TROY, MI, May 06, 2020 /24-7PressRelease/ — Marquis Who’s Who, the world’s premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to honor Erika Riggs as a Woman of Influence. An accomplished listee, Mrs. Riggs celebrates many years’ experience in her professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes she has accrued in her field. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.

Mrs. Riggs is renowned as an attorney with more than a decade of expertise in disability law. Driven by a desire to help others and make a positive impact on the world, she decided that she wanted to pursue a career in law despite being the first in her family to do so. Mrs. Riggs subsequently pursued an education at Wayne State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in 2008 before graduating with a Doctor of Jurisprudence in 2011.

While enrolled as a law student, Mrs. Riggs began her career as a research and teaching assistant at Wayne State University, and completed a clerkship in the Detroit Immigration Court in 2010. She was selected to contribute to Wayne State University’s immigration and asylum law clinic, for which she served as a student lawyer representing refugee asylum-seekers from 2010 to 2011. During her last year in law school, Mrs. Riggs discovered disability law, recognizing immediately that she had found her niche where she could specialize in a field representing vulnerable populations in great need of support.

Since 2011, Mrs. Riggs has excelled as a skilled and compassionate disability attorney in Michigan, proudly protecting the rights of the disabled while helping them obtain the benefits they deserve and desperately need. In January of 2019, she helped form a boutique disability law firm, Disability Law Group, alongside her partners, Mandy Kelly and Randall Mansour. Mrs. Riggs is accredited to practice law before the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and specializes in Social Security and Veterans disability cases. Additionally, Mrs. Riggs is extremely active in community initiatives, and dedicates her time to free legal resource clinics as well as volunteering with non-profit organizations like Southwest Solutions and Covenant House.

Notably, Mrs. Riggs is the recipient of the first Crain’s Detroit Business Notable Women in Law Award. She was further recognized among Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars in 2020 for the third consecutive year, a distinction awarded to less than 2.5% of practicing attorneys. She is also a council member of the Young Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Mrs. Riggs attributes her success to the support and dedication of her family, partners and community, and hopes to continue serving disabled clients for years to come.

About Marquis Who’s Who®

Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who’s Who titles, including Who’s Who in America®, Who’s Who in the World®, Who’s Who in American Law®, Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who’s Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who’s Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website.

Troy, MI (Law Firm Newswire) May 5, 2020 – On Thursday, May 21st, Mandy Kelly, partner of Disability Law Group, is co-hosting a webinar with attorney Michele Fuller of Michigan Law Center. The webinar promises to be immensely helpful to veterans looking to create or improve their estate plans in order to best protect their assets and their loved ones. Mandy’s subjects are of primary concern to veterans, especially during these challenging times, including types of VA benefits available, such as VA service connection disability benefits and non-service connection pensions.

This is an excellent workshop for United States veterans, designed to meet the need for vital information and to answer questions and concerns. The workshops topics include:

• Types of Veteran Benefits Available
• How to Establish an Estate Plan
• Common Estate Planning Mistakes
•  Ensuring Safety for Veterans and their Loved Ones

Mandy’s co-host for the webinar is Michele Fuller of Michigan Law Center. As a team of excellent attorneys, they look forward to educating veterans on available options and resources open to them as they plan their futures.

Mandy Kelly’s credentials demonstrate her dedication to veterans’ rights. Earlier in her career, she worked for Project SALUTE, assisting low-income veterans in obtaining the military compensation and pension benefits they deserve. She has also spent time training attorneys from other firms on how to best represent veterans.

Join the free webinar.

At present, as a lead attorney of the esteemed practice of Disability Law Group, she fights for veterans’ rights to disability benefits from VA and the Social Security Administration on a daily basis. Recognized as a top 10 best attorney by the American Institute of Legal Counsel, her advice and guidance should prove invaluable to those attending the upcoming webinar.

Troy, Michigan – September 2019 – The prestigious Super Lawyers has selected Disability Law Group Partner, Erika A. Riggs, as a 2019 Michigan Super Lawyer Rising Star for Social Security Disability. This honor is based on peer recognition and professional achievement and awarded to only 2.5% of attorneys.

 

On January 29, 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Court issued a reversal in what has proven to be one of the most contentious areas of veterans’ disability benefits in decades. With this decision comes dramatic changes in how the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs addresses service-connected disability benefits claims arising from Agent Orange exposure. During the Vietnam War, there was widespread use of Agent Orange in Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, the devastating, and even deadly, effects from Agent Orange – an herbicide contained dioxin – is now well known for veterans suffering symptoms linked to Agent Orange years later. In fact, studies correlate the harmful effects of Agent Orange to exposed veterans’ children and even their grand-children.

With the Agent Orange Act of 1991 came 38 U.S.C. § 1116, allowing veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam who develop certain health issues a presumption of Agent Orange exposure and that such exposure caused their condition or illness. Some of the presumptive conditions include prostate cancer, respiratory cancers, chronic B-cell leukemia’s, Hodgkin’s disease, ischemic heart disease, certain skin conditions, diabetes, and more. Therefore, some Vietnam-Era veterans have been able to obtain the service-connected disability benefits they deserve if they have a specified condition(s). However, this presumption has been strictly limited to those who meet the designated “boots on the ground” criteria. A decision, issued nearly 2 decades ago, cut-off benefits for our navy veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange at sea, providing benefits only to those veterans who were exposed on the ground.

However, the recent decision by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Court reversed that decision. Mr. Procopio, a 73 year old veteran who suffers from diabetes and prostate cancer, served aboard the USS Intrepid during the Vietnam War. The Court’s decision found that Mr. Procopio, and other veterans who served at sea, are entitled to the same presumption that has been afforded to our “boots on the ground” veterans linking certain conditions to Agent Orange exposure.

Many veterans and supporters echo statements made by American Legion National Commander, Brett Reistad: “It doesn’t matter where you were exposed to Agent Orange when you served. It only matters that you were exposed when you served. To deny VA disability benefits for victims who were exposed at sea, and to provide benefits only to those veterans who were exposed on the ground, is a distinction based much more on budget than justice.”

This ruling is a monumental and well-deserved victory for our Blue Water Navy veterans, providing the tens of thousands of veterans like Mr. Procopio, the VA benefits they deserve. While this recent ruling may be challenged further with an appeal from the VA, legislation is now in front of Congress to lock in the presumptions of service-connected disability from Agent Orange exposure for our navy veterans. The ongoing fight and collective efforts of caring attorneys, schools and service organizations will ensure justice for our veterans who risked their lives to protect our freedoms.

If you or someone you know may be affected by Agent Orange exposure, contact our experienced attorneys to know what benefits you are rightfully owed. Even if you have been denied disability before, you may be entitled to back pay for all the years that you have been waiting. Disability Law Group specializes strictly in disability benefits before the VA and Social Security Administration. We will fight for you so that you can focus on your life and healing. Call us today for a free consultation. 800-VET-1100 or 800-838-1100.

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