Melissa Larocca Email & Phone Number

Edina, Minnesota, United States

I worked as an attorney and shareholder at Aafedt, Forde, Gray, Monson & Hager, P.A. I specialized in worker's compensation defense, representing the interests of Employers and Insurers, including self-insured clients and third-party administrators.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

I represented the rights of injured and disabled individuals in workers'​ compensation, personal injury and Social Security disability disputes. The primary focus of my practice was on worker's compensation claims, representing the interests of employees. I successfully litigated and settled over 300 cases while working at this firm. I also obtained a notable, favorable decision for an employee affirmed by the Minnesota Worker's Compensation Court of Appeals relating to a notice issue while I was employed at this firm.

Red Wing, Mn

My biggest cases while working for this firm involved dissolving a corporation with approximately 300 original shareholders and establishing a condominium association, which required amending a previously recorded declaration, establishing a non-profit corporation and amending a plat. I drafted purchase agreements, contracts for deed, mortgages, recorded real estate documents, served eviction notices, cancelled contracts for deed and drafted foreclosure documents, and attended sales along with additional miscellaneous legal research.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

I worked on cases dealing with personal injury, product liability, wrongful death, I dealt extensively with worker’s compensation, Minnesota’s no-fault statute, and dram shop actions. I have great experience with drafting discovery, pleadings (such as claim petitions and medical requests), filing documents with the court and appropriate state departments, working with opposing counsel on exchanging discovery and deposing witnesses, and working with investigators and state authorities. I dealt directly with the firm’s clientele, I wrote arbitration and mediation statements, I sat in on several arbitrations and mediations, and I prepared for and attended workers’ compensation administrative and medical conferences, claim petition hearings, and auto accident hearings and trials. I did client sign-ups, I handled service of legal process and virtually every aspect of a case from beginning to end while working for this firm. I was primarily responsible for drafting settlement demands to insurance companies for both workers compensation and personal injury claims, so I became very familiar with calculating worker’s compensation benefits, Social Security benefits and calculating offsets for varying degrees of disability.

Eau Claire, Wisconsin Area

I was involved with client intake, the preparation of written discovery, document inspection, filing and legal research. I also drafted summons and complaints and a motion for declaratory judgment. I believe that my experience handling a lot of the firm’s other business aspects helped me to better understand the inner workings of a law firm and how to run a successful practice.

J.D., Law

Activities and Societies: Business Law Student Member (2006-2009); MJF Social Chair and Member (2006-2009); 1L Mentor, MSBA Member.

Bachelor Of Arts, Political Science/Legal Studies Emphasis

Activities and Societies: Honors Program, Political Science Honor Society (Vice-President, 2004-2005), Pre-Law Club Member (2003-2005).