Monica Belvel Wegner

I have been dealing with a disability case for years and after I was denied twice, I knew I needed help. My condition is such a difficult one to claim disability for that multiple lawyers hung up on me or promised to call me back and never did. By the time I was connected to Monica, I had given up al...l hope. After I explained to her the bare bones of my case and what had happened with previous attempts to find representation, Monica let me know she would call me back within a certain timeframe to continue discussing it; true to her word she did, despite how busy her day was and how much time I needed. That action alone let me know I could trust her, a decision I have never once regretted. Monica is an expert in her field, and she was always able to get results and explain things to me in a way I could understand. From doctors not releasing medical records to avoiding filling out paperwork, she was able to find a solution for every issue. After I lost my case at the hearing level, she appealed my case to the appeals council and won! She fought for me when no one else would and did much more than winning my case at the appeals level - she restored some of my faith and trust in people. I wholeheartedly recommend her and feel extremely blessed to have had her on my side!

Ms. Wegner has assisted me on several issues over the past 6 years. My first experience with her was so thorough and effective that I have returned to her for each new issue Ms Wegner was a refreshing change from my previous experiences with lawyers who never quite seemed to be able to communicate ...a path forward. I trust her and gladly recommend her to others as an excellent and effective representative.

All four of my children have asthma/food allergies, but one, my son, has them so severe that he could die if administration of his epinephrine isn't immediate. Because of his condition, the school district that I am in refused any accomodations. My son missed his entire Kinder year because of the di...strict's refusal. We had no where to turn. The only advocate/s we could find willing to offer some advice were 2 hrs away, so coming to help with and IEP or 504 meeting in person was not in their budget. We were desperate. My daughters that were in school were having dry cereal with water or juice because the district would not accomodate their food allergies/asthma either. My husband started calling around for attorneys that dealt with Special Educational needs. At this point, fate intervened, and we found Monica. Not only did Monica get my daughters the accomodations needed within a 504, she faught like a bulldog for my son for a year to get him all the accomodations needed in an IEP. At the time, there were only 6 IEPs in the country solely for food allergies. Monica continued to fight in tandem with my husband and I for 3 more years, making sure all accomodations were being followed, all discrimination and segregation were stopped immediately, and all bullying was dealt with promptly and justly. During this time, the most valuable tools that Monica gave me were an intense knowledge of the disability laws, ways to assert myself correctly to receive what I ask for from the school district, and methods of dealing with school districts when they refuse to accept the legal documents presented them. She kept me from loosing my cool at IEP/504 meetings, and she was able to turn the tables on the opposition to where they had to give in to our requests. Monica is the quintecential bulldog lawyer that is loyal, honest, hard working, knowledgeable, precise, well spoken, assertive, reasonable, and fair. She has become more than just our lawyer; she is our saving grace. She is a champion for those who cannot advocate for themselves and she is an angel for those who are in need of the care they deserve. She is our hero.

Mrs. Wegner didn't even try to get my charges dropped despite clearly knowing they were wrongfully filed. She shared confidential information. She failed to return original documents to me, claiming that she mailed them to me several times and they were returned by the postal service. Was rude, ye...lled at me, and tried to intimidate me when I contacted another attorney to try to get her to respond to my calls and retrieve my records. Never contacted me to pick up my records when the postal service didn't deliver them these multiple times. Told me the retainer was payable to her, had me make the check out to a different agency, claimed she waived my retainer, then two months later the check was cashed. Was dishonest with me from the very beginning. Was not at all interested in getting my charges dropped, more interested in helping the district relieve their liability. Claimed the district was represented and that they wouldn't talk to her, but played a message from the assistant superintendent over the phone while I was on the line.