed a lawyer, and how he could help me. Immediately he laid out the plan about how to proceed. Instantly I was put at ease. Throughout a very long process, he provided me advice and guidance and was always willing to talk to me on the phone, whenever there were either updates, or I had questions and concerns.I am absolutely certain that I would had not been able to reach the resolution without Larry's and his team's steadfast guidance, advice, and impressive work. I recommend Larry and his firm unconditionally - the very best in the field.John C. Styliaras MD,MS
Suzanne Simpson
Suzanne Simpson
14:43 15 Mar 19
Lawrence is exceptional. He prepared me for the process, explained the possible outcomes and provided next step direction throughout. My experience was settled efficiently, and with a very positive outcome. I’m so glad I found Schafer Haleen, LLC.I highly recommend their services.Suzanne
Ricardo Vidal Gonzalez
Ricardo Vidal Gonzalez
18:49 12 Dec 18
I highly recommend the Schaefer Halleen law firm. Larry Schaefer was always available to answer any questions and his team was very professional. They work hard to get results and take the time to listen to the client’s goals.
annette miller
annette miller
00:40 07 Nov 18
I found the team to be professional, respectful and very well versed in employment law. I would recommend them to anyone looking for advice or expertise in this area.
Lynn Hassan Jones
Lynn Hassan Jones
14:18 31 Oct 18
I am a physician who recently hired Schaefer and Halleen to represent me in an employment discrimination case, my Atty was Jean Boler ESQ.They provided top-tier legal services to me for my case 2017 through my settlement in 1st qtr of 2018.This was excellent legal representation, specifically - very responsive, very prompt, extremely detailed and never off-putting.Absolutely would recommend without reservation!
Doc MoSho
Doc MoSho
19:40 02 Jul 18
They were attentive and responsive and dod a great job of diffusing the tension in a situation that could have been quite adversarial. They also did an excellent job of level setting before the process proceeded to far in an unrealistic direction. Great work.
the Dodger
the Dodger
14:28 04 Jun 18
Joyce Jenkins
Joyce Jenkins
19:03 02 Jun 18
Larry has been a great resource for several years. His response time, quality of response and follow up are excellent. He has been flexible enough to answer an impromptu calI and get a response back within an hour. I recall talking to Larry early one morning when there was 8" of snow and most businesses were closed. He was the only one in the office to keep my appointment.I have recommended Larry to more than a dozen of my friends and colleagues and I feel very comfortable recommending him to anyone.Derek Jenkins
John
John
23:57 01 Jun 18
An honest lawyer? YES! Larry was fantastic and I can’t thank him enough for his unbiased advice and support.
Ravi Balwada
Ravi Balwada
21:00 01 Jun 18
Larry is amazing. Very professional, takes the time to listen, is very knowledgeable and respected and if he says he can get you justice - you can count on it.
John Wichmann
John Wichmann
20:19 01 Jun 18
Larry and his team did an amazing job! They completed a task very smoothly and successfully that others said couldn't be done. I would hire him again in a heart beat.
Anne Dament
Anne Dament
18:52 01 Jun 18
Larry Schaefer is an incredible leader with an outstanding team of experts. They listen and care about their clients and work very hard on your behalf, educating you on your rights and guiding you through the process along the way. Everyone on the team is helpful and kind. 5 stars.
Bea Abdallah
Bea Abdallah
18:01 01 Jun 18
I strongly recommend this firm — so much so I once referred a colleague who they also helped. The firm is focused on their client’s specific issues, and unlike other attorneys I’ve worked with, they keep ongoing communication with you as the case advances. I am impressed with the professionalism and strong leadership from the staff, and deeply grateful for their good work.
Joanna Ramirez
Joanna Ramirez
16:54 01 Jun 18
I am grateful to Larry and his team. They did an excellent job of educating me about the legal process and keeping me updated on the status of my case. They had first hand knowledge about employment law in that they worked to get some of the legislation established.
Brett Rizk
Brett Rizk
12:26 13 Feb 17
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Recent Blog Posts

  • COVID-19 and Severance Payments January 19, 2021
  • Identifying Sexual Harassment in the Workplace January 5, 2021
  • How Do I Win a Wrongful Termination Case in MN? December 22, 2020
  • Discrimination and Harassment Based on Race, Color, Religion, and National Origin December 8, 2020
  • Whistleblower Protection for Minnesota Healthcare Workers November 24, 2020

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