The Law Offices of Rick Barry, P.C. provides representation to clients in all aspects of employment law particularly public safety employees and their families. Rick Barry has been representing public sector employees for over 30 years and has knowledge and experience to advise you on your case. Our firm handles many different types of employment cases arising from a variety of situations including:
•Whistleblower Claims and Violations of Constitutional Rights
•Retaliation & Wrongful Termination / Retaliatory Discharge
•Sexual Harassment
Discrimination in the Workplace:
•Age Discrimination
•Disability Discrimination
•Gender Discrimination / Sex Discrimination
•National Origin Discrimination
•Pregnancy Discrimination
•Race Discrimination
•Religious Discrimination
•Sexual Orientation Discrimination
Employment Contracts:
•Non-Compete Agreements
•Non-Solicitation Contract
•Overtime and Wage Claims
•Severance Agreements
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Americans with Disability Act (ADA)
Retirement (ERISA)/Pension/Disability Benefits
If you believe that you are experiencing discrimination in the work place, it is extremely important that you act quickly, because the law places a time limit on filing cases for employment discrimination.
Employment Law
At the Law Offices of Rick Barry, P.C. we represent victims who have suffered personal injury caused by the negligent, reckless, or intentional conduct of another. One of our attorneys will give your case personal attention with the expertise necessary to handle the unique aspects of your case. We will protect your legal rights and pursue your claim aggressively to achieve a successful result for you and your family. We are prepared to see your case through the trial process, as well as any necessary appeals. Personal injury cases arise from a variety of situations, including:
•Motor vehicle motorcycle, and trucking accidents
•Slip and Fall accidents
•Medical malpractice
•Injuries on the job/workers' compensation
•Wrongful death
If you believe you or someone you know has been injured in some way due to the actions or neglect of another, we encourage you to contact the Law Offices of Rick Barry, P.C. 314-918-8900 for a free consultation.
Please be advised that Missouri places a time limit on filing cases for personal injury and other matters, so do not hesitate to contact us.
Personal Injury
Workers' Compensation
At the Law Offices of Rick Barry, P.C. we represent people who have been injured while on the job. If you were injured on the job in Missouri, you are entitled to fair compensation for your injuries. Missouri workers' compensation law entitles individuals to compensation for any resulting disability, necessary medical treatment, loss of income due to the work-related injury, or payment to the family if the employee was killed on the job. At the Law Offices of Rick Barry, P.C., our goal in each workers’ compensation case is to secure full benefits for you and to resolve your case as quickly as reasonably possible. Our experience in this area is diverse and we have represented clients who have suffered all types of work related injuries. Some of the most common types of injuries include:
•Back and neck injuries
•Injuries to the upper extremities, including hands, wrists and elbows
•Shoulder injuries
•Knee injuries
•Industrial diseases
•Head and brain injuries
•Heart and/or Lung injuries caused from overexertion, smoke inhalation or other hazards while on the job.
•Other workplace injuries
Criminal & DWI Defense
The Law Offices of Rick Barry, P.C. has over 30 years of experience as defense attorneys. Principal attorney Rick Barry is a former prosecutor and currently serves as a municipal judge. We are a full service law firm that can handle your criminal defense from the time you suspect you may be under investigation or called in to answer questions all the way through state and federal criminal appeals. Our firm handles a variety of criminal defenses cases including:
•DWI / DUI
•Driver's license suspension and traffic violations in State and Municipal Court
•Probation violations
•Defense of Felonies & Misdemeanors in State and Federal Court
Election & Campaign Finance
At the Law Offices of Rick Barry, P.C. we counsel clients on local state and federal law as it pertains to ethics rules, campaign finance and political contributions, and the establishment and maintenance of political action committees.
Our team provides services in the following areas:
•Providing legal clearance for campaign contributions, fundraising activities, and other political activities of organizations and individuals involved in state, local and federal elections
•Monitoring new campaign laws throughout Missouri
•Providing legal representation to state, local and federal candidates, including setting up campaign and officeholder committees, maintaining committee bank accounts, filing campaign reports, and drafting and negotiating contracts with consultants and fundraisers
•Drafting initiatives, formatting initiative and referenda petitions, maintaining
committee bank accounts, filing campaign reports and tax returns, and draftingand negotiating contracts with consultants and fundraisers
•Setting up and operating state, local and federal PACs, "independent
expenditure" committees and 527 organizations, including naming and
disclaimer requirements
•Counseling candidate and ballot measure campaigns about the post-election
vote count process, recounts, election contests, etc
•Representing candidates and ballot measure committees in lawsuits
challenging voter information pamphlet materials and campaign communications
•Representing candidates and ballot measure committees in lawsuits
challenging the conduct of state and local elections
•Representing elected officials and candidates in disputes over
eligibility and residency
•Representing clients in enforcement proceedings before Missouri ethics
Commission regarding alleged violations of campaign and election laws
•Sunshine Law Requests
Administrative Law & Professional License Defense
The Law Offices of Rick Barry, P.C. provides representation to clients in all aspects and levels of licensing and administrative review especially in the area of professional licensing and disciplinary review. Complaints filed with Missouri's professional licensing boards can have a detrimental effect on a person's ability to practice his or her chosen profession. Depending on the type and strength of the complaint, the professional licensing board may issue a reprimand, suspend the license for a period of time, or revoke the license entirely.
We represent public employees in disciplinary actions before their governing bodies and in their appeal of disciplinary actions to the Circuit Court under the Missouri Administrative Procedure Act. Additionally we represent a range of licensed professionals before their respective governing bodies.
Non-Profit Law
The nonprofit law services offered by the Law Offices of Rick Barry, P.C. include:
•Setting up 501(c)(3), (c)(4) and (c)(6) nonprofit organizations, including preparing and submitting tax exempt applications to the IRS and Franchise Tax Board
•Providing guidance to nonprofit officers and directors regarding corporate
governance issues, conflicts of interests and required corporate formalities
•Drafting bylaws
•Counseling nonprofit organizations regarding restrictions on lobbying and political activities
Social Security Disability Appeals
If you have applied for social security disability, and have been denied, you are entitled to appeal the denial of your benefits. There are deadlines by which you must file your appeal, so it is important to seek legal representation at your earliest opportunity.
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Rick Barry will first assist in evaluating your claim to determine whether a viable appeal exists, and will thereafter assist you in navigating the appeal process.
Contact our office at 314-918-8900 for a free consultation.
Short Term/Long Term Disability Appeals
If you have gotten hurt, or become sick, and have applied for benefits under a disability insurance policy, and have questions about your rights, turn to the lawyers at the Law Offices of Rick Barry. We are committed to helping people understand their options when they are faced with the financial reality associated with being unable to work.
Some employers provide disability insurance for their employees, and may people purchase disability insurance through their own insurance providers. In addition, workers may be protected from the financial effects of disabilities by provisions in their pension or retirement plans.
What is Disability Insurance?
A person who is sick or injured and unable to work for an extended period of time, or permanently, may be entitled to receive disability benefits through an insurance policy provided through their employer or purchased individually. While medical insurance may cover the medical aspects of your sickness or injury, and the Family Medical Leave Act provides for unpaid leaves of absence in certain circumstances, disability insurance replaces a portion of your lost income while you are unable to work. These benefits are designed to both provide benefits to individuals whose disability is not permanent or to those who do not otherwise qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits, and to supplement Social Security Disability Benefits for those who are permanently disabled.
Your disability benefits are set by the terms of your plan, and every plan is different. For instance, some policies may provide benefits for both work-related and non-work-related sicknesses and injuries, while other plans may only cover non-work-related conditions. The waiting period for benefits to begin may range from a matter of weeks to six months or more. Some policies may cover you if you are unable to do your own job while others require you to be unable to perform any job for which you are qualified.
Finally, not every policy replaces the same amount of your lost wages, though most will replace between 33% to 60% of your lost income. These are just some examples of how benefits may vary from policy to policy, and it is important that you review the terms of your individual policy carefully.
Expungement of Unlawful Arrest
If you believe you were arrested without probable cause, you may be entitled, under Missouri law, to have the arrest removed from your record. Contact our firm at 314-918-8900, to have your case evaluated.
Unemployment Appeals
Generally speaking, if you have been terminated from your employment for misconduct related to work, you are not entitled to unemployment benefits. However, there are exceptions to this general rule. For example, if you were unaware that your conduct was violative of your employer’s rules and regulations, or if the rule or regulation you violated was not consistently enforced by the employer, you may still be entitled to unemployment benefits.
If you have applied for and been denied unemployment benefits, contact our firm immediately to determine if you have a viable appeal. There is a short timeline in which to file your appeal, so do not wait.
Contact our firm at 314-918-8900, for a free consultation.